Logical Thinking and Global Empathy

Did you know that you've probably got superpowers? We always talk about the struggles of being neurodivergent of having ADHD or autism, but very rarely do we talk about the amazing benefits and strengths that you might have if you've got a neurodivergent brain? Welcome to Late Bloomers where we are getting our lives together actually brought to you by the amazing Lp earplugs now How' your horses? Oh holding suuperpowers can be triggering topic in our community and for us So I think I just want to say really, really, really clearly where we stand On that I believe Neurodivergent individuals can have extreme areas of strength unusual areas of strength that when they are supported, at work or at home They can succeed do things and imagine things whereas other people may not be able to. Mhm. doesn't negate the very, very, very, very real struggle ADHD and autistic people will often find themselves in Yeah, I think on certainly on the internet, this is a really divisive ADHD or autism isn't a superpower, it's a disability and there's people that are like successful out there going no it's my superpower. like I wouldn't got where I was without it. I suppose where I'm sitting is B can be true, right? Like you can be brilliant at certain things. but if you're sat in real struggles and you're struggling to pay your bills or sitting in the dark or whatever because you can't do life because of the struggles. Your brain understandably will refuse to hear the superpower power It can feel shaming. Yeah. And I think the intention behind calling it a superpower matters Sometimes someone will call it a superpower in order to invalidate the struggle, you've got a superpower. Oh no, don't think about it like that. You've got superpowers That's where it hits really, really hard. Also someone that is ADHD autistic just say, I don't see the struggle. I just see mine as a superpower invalidates people who are really, really struggling. And I've been in that place of really, really struggling. and if someone had just sat down and gone Don't be silly You've got superpowers. I' like, actually I'm addicted to drugs and self harming and I have CCJs after me in bail lifts at the door. so I don't know. Yeah, that's a weird superhero.ice.ice CCJ girl. Yeah. L here we go. So to anyone listening Some of you may be okay seeing parts of your neurodivergence as superpowers So you'll probably find this Interesting listen. Some of you might be one hundred percent against the idea of seeing it as a superpower And if you don't want to listen to that, I can understand how that can be triggering if you're not in that place. Or also if people are really struggling, they might not be able to hear it right now, but hopefully maybe it can give a bit of hope And the key differentiator If we take me, CCJ Girl, the lowest in life on every posossible denominatateor there was to where I am now, Now you walk across that bridge is long term support that is loving, supportive partners, friendships, that is long term therapy and building a life that works for your brain. So we're speaking about this deceades after our worst times. So disclaimer is out the way. I'm actually kind of pumped, you know why Tell me.' our entire platform cast books is always about the struggles, which is so important to talk about. We need to know struggles, we need to know we're not alone. Oh my Godd A lotot are crazy and we have got some like Funky stuff. Well, we've picked each other's superpowers today, haven't we? just want to know what you've picked. For me Yeah, I've picked five for you pick five for me and very roughly this is going to be like Five AAHD superpowers Five autistic superpowers As they relate to me and Rich, off course, it's a spectrum, everybody's different. We want to know in the comments. What your superpowers are I cannot wait to hear what you think might now. Okay, so Should we do like one eight? Let's do it. Who's going first I'm going to stop theA. Okay So this is my first superpower. Your number one, autistic superpower. Wait, number one being most powerful or just it's just one to five. All equal in power and strength and ability. Is that what we say? No, I need to know So funny Hice! so bunny Why? What es Speak profly orientated precision Always asking the deeper questions. You've gone really super high pitch. to understand what's really going on wanting to know the finer details that other people overlook which leads to really quality of work and accuracy. Sorry, that just sent me because You've done exactly that by asking, is it just a numbered list? Is it random? is it in order? That just sorry. I'm back in the room now. G So you're number one, just because it's number one on my list written down randomly, Autistic superp detail orientated precision We had an example of it there a very like Small lad, but what do you mean one to five? How is that list done I see this with you in literally everything that we do. and it's, by the way personersal and professional. So in personal life This is gettingetting to the airport on time where you're going, where you're parking, where it's paid for checking in. Like, you have a detailed plan, you get us there. We never miss a flight. That's because of you. No What It is So powerful and so strong I notice you sppotting mistakes. in like the accountants work Yeah. And you're not an accountant But you'll spot, you'll go through things always with a fine toothcomb. and you'll find Do you know what you mean? I do. Yeahah. I think Detail orientated for me is incredibly, incredibly important and it'd be a bit like a Maybe slightly different, but in meet ins I think it shows Certainly if there's like, Five or six people people are just talking about plans and this is what should happen I will need a buet a detailed bullet pointer. of who's doing what and when Otherwise, it's like I sometimes overhear the calls that you have with your music team And I like can feel myself internally get frustrated going, nothing's going to happen as a result of this call because it's just full of ideas with no one going, who's doing what when, by when, when are we having an update? All of that sort of stuff. Like it's that's the detail're super p. Getting the detail, being precise Who's doing what what's happening here? And yeah, it helps us so much like you run all of our Dbe statistics. So you're always looking When are people subscribing? Are they having a good time? When are they unsubscribing? What could we do to make their experience of lifeve, body doubling better? Oh look T percent of people left but they hadn't tried al live. How do we get it out to more people that were running live body liing? It's like that brain Yeah. All of our businesses running and that's why I think it is a superpower Equal power to the other five powers. O four powers Right, so your first one extreme. Creativity And I'm not talking about You're good at poty painting. or I mean you are That's not what I'm talking about though. And I can give good examples of business side of things So you are creative, that is no surprise and probably will not be a surprise to anyone. But you don't think the same as the average person, you will think completely differently. I don't want to say Blue skky out the box or anything horrible like that, but the way you think about things is is just full of innovation. So like Dubby, for example, that I know you've mentioned it already but the body doubling app. When you first said it to me you were crazy. I mean, I am crazy Yes, it validated my thoughts that you were quit. but it worked and so many people use it and it helps so many people. But like who has that idea Nobody. and that's what I mean by creative thinking. you will You just it's completely different to anyone I've ever known. I love that way of hearing it because we always hear A as a creative And that makes you think in terms of Sunlight, pottery painting, resin crocheting, like all those fun creative things But it's almost deeper than that. It's like on a core level of brain operation You are constantly creating like we laugh about ADHD is coming up with business ideas, registering domain names, having new hobbies. That's how great businesses start. Would they start with someone having the idea? Yeah, but it's not just having the idea. It's in your every fiber. So if I have to think of something creative I'll plan it in obviously, and I'll sit down and be like, rightight, I need to let's take video ideas and I'll just draw a blank You've got the benefit of your brain is always creating. So like that isn't a muscle that you need to really No, it's a tap that you can turn on. So it's like how Johnson video ideas turn it on ten or flood out. Johnson business ideas turn it on ten or flood out. Johnson fun ideas to do on Saturday, turn it on it L it's constantly there and I feel like if ADHD is God the support and they're also got that belief and they've worked on self esteem, they might be able to take one of those ideas to the moon Okay, number two, Autistic superpower. Are you ready doesn't sound exciting. W to you, maybe. D don't know what it is y Dedication and reliability Sexy Yeah it kind of is, right? Because it's this both to Personal interests and hobbies. And what if you say you're going to do something, you do it incredibly thorough and that makes you basasically one hundred percent dependable So in personal life That's you saying I'm going to bring our lawn back to life. We had a really long lawn full of weeds And you spent weeks Mowing it weeding it seeding it, walking over it in special spike shoes to aate it. L and you are out there Every single day come rain or shine working on that lawn, you will never let it down And I know that we're going to have the best lawn. so it's like When you say, this is what I'm doing, you will do it, you will stick to it and no one will be as dependable as you And then at work I mean, hi, we started making videos about ADHD four years ago. I have stop that after like three months. I wouldd have been like, Bard next. you were like This is helping people. There's a community here There's more we can say Let's keep going. You were able to like M Drag you through the dredges. It Drag me through the dredg. I don't want to say like that. I love what we do. What an absolute honor it is, but like yeah, I would have been off to the next thing pottery making business or resin podcasts, or whatever So you work have the ability to just stay dedicated. things done. Like you think any of these books would have been finished if it had anything to do with me? I'd have got halfway through, maybe design the front cover and been out You get it done, you get it out The front cover's the first thing to be done, isn't it Yeah, I like to start with the visually fun stuff. Yeah. I don't like Editing. Yeah Okay, ye So ADHD superpower number two or ROCs ADHD superpower number two Sack ability. That is an actual word. t if you kn that or not But just boundless enthusiasm setbacks. So like if you're determined That's it is happening. If it doesn't happen the first time or second or third or fourth or fifth or sixth. It might the seventh, but you you will be determined. and and actually E more than that notot only Do you have that bounce back ability and that determination It almost fuels you even more. like telling you no it can't happen, No it can't be done. You're like, Yes, it can in the realm that we live in, it can be done. I feel like I can see it clearly into Ways. So one is like me wanting to go to my favourite restaurant and Ask you like every day, like every day, we going to branded? like every day, I just check in, I just keep pushing. You say no We're saving money. You say no it's twenty minutes away we've got food in. L No, no, no, and I just keep asking. and then O day I get a yes and it's like, and it doesn't matter. all those rejections, all those nos because I'm being driven to branded and have in a lovely state. That happened literally last week. That's why it was in my brain, like bouced back ability, but also that same mechanism I have been in music for over twenty years numerous projects that have failed, numerous rejections lost so much money some pretty horrendous times Come on, let's start a new project Come on register and use social media. C on back in the studio. I just kept going. desespite all like all evidence was like music is not going work for you. You should quit now. I was like, no, I'm going to keep going and now it's working. So I do think there is something I loved it. What did you say Endless Eusim. Endless enthusiasm. We're like little puppy dogs. Yeah. You can kick us and we'll jump back up. Oh that's. You you are like rocket. Yeah. Yeah. Wow, I had't thought about that Okay Rich' Autistic superpower Numberers three. having very high integrity This is you being super direct and honest which some people labeled as rude actually through this lens It's truthful, it's honest, it's reliable Being really principled. you stick to your word, you don't lie, you don't manipulate You're straight down the line. ving a really good moral compass, like you don't want to do the wrong thing. You want to treat people fairly. which then makes you in business and at home a very like trustworthy and loyal ion say you know, I'm a lot more and down I can want to I don't know, like leave business situations or make changes or be a bit impulsive. you're always Calm, stable trustworthy voice of reason doesn't react based on emotion that really thinks about moral compass. What is right and wrong What's the right way to treat someone? the wrong way to treat someone? and it's like embedded in your soul. It's funny because as you're saying it U I would say that I would be broadly less liked in business than you are that I'll be I'll be higher it'll be higher on the trustworthy scale Yeah. I'm not saying you're not trustworthy, but you know what I mean? L hereere's the thing, if someone is super direct with you and says the difficult thing gives the criticism, doesn't avoid At least you know where you stand I'm more on their P people pleaser avoid hide actually You just make more problems for yourself. So that level of directness, high integrity It leads to such a trustworthiness like at work I've seen you something where percent extra money was coming to us. It's something to do with my music vinyls. And you raised it with my management company, you overpaying And that level of Not everyone's like that, not everyone's looking just do the right thing A lot of people want to do the right thing that benefits them Yeah. You just want to do the right thing even if it doesn't benefit you and that is a remarkable quality to have The other thing that I've noticed as well is because of the way that I am Do you know sometimes rub people up the wrong way When I say like well done or give praise, it like lands more than somebody that says well done for tying up your shoelaces because they're overkill and just trying to make someone happy. L if you get a well done for me Done well. L lovevely. Okay, so before we go on your number three, let's have a word from our sponsors We have the most amazing sponss here at Late Bloomers and that is the amazing loop. earplugs Lp earplugs are So important in Mine and Rich's day to day life Whenever we leave the house, whether that is going to the pub for dinner or going to Tesco shopping or I'm dragging him to a sleep token concert This is what helps us leave the house. If you're neurodivergent, there's a high chance that you have sensory sensitivities and that can mean that your brain has trouble focusing on the right sounds, you can take in everything in your environment, and you can actually be triggered by loud noise. So if you've ever been, for example shopping Load of people have been talking and it's made you overstimulated and a bit stressed This is what you need. We have Itwf and off for all of our listeners and our own website with Lp It's in the show notes and you can also find it at the link in our bio. and you're going find all of our favourite products. There's the loop Quiet if you're taking a cheeky little nap at home, and you just want to reduce the noise in the background. There's the loop enngage, which is amazing if you're going out for dinner or going shopping and the loop experience if you are being dragged to a rock concert So you can hear the music and protect your ears. Enjoy Okay Number three And this is very much aligned to optimism So you will believe posossible can happen And this is why I have so much U'm love and admiration towards this is it is completely opposite to me. So you will If you believe in something, And I will think it's impossible. that will just work you will want to take that risk and take that leap Like you're the reason. This is a good example why I don't work in the bank today because of this superpower of yours. like You go in Why don't you just quit your job that you've had for twenty years and you're really senior of a company car And we'll make videos on the internet and it'll be lovely life I'm like Be insane You're like How do we make this happen Yeah, I I think so many ADHDs are like that You know, you said D'tna say out of the box thinking. Unfortunately, it kind of Is that It's taking something that shouldn't be possible and finding a way through by hook or by crook You are going to get there. You're going find that. You know, they won't let you in the door, you're going to find your way in through the window And it's so amazing because it means that you get to just do awesome stuff that might not have been available to you. So few examples from my life is I'm not signed to a record label Surprisingly enough, nobody wants forty one year old. Crazy lady. So I started my own record label If one said it would be impossible T Have an album go in the charts Well it went in the chart and it was number ten. I was told it was impossible to start an app. unless you've got loads of money and investment from VC and companies out in San Francisco No, I think we can find a company makeake a deal And if they believe in it will'll get it done. I was told it was impossible to sit down and write a book done that a few times There's something about the nature of being told something is impossible that makes me believe I can do it and this like high conviction view. What's nuts though? I know this is all about superpowers not struggles, so I don't want to derail, but like believe I can write a book can start a record label it I believe I can start an app Dad Do the laundry. No, so I don' like It doesn't make no sense. There's definitely a balance to this one because yeah, laundry, but all of those examples that you've given. And this is probably to give people hope as well. There's also examples where you've believed it, like you believe that we would have a resin business And we don't. So like they don't all have to work. No, no. but the great thing is you never lose that belief in the impossible. and like eventually It'll get you there. Well, you could say that about being an entrepreneur, right? Like Res in business, resin business. I know, that's failed. And this goes back to your bounce back ability, right What's the next What's the next impossible thing? That's it We love it. Okay, Are you ready for number four rich autism superpower? Yeah authenticity extreme authenticity having armor towards pay pressure and social pressure and group consensus So just because nine people on the call are all going, Oh yeah, great idea Do not? move you at all. from what you believe allows you to be really strong in your own identity courage to tell the truth when other people won't. And this is It's so special because Again, I keep saying it's like personal and work, but it is Yeah You will always call me out on my BS You will see it so clearly and you do it kindly You aren't crushed by fADs or the way things are meant to be done history, that's just the way it is. like whether that's me or business What I just love it. Like sometimes it can be a bit awkward but we're on a call and someone's like, oh yeah, this is just how it's done. Can we do it that way? No, why not People don't do it that way. But why not? weed it like you always push back and I'm sure sometimes it can irritate people that we work with recent example we self released our latest book The charity Theory And we were told it was impossible to get a self releasase book into wateraterstones, which is a big UK bookshop So of course I heard that and was like, impossible. let's go. And then you And I didn't actually do any of the work you did reached out to Waterstones, connected them with our agent, our manager came up against so many hurdles, emailed the director of sales at Waterstones, got in a almost argument and then actually found a resolution I was told yeah, yeah, it's on the way towards the. I was told no so many times by really senior people didn't care because it didn't make any sense. Everyone else when the director of sales says we can't do it. Everyone else on the team was like, o sorry, Mate you've tried. and you were like Nigh It doesn't make sense. I need to know why. But I said that to him. I was like, it doesn't make sense. We've got Consumable product that people want this amount, we want you to buy it for this amount It's just bureaucracy. That's the only reason you You actually said that But that level of authenticity is a superpower because it means you just have high conviction M al li and at work and I just think I think it's really Cool because if you're in a conversation like with you you're in a conversation with you H Who you are with the head of Wstones is who you are with me and Sarah, like you're just the same guy That is real authenticity, I just think it's wonderful. That yeah, we have I mean we have a problem with not a problem, but we don't really see hierarchy in the same way as Others D. Right you ready for your number four? Oh yeah Rpid problem solving thinking under pressure and you'll find new solutions.Quite a funny quote. This is Um if you want something done or if you want the best way to do something The actual quote is give it to somebody lazy. Well I think it should say is give it to someone with ADHD because you will find most efficient most like untaxing way of doing something that exists. You can save energy you'll find a way of doing it. And I think that's Like if I come to you with a problem, I know You will find a solution to it. Butus I know you will Yeah, it's I love problem solving I think a lot of ADHDs would identify as Being good in a crisis. good when the stakes are high seeing It's like this non linear thinking. you can find answers from places that a logical brain wouldn't necessarily K and I am that person on ourur team so If something goes wrong with Dubby or we need to do something with Dubby, it's often me that's thinking of a solution. alsoso in My music work, music is very erratic, very up and down, especially when you're on tour Sometimes you have to come up with a really quick idea to turn something round or fix something And yeah, I love that I kind of thrive in Finding those secret ways to get something done or Do something differently. Do one disclaimer They have to be big problems because you are c, they have to be sort of almost crisis situations. You are calm as a cucumber, you'll sort it out. But if you like pl your headphones when you've got a train to catch. That's it, you're done. You're melting down. Yeah, that's so true. like an absolute meltdown over losing a pair of headphones If, like what happened in November, You tell me The budget's been miscalculated and I'm going on tour and I'm about to lose twenty five thousand pounds I will find way to stop myself going Anger And like I did on that tour. It's even that news, it's like someone delivers you the news, I'm so sorry, something went wrong in the numbers. it's actually come out way more expensive to go on tour You're going to lose twenty five thousand pounds. So it's like someone's saying you're going to be bankrupt. And my view is like, right, okay Straight into let's do this, let's do that. didn't end up broke even, which you would take. but yeah, lose the headphones. Mountdown Okay, are you ready for your final Autistic superpower. Yeah, not least powerful, just number five on the list. Yes say It's kind of two foold Cor of that is logical thinking. recognition in that logic world It's the ability to not be guided by emotions J just see the data ions to make predictions and then actually be able to troubleshoot and innovate from a place of logic and I see that. all the time at work. It's not something I can do. I'm highly emotional But you can literally just look at the maths, the data pllug it Yeah, fix it, what's happening, what's going wrong And you know, you always identify as not being creative, but I actually think in terms of Innovating, you are very creative J rather than drawing from that kind of fantasy visual world, you draw it from data and you're then really creative with the data I am I'm the data person. Analytics is like one of my favoritite Favorite word, whether it's W, whether it' social media And I will purely be You all be driven and guided by that. So yeah, that's a big take for me And it just means that you Actually, you can always make a decision we're talking about business it' always best for the business out history or emotion peer pressure even getting in the way, it's logical And that just that counts so much, I remember we had a We've been dealing with we've built our entire own body dubbing platform. We've been building it for the last six months. It's not live yet, but it's going live We were previously doing our live body dubbing sessions on Zoom. For anyone that doesn't know, it's like one hundred ADHDs come to clean together every three hours on Dumy We had this huge issue on certain phones. The app was crashing And we have like a team of developers working on it. proper coders I mean, it's been months and they weren't able to figure it out Led at the data, you looked at the phones that were crashing and without understanding code or the crash logs, you were able to say, I think it's because we controlling the feeds rather than on Zoom where you So it's a loading issue Anyway, we didn't listen to you Yeah Be we were listening to 'causeuse I'm not a coder. Yeah. And then it's turned out actually that would have fixed the issue. So it's That's an incredibly creative and intuitive solution looking at data So yeah, love your logical thinking there, babes. Thanks. right You ready for your last one? Give me my last superpower Empathy is your last one, but then did empathy. Let me explain a bit more. and obviously P person to person, you're highly empathetic but actually better than that. you are able empathetic to the masses. So if you take our following, that's why W exists. That's why in the book. It's had a profound impact on more than just the person opposite you. It's like you have, you know, tied in with your creativity, believe in the impossible mix that in with empathy, you're able to really tap in from a business point of view for one. rather than what do you want? And that's empathy and it's core, right? Like it's putting the other person first and you're very lged by them you help someone other It's really interesting, I've never heard empathy described like that. I was like global empathy. It's always described too me, empathy is always meant feeling and caring for the person in front of you, whichich you're good at as well Yeah, but I almost feel like That misses a superpower ADHD is of tapping into that empathy and being able to T me write songs or write books or start a body doubling up to help people every ADHD will empathy It makes you feel really strongly and I think that can pull you towards creating Things that help. Well, if you like Looking at it really logically, which I am It's why or things that you do really connect with people because you're like can help them or how are they going to feel when they have this rather than just business, how do we you do it the other way round. You'll start at the end point of empathy towards the people that you trying to help and then build up from there rather than build the product and then the marketing plan and what's the budget? and how do we like it's the other way around, which is why it works What an empathy who'd have sought? That my crying over inanimate objects would lead to business ideas. It has been so fun talking about the other side. We spend so much time talking about the struggles and how to help there. It's actually quite joyful to look at these weird and wonderful ways our brains are able to make a positive change, not only for ourselves and our families, but also out in the outside world We hope that this has been some food for thought. Let us know in the comments. Where are you at? What are your superpowers? If you've liked it, please give us a like, a follow a subscribe wherever you're watching or listening and we shall see you Next week