The Neurodivergent ceo
For years I was a self-proclaimed multi-potentialite (a person with many passions). It wasn't until 2020 when I was officially diagnosed with ADHD that I quickly realized I am actually Neurodivergent. This explained so much! Especially why I have the ability to get so deeply invested in several things but also can get easily bored with those things in a ridiculously short time. But the term Neurodivergent was so new to me that I fixated on learning what it meant to be a woman who is Neurodivergent while running a business.
The term Neurodivergent is a non-medical umbrella term that describes people with variation in their mental functions according to a Forbes Health article "What does it mean to be Neurodivergent?" After three years of running a business and being Neurodivergent, I think it is time to share some hard truths I have learned along the way.
First and foremost, being a neurodivergent entrepreneur is a challenging journey but in my opinion, even more so for women. While there are many advantages to having a neurodivergent mind, of course, there are also plenty of drawbacks. So let's get into it.
One major disadvantage of being a neurodivergent entrepreneur is we run an extremely high risk of being misunderstood. Neurodivergence can manifest in many ways, from difficulty in understanding and responding to social cues, to being overwhelmed by sensory input. Due to being so easily overwhelmed I also suffer from frequent headaches and oftentimes ADHD paralysis; when I am so overwhelmed that I physically cannot accomplish anything. As a result, it can be difficult for those who are neurodivergent to communicate their ideas effectively to others. This can lead to misunderstandings that can also lead to stagnant business growth which can impede progress, limit opportunities and affect business revenue.
Another disadvantage of being a Neurodivergent entrepreneur is dealing with the immense pressure of running a business from day to day. Many Neurodivergent CEOs are sensitive to stress and can be easily overwhelmed or exhausted. This can lead to burnout more frequently. Many of us also lack consistency which can certainly hinder growing a successful business. As a woman with ADHD, one thing that plagues me the most is time blindness. How this affects my business is the difficulty I have in managing my time efficiently because I am unable to properly prioritize tasks. And it leads to difficulty staying organized, which makes running a business even more overwhelming and hard some days.
As a woman of color who is Neurodivergent, I have noticed that a big challenge is finding the proper resources and support from women who look like me. It can be extremely difficult to locate the right people to collaborate with and the right resources to turn to for help and guidance. This leads to feelings of isolation and loneliness and can make it difficult to make progress in your business when there is a lack of support or network.
As a Neurodivergent CEO, I often have difficulty understanding things that I do not find interesting which includes the legal and administrative aspects of my business. This can lead to costly errors and mistakes. This is why it is important for Neurodivergent entrepreneurs to have the ability to delegate as much as possible. While it is not fun to have to look at the long lists of things that can potentially make your journey extremely difficult, it is vital to understand the disadvantages you face. This allows you to equip yourself with the proper tools needed to overcome the potential challenges we face. With the right support and resources, neurodivergent entrepreneurs can be extremely successful and make a positive impact. It's been three years and I have managed to run and scale a six-figure business despite the challenges I have faced as a Neurodivergent entrepreneur. Moral of the story: you can absolutely do this!
