Best career launch strategy for someone with Aspergers
I am simply overjoyed to have found your site. The resemblances in our paths seems uncanny, but you’re some years ahead and exactly where I want to be. I am a 21 year old with Aspergers, can’t keep a job to save my life, rarely change, shower or brush my teeth, and the only thing I’ve managed to make work for me is working in my parent’s bookstore.
Now I don’t get hours anymore and I am expecting a child, wondering how on earth to make it work. My partner and everyone around me says I would do best at creating my own job, but I can’t for the life of me figure out what that should be, or focus my energy on one thing long enough to take a project to fruition.
So my question is, when you were first figuring out how to get started at running your own projects instead of finding jobs to get fired from over and over, what was the most valuable advice you received or, alternately would in hindsight have hoped to know then?
I needed to work in offices in order to learn the rules of the work world. Even though I got fired a lot I learned a lot. Also I learned a wide range of skills and was able to figure out what I’m good at. Those things helped me to be successful working for myself.
If you are 21 with Aspergers you are five to ten years behind your peers in being able to understand what people do and think. Spend some time in an office giving yourself the chance to catch up. That’ll help you a lot in the long run.
Penelope
Can I just say that the question (i.e. the original post) was extremely well-worded? Just pointing a possible talent. It was focused, succinct, and effective. Not everyone can write like that.
My advice is to start with small projects, anything, like can you write a short story every week? Create a new recipe daily? Review a product? Write code? Draw? Something where you have an ability in that area as well as good executive function.
I have many projects that are half-finished, and it is more difficult to get things off the ground once you are already having a family.
But if you can find something where you can begin small and work your way into completing larger tasks you will be on your way to working for yourself. How long it takes to create an income for yourself is completely up to you and what you do, but it may never happen.
You are already starting a family, do you have anyone to help you at home?