Here’s what you’ll learn about:
Introduction and Purpose of the Show (0:08)
- Host Drew Deraney thanks Barry Cohen for introducing Aimee to him and sets the stage for a discussion about life lessons and personal Growth.
- Drew discusses the concept of linear life paths and how extreme circumstances can derail them, introducing the idea of three types of women: those with blind spots, those who see adversity as victimhood, and those who see adversity as a challenge.
- Drew identifies Aimee as Woman number three, who sees adversity as an opportunity for growth and invites her to share her defining moment that led to this mindset.
Aimee’s Upbringing and Parenting Philosophy (2:25)
- Aimee Kaufman shares that her mother never criticized her, which influenced her parenting style, emphasizing unconditional love.
- Aimee recounts the challenges of raising her daughter Sam, who had ADHD, and how she resisted criticism from others to maintain her parenting philosophy.
- Aimee mentions reading the book “The Theory of Let Them Be” and how it validated her approach to raising Sam.
- Drew and Aimee discuss the importance of allowing children to learn from their mistakes and the impact of Aimee’s mother on her parenting.
Aimee’s Relationship with Her Mother (4:56)
- Aimee recalls her mother’s supportive and loving nature, including a story where her mother turned a kitchen incident into a teaching moment for Sam.
- She shares a touching moment where she expressed her admiration for her mother before she passed away, and how her mother’s death was symbolized by a doorbell ring.
- Aimee reflects on how her mother’s influence shaped her parenting and the close relationship she has with her daughters today.
- Drew and Aimee discuss the impact of Aimee’s mother’s Legacy on her family and her ability to handle her mother’s passing.
Sam’s ADHD Diagnosis and Treatment (7:58)
- Aimee describes the 10-year journey to diagnose Sam with ADHD, including the challenges of dealing with her behavior and the initial misdiagnosis of sibling rivalry.
- Aimee recounts the relief of finally getting a proper diagnosis and the positive impact of medication on Sam’s behavior.
- Aimee shares how Sam’s behavior improved with medication, allowing her to participate in activities like sleepaway camp and family gatherings.
- Drew and Aimee discuss the importance of understanding and managing ADHD, and how it affected Aimee’s relationship with her husband, Barry.
Aimee’s Career and Professional Life (18:26)
- Aimee talks about her career as a CPA and QuickBooks Pro advisor, and how she transitioned from tax work to focusing on QuickBooks.
- She mentions her involvement in a women’s networking group and her plans to retire at the end of the tax season to focus on promoting her book and spending time with her grandchildren.
- Aimee shares the story of hiring her “Mary Poppins” nanny, who turned out to be from England and became a significant part of her family.
- Drew and Aimee discuss the importance of work in Aimee’s life and how it has contributed to her overall well-being and success.
Aimee’s Book and Personal Reflections (22:46)
- Aimee introduces her book, “No One Else I’d Rather Be: Loving a Daughter with ADHD for Who She Is,” and its significance in raising awareness about ADHD.
- She recounts the challenges she faced with Sam’s behavior and the impact of her book on other families dealing with ADHD.
- Aimee shares the positive feedback she received from educators and the broader community about her book.
- Drew and Aimee discuss the importance of the book in providing support and understanding for parents of children with ADHD.
To learn more about Aimee’s mission, go to her LinkedIn profile at https://www.linkedin.com/in/aimee-kaufman-cpa-25062137/
or her website https://aimeekaufman.com/
Aimee Kaufman Bio
Aimee Kaufman grew up in West Orange, NJ and met her husband, Barry, at Ithaca College. Aimee went on to earn an MBA in accounting from Fairleigh Dickinson University and is a CPA with her own business, Priority Accounting Solutions LLC. Aimee and Barry now live in Berkeley Heights, NJ where they raised their two daughters, Dana and Sam. Aimee has been very active in her town and was the president of the Berkeley Heights Education Foundation and a longtime member of the PTA.
Although Aimee loves numbers, she decided to write a memoir about raising her daughter Sam who has ADHD. To keep herself grounded during the early turbulent years, she practiced Yoga, Meditation, took spin classes and continued to work part time. Today, her daughters are married and live in Jersey City, NJ where Aimee and Barry visit them, and their husbands, and Dana’s son, their grandson, Jordan, often.
Aimee’s struggle to deal with the often-challenging effects of her daughter’s ADHD became a journey of compassion, seeking out the proper medical help, researching and learning to navigate the educational system’s programs and learning the value of unconditional love. Her sincere hope is that her book, No One Else I’d Rather Be – Loving a Daughter with ADHD for Who She Is, will help other families struggling to love and care for their children with disabilities.
About your host: I’m Drew Deraney, the proud father of three children. For most of my life I’ve been concerned with what people thought of me and how I was supposed to act. I learned not to be my authentic self and instead became a people pleaser, a man wearing a mask.
In a 9-month span a few years ago, I endured four faith-shaking life events that caused me to question my existence.
I became determined to find a better way to live. Through intense self-reflection and awareness, I realized that in order to be happy, I must adhere to my standards of honesty, integrity and truth and needed to break free from the belief system that was anchored in me for close to 50 years.
I believe that success happens when we find a better way and are willing and able to share it. HOW I do that is by challenging the status quo and thinking differently. Ultimately, WHAT I bring is a way to contribute and add value by having an impact on the lives of others.
My company, Profit Compassion LLC consists of 3 paths:
The Mindful Man Movement: men’s self-discovery coach, speaker, podcast host, author. For Men Seeking Answers Within: Imagine having crystal clear knowledge of your purpose in life where you make confident decisions, and are assertive, productive, and at peak Mental Health. Corporate executives hire me to guide them to tap into their natural power through self-discovery so they may write their own story and live the life they want to live.
The Caregiver Coach: coach for fathers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). For Caregivers who are open to a conversation about how I can support you on your Caregiving journey: I help caregivers find balance, build resilience, and rediscover their own well-being. Through personalized Coaching, I provide practical strategies, emotional support, and the tools to reduce Burnout, strengthen Relationships, and navigate the challenges of caregiving with confidence. My goal is to empower you to care for yourself as compassionately as you care for your loved one.
Business Solutions: health/wellness and financial services to support individuals and businesses.
Join me in transforming challenges into opportunities for growth. Let’s embark on this journey together.
HOW TO CONNECT WITH COACH DREW:
Website: https://profitcompassion.com/
Email: drew@profitcompassion.com
Book a discovery call: https://link.mavericksystems.online/widget/bookings/netweaving/connect30
Pick up a copy of Drew’s book: https://amzn.to/40dsbyR or https://bit.ly/BandNDrew
Drew Deraney now travels the world both to Live and Virtual Events showing mostly men the steps needed to strengthen self-identity and self-worth, to overcome self-limiting beliefs, and to build confidence while being authentic, maintaining boundaries and to transcend people pleasing skills to become the person they are destined to be. Drew challenges them to reach deep inside and make a lasting impact.
In a 9-month span, Drew experienced a grueling divorce, job loss, his son’s suicidal ideations, and his father’s death which devastated Drew emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually. It is a commonality for men to consider any challenge as a weakness as well as to show emotion and ask for help. While writing his book, Drew realized he was not the only man suffering in silence. With more clarity of purpose than ever, he began asking for help. Drew Deraney’s mission is to help especially men, release their inner greatness by showing vulnerability, keeping in integrity of their power, and making a great impact on the people in their lives both personally and professionally.
Drew Deraney was born in Brooklyn, NY and raised in Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ where he still lives to this day caring for his elderly mom and his 3 adult children Matthew, Nicholas, and Emma. Drew earned his B.A. in Psychology, M.A. in Applied Psychology, and two psychology research publications while at Fairfield University; a scholarship from the Healthcare Financial Management Association; and his M.B.A. in Health Care Administration from Baruch College / Mount Sinai School of Medicine in NY. His hospital career spanned 24 years where he was co-chair of the Leadership Institute, spoke at JD Power, was one of three leaders interviewed by The Commonwealth Fund, received his Communicating with Empathy Trainer certification and is a Certified Patient Experience Professional. Four years ago, Drew founded Profit Compassion LLC, an entity to coach and empower mostly men to create resiliency and authenticity as Chief Resilience Officer. Drew is the podcast host of ‘From Caving in to Crushing It’ and recently became a best-selling author with his book ‘I’ll Have What She’s Having’ - Memoir of a reformed People Pleaser.
