The Autistic Entrepreneur

09/06/2022

This is amazing. This captures on some big reasons why entrepreneurship is many times an attractive alternative to traditional employment for autistics (because we have amazing strengths and talents to offer the world that just don’t fit anywhere else) and also simultaneously so difficult (because owning a business also means doing the stuff we are not as good at so we can stay in business).

We see you, NeuroClastic, and we feel seen.

08/31/2022

This is everyday reality for neurodiverse individuals!

Imagine running a team where everyone has different strengths and needs. Where to even start??

Oh wait, we figured that out! Reach out if you need help better understanding your team’s combined executive functioning strengths and needs.

06/22/2022

How to tell if your workplace is Neurodivergent friendly… (or, candid tales from our office…)

Situation: Me + Coworker returned to the zoom meeting with afternoon snacks. Frequently these snacks would be toddler approved. I had dry cheerios mixed 60/40 plain/honey nut and coworker had oreos and crackers that crunch like chips.

Me: i had peanut butter filled oreos this weekend. They definitely take an additional 3-count to absorb the same amount of milk as the normal oreos. My ideal dipping time for regular oreos is a 5-count, but these were taking 8 or 9 counts and the texture was all off.

My coworker: I bet it’s because the peanut butter is oil based and keeps the cookie from absorbing it as fast. My ideal dunking oreo is the double stuffed because mega stuff is just the wrong ratio of cookie to filling.

… an hour later …

Me: but do you dunk the oreo such that your fingers get in the milk?

My coworker: oh no never, the best way is to dip it halfway, eat the dipped portion, then turn the oreo and dip again, but at a slight angle so the floaties don’t get in the milk.

Me: i have a particular glass that is my preferred dunking glass because it is the right diameter and height to be able to dunk to the bottom of the glass and its clear so i can see the floaties before i get crazy and try to drink any of it.

… another half hour later …

Me: this really should be a question we ask on every interview to see if they would be a good addition to our team.

My coworker: but what if we interview someone who doesn’t eat oreos?

Me: or if they eat the cookie and then drink the milk separately? Or pet the dog and then dip their fingers into the milk?

… 🤯 stunned silence 🤯 …

Both: query friends and family to collect more data to see if there is a correlation between oreo dunking preferences vs compatability for working together.

Moral of the story: work with people who get you and enjoy the shared thoughtfulness around things most of the world takes for granted. Feel seen. (And feel free to discuss your oreo dunking preferences in the comments)

🥛🍪❤️🥳

05/24/2022

Can’t wait to figure out how to make this happen everywhere. My eyes have never been so happy!

https://bionic-reading.com/

05/18/2022

Executive functioning is hard.

It is a catch-22 where it's hard to have a thriving business and also struggle to keep track of everything and get it all done so you can keep clients happy and bring in revenue...all so you don't have to re-enter the traditional workforce or get another roommate to split living expenses. (I'm tired just typing that.)

You are not alone. The world needs your contribution.
♥️

04/21/2022

Here's our list of Weekend Activities that mean a better work week for us...what's yours?

1. Rest your mind
2. Prep for the week
3. Sleep
4. Go outside
5. Respect your own limits

04/19/2022

Sometimes you don't realize how much masking takes out of you until you take it off and discover your authentic badass business owning self.

04/14/2022

Welcome to tax filing week in the US! The perfect time to talk about "Income Producing Activities"....what's your list look like?

Ours is:
1. Do existing work.
2. Track time/progress.
3. Send Invoices Regularly.
4. Track down the Open AR.
5. Repeat.

This list is the same for every business owner, however, for me, my executive dysfunction was keeping me from being able to do each of these things reliably and consistently.

Finding ways to make each step happen without fighting myself has been a game-changer. You can see it in my countenance and you can see it in my revenue numbers.

We'd love to help you do the same!

04/13/2022

When we talk about doing n=1 experiments, we first mean we've experimented with what works for ourselves, knowing that everyone is different. But we try A LOT of things on our journey and odds are usually good that if you are an autistic entrepreneur trying to figure out how to make something better, we've tried at least a few things that might work for you!

Image text:
How many pairs of headphones have we tried before falling in love?
A lot. The answer is a lot.

04/11/2022

If we've worked with 1 Autistic Entrepreneur,
we've worked with 1 Autistic Entrepreneur.

Celebrating our neurodiversity with our coaching program built just for our n=1 clients.

04/07/2022

brb... Gone down the rabbit hole of how to optimally place sound absorbing panels in my office.

Which ones you ask? These. They hang on walls and ceilings with two "T" shaped map pins per panel.

Panels: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0894B4526?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_Y62VQ03DFHJ3HP2KBKKD

Pins: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0777PCHJM?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_XZ7Y1NSXWWRFA3F9E2JH

04/07/2022

This is so true! Recognizing autistic burnout as autistic burnout and not personal brokenness flips the script and makes it possible to add much needed supports to interrupt the burnout cycle and sometimes avoid it altogether.

There’s a common pattern I’m noticing among so many Autistic adults. The pattern is that in order for us to finally find out we’re Autistic, we have to reach complete physical and emotional burnout.

And those of us that somehow skate by without getting to this point, may never realize that they’re Autistic at all. It took me almost 40 years to reach a place so low that I had to ask for help. It was through therapy that I learned why life had been so much harder for me. I then started asking myself the hard questions. And I started searching for an answer.

I learned that, “Autistic burnout is a state of exhaustion, loss of function, an increase in autistic traits, and withdrawal from life that results from continuously expending more resources than one has coping with activities and environments ill-suited to one's abilities and needs.” - Dr. Dora Raymaker.

In other words, Autistic burnout is the result of being asked to continuously do more than you’re capable of without enough time to recover.

Realizing that you're Autistic is crucial because it gives you access to your own community and strategies people use to help. Unfortunately, a diagnosis isn’t always accessible for all of us. That’s why self-diagnosis is valid! But knowing that you’re Autistic is extremely important.

It took burnout for me to realize I’m Autistic. Comment below if it did for you too. 💖 Image ID in Alt text.