We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Seth Rotman. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Seth below.
Hi Seth, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
I have never followed a traditional path.
Not taking a traditional path is what originally led me to nursing as a career. Going from finding a passion for medicine with wilderness first aid training during a semester with the National Outdoor Leadership School, leading to becoming an EMT and running 911 as a volunteer, to ultimately becoming a nurse.
But, passion isn’t purpose. I’m passionate about being a nurse. I’m passionate about wellness. I’m passionate about many things. And, because of those passions, the longer I’ve been a nurse and worked within the health care industry the more clear it has become that healthcare is broken. Nurses are constantly placed in high risk and dangerous situations, and patient care is secondary to survey scores and profits.
I originally thought that becoming a nurse practitioner would be a way out. Halfway through the program I was in, I realized just how wrong I was. It was more of the same. A lateral move for all intents and purposes, but with more liability. It was not what I wanted. But, here is the silver lining.
The NP program crystalized the issues within the nursing and health care field. It clarified what I did not want to be doing. Through that clarity, I was able to recognize my purpose and the direction I wanted to be moving.
From there I found Nurse Coaching. A branch of nursing that returns to client centered care rooted in holistic management. True, foundational nursing that leads to absolutely transformational outcomes.
After completing my Nurse Coaching program I took my boards and became a Board Certified Nurse Coach. I found a mentor who understood me and my vision, and was not afraid of pushing and challenging me.
Now, I have found my purpose through my personal journey, not just as a nurse, but my journey of having ADHD as well. Now, I help adults with ADHD create the time and space to understand themselves, be inspired, grow, develop resilience, and thrive.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
When I founded my practice, Clarify Wellness LLC, I did not have the focus I do now. I tried to help everyone, offering everything in my tool kit at once, and painting with a broad brush. Now, that has completely changed.
As a Board Certified Nurse Coach and haver of ADHD I am truly excited about the paths I offer to my clients now.
The most exciting is my 8DHD group coaching program. This is an eight week online group coaching container. Based on my own experience and research, I have refined this program to focus on the essential eight skills required to create a the foundation that allows my clients to go from struggling to thriving with ADHD.
For folks who prefer a more private or intensive option, I do offer 1:1 coaching as well.
What I always love doing, because I get to impact the most people at one time, is speaking and corporate coaching.
I do virtual and in person motivational and informational speaking engagements for high schools, colleges, and companies.
My corporate coaching pulls from many of the same buckets that I’ve already discussed, but is dynamic and creates a culture of coaching. The culture of coaching established by working with me decreases employee turnover rates and allows the workforce and organization to thrive.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
This is one of those questions that I feel can so easily go off the rails. But, I’m going to be as real as I can here.
First and foremost you have to know yourself. know who you are and be crystal clear on your “why”. If your why and who you are aren’t connected, it will lead to problems. This might seem like two different pieces of knowledge, but it all falls under knowing yourself. It’s like a subcategory. If you approach what you do like journalism it comes out to be who, what, where, when, why. The who is you, and you need to know yourself. The what is what you are creating. When and where, is here and now. And why, Why links to who and they have to be clear and aligned.
If what you’re creating isn’t genuine, and if it’s not aligned with who you are, you’ll just end up burning yourself out and giving up on the process.
After you’ve done all that mindset work, you need to do some more. You need to find your drive. Motivation is fleeting. It’s an emotional kickstart. But motivation doesn’t carry you through rough patches. It doesn’t push you to climb. Motivation pops in and out. But, drive is goal focused. Drive is undeterred. Drive is what lets you push to stand out when everyone else wants you to blend in. So, find your drive.
Finally, no is the most boring word you can hear. This last one is why it’s so important to do the work of knowing yourself and finding your drive. Those first two build resilience. Resilience that you need to let the word “no” roll off you like water on oil. What you create isn’t for everyone. Not everyone needs to say yes. And think about what you would sacrifice if everyone did say yes. “No” is boring and it leads you to your ideal clients that are a yes.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
I owe an immense amount of who I have become now to my parents. It wasn’t a single thing that my parents did that was so impactful, but there are four keys that I have to credit them with. Without these I wouldn’t be here today doing this interview.
My parents recognized that I had learning differences early. As a result they had me tested and diagnosed with ADHD at an early age. While this may seem like a small thing now, in the 90’s when the diagnosis was less common, it was incredibly impactful. As a result of being diagnosed young, I have been provided with a lifetime of understanding and growth with ADHD. Many adults and even teens who get a late diagnosis are left having to unlearn poor coping skills before they can start to know themselves and build good habits.
My parents were constant advocates for me. Through their advocacy I learned what it looked like and what it meant to be an advocate. This has been an invaluable skill for me to use for myself and others through my life and career.
They made sure I was where I needed to be. After breaking my wrist as a wrestler in 9th grade, my parents encouraged me to try martial arts at the local YMCA. My Tae Kwon Do (TKD) instructor instilled discipline in me, and also started my journey of mindfulness and meditation. 22 years, a Master Black Belt in TKD, a Black Belt in Kung Fu, several teaching certifications, and meditation and mindfulness teaching experience, and a deep understanding of myself, this was truly where I needed to be.
They also enrolled me at Delaware Valley Friends School. A college prep school (at the time), now 1st-12th grade, for kids with learning disabilities. Again, deepening my understanding of myself, informing who I am now and how I help my clients.
Most importantly, my parents have never stopped supporting and challenging me. Everything else has fallen under the umbrella of support and being challenged. I know that without these keys I wouldn’t be where I am today.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.clarifywellness.coach
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clarifywellnessllc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seth.rotman
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethdrotman/
Image Credits
Carl Bussler
