The Autistic Female Entrepreneur: Redefining Success & Thriving on YOUR own terms!
Are you an autistic female entrepreneur? Or maybe a leader or manager, with the weight of the corporate world on your shoulders? You know, the business world can be a bit of a rollercoaster, can’t it? All those peaks and troughs, twists and turns – it’s enough to make even the most seasoned entrepreneur feel a tad queasy! I’ve ridden the rollercoaster of corporate life for over 10 years, and have 11 years of entrepreneurship (and counting!) under my belt. Â
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But let’s have a little chat about that, especially in the context of being a beautifully neurodiverse woman like us. Buckle up, we’re about to dive into “The Autistic Female Entrepreneur: Redefining Success and Thriving On Your Own Terms”. I cannot tell you how passionate I am about supporting other female autistic and ADHD women to create fulfilling and successful lives, without the chronic overwhelm and pressure to conform to society’s version of success!Â
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First off, let me just say, who decided that success was a one-size-fits-all outfit? Who handed down the decree that it’s only about the size of your bank account, or how many followers you have on social media? I don’t know about you, but those measurements just don’t cut the mustard for me. Â
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When I left my corporate job, I walked away from £55k a year – actually I ran away from it! I quit, after driving home one night and thinking I could drive my car off the road, and I wouldn’t have to do it anymore. I wasn’t actually going to do it – but the fact that thought entered my head was enough to make me quit. It was literally life or death!  On the outside, I appeared successful – the house, the car, the career, the lifestyle. Inwardly I was absolutely broken! I’d spent the last 18 months of corporate life driving home crying, suffering with chronic insomnia, panic attacks and IBS. That is NOT my idea of success, thank you very much!Â
Autistic female entrepreneur lightbulb moment!
Did you ever have one of those “lightbulb” moments, when you suddenly realised that you’ve been trying to cram yourself into someone else’s idea of success? What was that like for you? Feel free to shout it out loud, even if your cat is the only one listening! I’ve just told my kitten, Maverick – he seemed pretty impressed by my confession…..well, he looked at me all wide eyed, so I’ll take that!
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I had that very moment not long after my diagnosis. As I reflected on my autism and ADHD diagnosis, I started to realise that I had created an outwardly successful business, but that there were elements of it that did not support me, but I’d followed the ‘should’s’ to success, and there I was – running a multi-award winning ‘successful’ skin & scar clinic – whilst dealing with the overwhelm that running it bought with it!
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I realised that the world was forcing its own definition of success onto me, whilst I was standing there, trying to juggle seventy-seven balls at once, all marked “must-do’s” and “should-be’s”. And I realised I had let society’s version of success become my own, and I had measured my success against benchmarks were not aligned to my version of success!
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Sound familiar? If it does, let’s make a pact, right here, right now. Let’s agree that we, as autistic entrepreneurs, get to define what success looks like for us, on our own darn terms!
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Now, I hear you asking, “That sounds wonderful, but how do I do that?” Great question!
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Firstly, let’s unpack what success means for you. Not what your parents think, not what society deems appropriate, not what your second cousin twice removed considers admirable. No, I’m talking about what makes your heart do a joyful little jig.
What does success look like for you, as an autistic female entrepreneur?
Does success look like building a business that lets you work in your pyjamas at 3pm, sipping on a cup of tea, while you create something wonderful? Or maybe it’s about having the flexibility to pick up your kids from school, never missing a moment, and still feeling professionally fulfilled?
Take a moment to consider – what are the key components that would make you leap out of bed in the morning, eager to start your day? OK – that might be pushing it for some of us, but what would make you look forward to your day? Write them down, paint them, sing them – express them in a way that feels joyously ‘you’. And don’t just think about what you believe to be possible – think about what your ideal day would look like ….no limits.
Next, I invite you to boldly, unapologetically, and consistently find two ways that you can take steps to move your life towards including these key components in your day. I know, I know – it sounds a bit scary. We’re taught to play it safe, to do what’s expected, to fit the mould. But, where’s the fun in that? Where’s the JOY in that? And if you’re struggling to find ways to make the changes you’d like, think about what would it take for you to be able to achieve this. Do you need a PA ?(I have a virtual one, best decision ever!) Do you need to structure your day differently? Is there something you can stop doing, so you can start doing more of what you love?
As we wrap up this chat, I’ll leave you with a nugget to ponder: As autistic female entrepreneurs, our neurodiversity isn’t a bug, it’s a feature! It’s a secret weapon. It’s what allows us to think outside the box, solve problems creatively, and connect with our clients on a deeper, more authentic level. Hands down, I attribute my success to my autism and ADHD.
So, the next time you’re navigating the wild seas of the business world, remember – success is what you make it. Redefine it, embrace it, and thrive in it, all on your own beautiful terms!
Keep shining, you brilliant star, and let’s redefine the business world together, one autistic female entrepreneur at a time!
Until next time, be bold, brave and keep shining! Nikki x