The Neurodivergent Advantage: How I Turned My "Too Much" into My Superpower
For a good chunk of my life, I thought I was just wired wrong. Too intense. Too focused. Too much.
Teachers told me I was distracted. Bosses called me exhausting. Friends found me overwhelming. I was the kid who couldn’t stop talking, the teenager who tried too hard to fit in, and the professional who became obsessed with solving problems—but completely missed social cues.
I spent so many years putting others before myself, considering their needs ahead of my own, and being way too much of an empath. I love my abilities—but not when they come at the cost of my own well-being.
It wasn’t until I was knocking on 40's door that the pieces finally clicked. Learning I was neurodivergent wasn’t just a diagnosis—it was an explanation. My brain wasn’t broken. It was just different. And different, it turns out, can be a damn superpower.
The Cost of Trying to Fit In
For years, I bent over backward trying to be what other people expected:
- Suppressing my curiosity instead of diving deep into topics I loved.
- Forcing myself to focus on things that bored me.
- Changing who I was just to keep friendships.
- Saying ‘yes’ to things that drained me because I didn’t want to disappoint people.
I even found myself in situations that should have been my wake-up call—like taking the blame for a friend who stole beer just so I wouldn’t lose the friendship. Or worse, spending a few hours in county jail because I was trying to protect another "friend" who got into trouble.
And let’s not forget the time I, uh, “borrowed” a cop car (yes, a real one) as a minor to go on a beer run for a party I was hosting. But hey, when you’re the hostess with the mostess, apparently your guests’ beverage supply is your problem. (More on that story another time!)
I ignored the signs because I wanted so badly to belong. But masking who I was wasn’t just exhausting—it was self-destructive.
The Turning Point: From People-Pleaser to Powerhouse
Once I understood my neurodivergence, everything changed. What I had spent years seeing as "flaws" were actually gifts.
🚀 That "excessive" focus? It’s what allows me to solve problems most people give up on.
🚀 The constant pattern recognition? It’s what makes me see business solutions others miss.
🚀 The intense empathy? It’s what allows me to lead with insight, not just logic.
🚀 The “too much” energy? It’s what fuels impossible projects from start to finish.
The biggest shift? I stopped apologizing for who I was. Instead, I started leveraging it.
How This Superpower Changed My Business
The same brain that once made me feel like an outcast? It’s now the reason I get results others can’t. In business, this means:
✔️ Seeing patterns in chaos and turning them into opportunities.
✔️ Solving complex problems by connecting dots others never notice.
✔️ Finding innovative solutions where everyone else sees roadblocks.
✔️ Building genuine connections because I no longer waste energy on pretending.
Instead of forcing myself into traditional business boxes, I create my own damn playbook. And the results speak for themselves.
The "F*ck Off" Mindset (In the Best Way Possible)
At some point, I developed what I lovingly call my "F*ck Off" attitude. Not in a hostile way—just in a "If you don't like me, that’s a you problem, not a me problem."
That mindset has been liberating. It’s allowed me to:
🔹 Say no to projects and people that drain me.
🔹 Work with people who appreciate how I think.
🔹 Build success on my own terms.
Yes, I still get misunderstood. A lot. Some people can’t wrap their heads around my approach. But here’s the truth:
🔥 Not everyone needs to understand your process to appreciate your results.
And the right people? They don’t just “get it.” They need it.
A Message to Anyone Who’s Ever Felt ‘Too Much’
If you’ve ever been told you’re:
🚫 Too intense
🚫 Too focused
🚫 Too different
🚫 Too emotional
🚫 Too much
I’ve got news for you: Those might be your biggest assets.
Your different way of thinking isn’t a weakness—it’s a competitive advantage.
✅ Your intense focus isn’t a flaw—it’s a tool for achieving extraordinary results.
✅ Your unique perspective isn’t a liability—it’s an asset waiting to be leveraged.
✅ Your refusal to think “normally” isn’t a problem—it’s the reason you’ll build things others never could.
I wish I had figured this out sooner. But here’s the best part about finding your superpower later in life:
💡 You appreciate it more.
💡 You use it better.
💡 And you can help others discover theirs, too.
The Bottom Line
I spent years shrinking myself to fit in. Now? I own what makes me different. And it’s the best decision I’ve ever made.
In business and in life, the goal isn’t to fit in—it’s to stand out.
And sometimes, what makes you different is exactly what makes you unstoppable. 🚀