THINK LIKE NO ONE’S WATCHING

The biggest result in my career was telling the industry I had autism.

And this blog was the breakthrough.

Its purpose was to help me and people around me understand how someone with autism deals with the industry.

Before that I had a series of misunderstandings and moments where I had to compress my emotions.

In short, I was masking myself to my peers, losing the most important quality of a creative, identity.

And this blog released me, allowing me to be my wacky self.

I’ve covered being overwhelmed with information but funnelling it into a single-minded direction with my autism.

The stress of perfection and how my autism helps me craft work.

And chatted about loyalty and ferocious commitment you have with autism, towards people that put in the time for you to progress. 

Which leads in nicely to the point of this post.

There had been this inherent fear to write another post since Tony Cullingham passed away last year in September.

Every post I’ve written on this blog was always critiqued by TC, he’d help me tweak my posts, making my writing linear and to the point on the topic I was discussing around autism.

He was my guardian angel in this industry, who I’d look up to whenever I needed advice or direction.

And this blog was encouraged by him, giving me the strength to make it happen.

Now whenever I quote him or use his teaching to help junior creatives break into the industry, I have a moment where I mourn.

With autism you need people that have your back, especially when the world doesn’t understand you.

It’s like having a real-life superhero, and Tony always said to me “Dan, find people that get you”.

I’ve been lucky to work at an agency that gets me.

And that’s a very beautiful thing for someone with autism.

Acceptance.

However, I know there are many who haven’t discovered that acceptance, who still feel no one understands them.

And my advice in this industry is to think like no one’s watching, don’t be scared to express yourself.

Ignore the people that don’t get you and find the confidence in yourself to attract the people that do get you.

The people that love your quirks, whether it’s a shit or genius idea on the day, these people value the swagger you bring into the workplace.

Graham Fink showed up to CDP (Collett Dickenson Pearce) with his copywriter Jeremy Clarke, dressed up as old people, because the creative director at the time told him they were only after a senior team.

Now I’m not saying Graham Fink is autistic, who knows!

But what I am saying is he and his creative partner didn’t give two shits what people would think and did this crazy idea anyway, and CDP loved it.

I’d take this example when it comes to using your autistic mind to grab attention.

And soon enough you’ll find people that get you.

That takes confidence in yourself.

It’s why I’ve started writing again.

Cheers TC.