Why So Many Neurodivergent People Own a Business

I started freelance writing at age 16. After dozens of job applications to the typical teenage workplaces, followed by interviews that resulted in no job, I was discouraged. Finding a space where my work could be judged rather than me felt like a key to a locked door that stood square in my way.

I earned the self-granted job title of 'terrible interviewer'.

Let's play some of the classics: "On a one-to-10 scale, can you tell us how assertive you are?" I thought to myself, five is about average. I'm probably just slightly below average but nowhere near one standard deviation. I value honesty. "4.75."

"Please tell us about a time when you achieved something?" My mind is blank. How do they define achievement? I'm not sure my three-minute recount of the hours I'd spent in the library some time back learning about the brain, trying to figure out how to pronounce 'amygdala,' and understanding the concept of the sodium-potassium pump, was what the retail interviewer was looking for. It felt like a real accomplishment to me.

After a job interview that I thought went relatively well, I received an email. The letter detailed my wavering eye contact and shaky hands, expressing that I would not be invited to the next round of interviews but that the interviewer wanted me to "benefit" from the interview.

I still have that email.

I am also autistic and live with mental health conditions. I'm someone who comes across a little bit different.

I am thankful that, in time, I found my way to employers willing to give me a chance.

Today, I am a psychotherapist with a thriving private practice. I provide psychotherapy, train at a national level, have written a book, and give consultations. I have never had to furnish an interview for hire and will never fire myself.

The Neurodiversity-Entrepreneur Connection

Like myself, many neurodivergent people and individuals with psychiatric disabilities have blossomed through self-employment or starting a business.

Artist and founder of Schizophrenic.NYC, Michelle Hammer, shares her story of living with schizophrenia through her self-made business a mental health clothing line with designs of her creation. Her leggings add color and awareness to the world.

Many notable entrepreneurs of our times have been neurodivergent, including the creator of the self-named broker's firm Charles Schwab (Langston, 2009), the founder of Virgin Airlines Richard Branson (Katzman, 2022), and IKEA innovator Ingvar Kamprad (Ott et al., 2024). These successes might not be all despite neurodivergence but because of it.

More recently, several families have created businesses with their neurodivergent children to sculpt an alternative and sustainable means of employment together (Danguilan, 2024). A beautiful example is what started as a summer shirt project, 'Be Kind to Everyone.' Today, the founder who is open about her autism, and her family sell a variety of merchandise encouraging kindness and autism acceptance.

These individuals are not just a few shining exceptions. One study found that a whopping 72% of surveyed business owners reported a diagnosis of a mental health condition or neurodivergence (Freeman et al., 2018).

Among all the statistics we wade through, it appears that being neurodivergent or having a mental health condition is a risk factor for... starting a business.

Different Minds and Innovation

Ed Thompson is the CEO of a neuroinclusion training company. In his book, The Hidden Force: Unlocking the Potential of Neurodiversity at Work, he explores assets that neurodivergent people bring to workplaces including, their own businesses. He discusses how pattern recognition, unique perspectives, and an accumulation of resilience can create a perfect recipe for success in self-employment.

Neurodiversity Essential Reads

Is It Time to See Dyslexia as a Superpower?

Flourishing for All: Inclusion in Wellbeing Science

I have found that private practice has granted me the liberty to engage in a spectrum of adjacent tasks that contribute to something infinitely meaningful to me rather than having to choose just one. I flourish with novelty, space for creativity, and a balance of independent work and connection. While my pathways are not always aligned with the main roads, I've found those that I've been able to carve myself to be optimal.

The ability to curate my work-pace and schedule to my strengths has given me wings.

As with my story, self-employment gives many of these options. Do you focus best at 3 AM? A lot of work can be done at night. Do bright lights bother you? No fluorescent lighting is necessary. My office has a swing.

Success Through Rejection

With interview and hiring processes that can present additional barriers to neurodivergent candidates, self-employment is a different track. I have learned something through every interview I attended, whether or not I was hired. When we have had to fight so hard to reach our goals, we sharpen our skills along the way. Once we land an opportunity, our gratitude can propel us to make the absolute best of it.

I believe that a lot of success is achieved after rejection.

A More Accommodating World

While I am happy in my curated office, I hope to see a day when all workplaces are more open and accepting of potential neurodivergent employees. Offering alternative interviews based on a work sample, flexibility in schedules, and having accessible means of gaining accommodation are just a few steps employers could take.

Specific to autism, one survey study of hiring agents found unfortunate common beliefs that neurodivergent candidates would be incapable and unreliable (Mai, 2019). Lies like this keep society from benefiting from the many gifts these candidates could offer and may be in part responsible for the also concerning 83% unemployment rate among autistic individuals. These realities hurt potential candidates, those companies, and the world.

Neurodivergent job candidates are far from a liability. They present unique strengths and often have a talent for viewing problems in a different way leading to creativity. Workplaces that embrace neurodiversity reap a variety of fruits, ranging from increased morale to creative innovation (Thompson, 2023)

Self-employment and neurodivergent-led businesses are wonderful, but not for everyone. If we can create a more accommodating world, we all win.