Should you turn your special interest into a business?

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[@crazyratlady3115]

I am PDA autistic so the best way to immediately kill my special interest is to suggest I turn it into a side hustle haha. Even if I love the thing more than life itself, the minute there's a deadline or an external expectation I'd rather die than do it for even a second.

[@lidu6363]

Thisssss 💯

[@rainerwahnsinn3265]

​@@lidu6363I can relate. Seems like I'm going to try never the less.

[@BeauMeztli]

I feel like this as well, almost as it makes it less enjoyable

[@lidu6363]

What I tried instead, was finding a well-paid job, which has nothing in common with my hobbies, and my next goal is switching to part-time

[@anabelle1508]

So relatable !

[@elisabethmontegna5412]

It would be great if there was a business partner matchmaker service for neurodivergent people so that people with a special interest in accounting or marketing or whatever could pair up with neurodivergent entrepreneurs who want to start a business but have difficulty with those things.

[@hannah51238]

Business idea right there!

[@ObraumDziemniaka]

The problem with me is that despite I have multiple passions once it becomes a job which I must do, it is not a passion anymore and turns into hate for multiple reasons: 1. It is a must to do, so from the moment it is not my choice anymore and involve other people I am starting to feel uncomfortable. And there is no business without people. 2. I am getting judged for my passions, so the joy is gone. There is no business without judgement from other people. 3. At some point you will face the issue of adjusting what you love to please other people, which I was doing for over 40 years with sacrificing my own good, so it will turn into hate again. 4. With the autistic inertia and all other stuff around doing business, there is quite high possibility that before I start I will fail with all the paper and legal work. Anxiety to the roof. 5. I made this mistake and went for studying what I loved, which is photography. I ended up with burn out and tought that will not finish my studies. Since I finished I havn't touched the camera. 6. I have problem with maintaining everyday life, so how can I maintain doing business?

[@edwardlulofs444]

Exactly. I had the same experience.

[@ObraumDziemniaka]

I can just add that once in my life I was running a business. More like a self employment thing. I was doing DTP. I had constat problem with pricing my job, constat problem with doing connection with people, constat problem with asking for money, when invoices were overdue. Despite meeting deadlines I had constant problem with procrastination, which was raising my stress and anxieties. After 3 years of it I decided to shut it down, went abroad and worked in a warehouse, where the noise and targets hit me mentally and phisically. Few times I had slipped disc and till this moment I struggle with left arm and lower back pain. Then I was working in IT, but in the worst possible place for me, as a first line support, mostly behind the phone. At the end of the day I was ready to run and hit the wall with my head just to stop feeling the brain burn. I felt like I am crawling and one day I will not wake up from bed. And it happened unfortunately.

[@edwardlulofs444]

@@ObraumDziemniaka yes. I heard in the 50s that being a professor was low stress. Huh! Harder than the class lectures were graduation. I hated the crowds, the rituals, the costumes. I went to my high school graduation and vowed to never go to another. My eventual skipping of graduation was not accepted kindly by administrators. Neurotypical people love it. Now retired, I am very happy.

[@bethanykittok3903]

Oof. #2 and #3 hitting me hard right now. 10 years ago I developed an interest in Shiatsu massage, because it worked really well for me. Despite being enthusiastic about it, I was never quite successful. Then Covid shut down my business (we were not allowed to do massage for a couple months) and I pivoted to nursing. It's been hard, but at least I am financially stable now. I hope you get the help you need for your back! Massage, chiropractic, acupuncture, kinesiology, have all helped me overcome injuries. ♥️

[@edwardlulofs444]

Yep, me too.

[@tanjagardner285]

I'm diagnosed ADHD and suspected AuDHD, and have been running my own fulltime business first copywriting, then editing (wordnerdery and language are definitely passions and - possibly? - special interests for me), since 2012. I can confirm EVERYTHING you've said in here: the 'running a business' side of things is huge, and I wouldn't have lasted if I hadn't been lucky enough to be able to outsource the stuff I suck at (accountancy and website management) from the start. I can also state from experience that yes, there are elements of running my own business that being neurospicy makes me particularly suited for, but there are also elements that are harder. A *LOT* of business/entrepreneurial training is designed for neurotypical brains, and it's really easy to assume that when it doesn't work, the fault lies with your willpower or motivation or some character flaw, rather than just 'this technique is not appropriate for you'. I'm seeing a lot more neurospicy business coaches offering a different approach now though, so I'm delighted that you'll be one of them

[@dianasumtin3817]

Omg neurospicy is going to be my new favorite word 😂.. Thank you so much lol

[@Warspite03]

I didn't start my own business, but I work for the government in a field of one of my long-term special interests. That gives me a safety net and fulfillment.

[@yasminni485]

Thanks for this video. I am autistic with ADHD and OCD, I have a passion for creating art, but I have a difficult time selling it. Mainly because that takes talking to people and talking about myself. Also, I feel I have a lack of confidence in asking for higher prices as the judgements start rolling in. I'm not good with confrontations, deadlines, or compliments. I'm also not good at being constant with uploading my creations, etc. and showcasing it - it takes so much anxiety for me to do that. And, once I have to do something, I really don't want to do it and it takes all my effort just to get started. When a passion becomes a job it takes the fun out of it and I'm left exhausted and frustrated. Procrastination has got to be my superpower - too bad I can't make money through that.

[@elizabethf8078]

Exactly!

[@edwardlulofs444]

Yes, I relate. I can’t give you any advice. My interests are science and computers. Yes, profitable but the social aspect did not help me “succeed”. Now I’m retired and happy. Good luck.

[@yasminni485]

@@edwardlulofs444 Thank you :)

[@karolinaska6836]

Well said. I've written three books but nearly had meltdowns during formatting, and marketing is a big fat zero. I am so completely demoralized after learning all I could and running ads, etc. I love to write but can't turn it into income. While my most rewarding paid job has been teaching adults ESL, my ideal job would probably be a mindlessly repetitive solitary activity, which is pretty much being replaced completely by robots and computers. 😢

[@yasminni485]

@@karolinaska6836 Thank you. I feel you completely. Painting in solitude while listening to YT videos is me. I wish I could help. I'm currently telling everyone that I speak to (not many people, mainly a few neighbours) that I'm looking for someone who likes, and is good, at selling. Maybe you could try to do the same. I'm sure there is someone that loves to do the exact thing you're struggling with that would be happy to help. If you can get over the fear of asking for help, that is (not making any assumptions - that's my own struggle). Best of luck.

[@coryharris8417]

Another consideration is that you must interact with the public, and when they try to bargain down your price, it can feel very disrespectful, which can be an extra irritant if you already have a hard time with people. Another venue for sales might be the right answer. Paying a commission to another person or store might be worthwhile.

[@edwardlulofs444]

Yes, bargaining is a social skill and I hate it too.

[@abbey4750]

I'm a full time university student and am planning on taking a gap year at the end of this semester because im burned out from studying. Nearly a year ago I started a crochet business on etsy (I gasped when you mentioned this specifically😂) I started out selling physical products but they didn't sell well and I quickly got bored of making the same things over again. I then realised designing patterns is my passion and months later, the passion and motivation is still growing! I still find social media marketing quite difficult and mentally exhausting but selling on etsy means marketing isn't completely necessary because there's a natural traffic to your shop so it allows me to take my time and figure out how to do things in a way that suits me. In the 10 months since setting up my shop, I've had over 600 sales which I'm very proud of and felt like I've come so far since starting.

[@coryharris8417]

So smart. When you do a craft that you make one and sell one is not that great. Making something that you can sell to multiple people and continue selling while you create new things to sell to multiple people is the perfect angle. Well done!

[@abbey4750]

@@coryharris8417 and it also works well because when I don't release anything for a couple of months because I have too much else going on, my shop doesn't go completely quiet because the patterns never sell out

[@bethanykittok3903]

So happy you know yourself well enough to say you need a gap year. The first time I went to college (I've got a couple degrees and certifications now 😅) back in 2000, I started talking about taking a year off and everyone around me scared me out of it by saying I would never go back, never complete my degree. So instead I took 6 years to complete a degree that should've taken me 4.5, and all that degree has gotten me is an extra .50 cents an hour at some low wage jobs. Whoopee.

[@josephstanichar5434]

My special interest is video games and for years I wanted to turn my career into video game journalism. I got two fantastic internships and won two national awards for my work in the field. After graduating, however, not even the lowest-paying (I'm talking $20k/year) jobs would hire me because of how competitive the field is. I eventually found a non-gaming job in journalism and have actually enjoyed it a lot, and I still write about video games as a freelancer on the side! It's a really good balance and I hope people can realize that even if you don't have your job be your passion, you can still have it fund and support your passions.

[@caitlinwhatthefrick2361]

I’m an artist just starting to sell commissions and I messed up by saying that I’d price my 11x14 paintings at just $75 (!) when it should have been priced at $200. -and now I have to do 7 of them and I can’t go back and tell the person I changed the price of the commission cus that’s not fair to them. Ugh! 😩🤦🏻‍♀️

[@RhysMorganadhd]

Really thoughtful video. The part about income from side hustle really resonated. Thank you.

[@melancholiadementia]

it has been the most soft bitter pill of reality, well executed

[@lismarcel]

I've been considering turning my special interests into a business. I love writing English lessons for Film Studies (I'm a uni teacher) and I'd like to turn them into a course book, but I lack the time because my life as an overworked teacher is overwhelming as it is

[@katzenbekloppt2412]

HEYYY, Saaaam! You are back🤩 Happy 2024 P.S.: ähm, the german autocorrection transfered the "Saaaam" to Sadam...😂

[@LadiesoftheHunt]

Im the AuADHD weirdo whose special interest is the core aspects of running a business. I own a bookkeeping and tax business. I find it quite difficult to make myself do my work for my clients, however I love and have no problem managing my own books, running reports, and doing my regular filings, lol.

[@OOB080]

Something to consider is: "Do I want to receive orders during the time I used to do the thing I love?"

[@murtazaarif6507]

I like to be the best. So from my perspective if everybody else is doing the same thing then I won't have the novelty to be different and unique. Running any kind of business that a common person can start has the same effect for me. I think I am searching for my true self through the conflict between my place in society and my creative self.

[@edwardlulofs444]

I have used my interests to make earn money. But I never wanted to run a business. One time I bought a farm but hated the work, taxes, sales, etc just as you are describing. I lost most of my money then. Now that I’m retired, I live a simple happy life. It was very difficult living in this country but learning how high on the asd that I am has helped me to adjust. I really like this channel and I am sure that it will help many people.

[@carinaluxford241]

I have autism and OCD. I have for many years been interested in supporting people with OCD and worked as a volunteer for the UK charity OCD Action for 5 years. This inspired me to train as a counsellor and both during and after my training I practised as a general counsellor with clients. This led on to some more specific work with clients with OCD. I'm now since 4 years back running my own mental health practice, focusing my time entirely on helping people manage their issues with OCD. Some of my clients also have autism and other conditions. I absolutely love my work and I'm able to choose my hours and to work alone, which is my preference. I also have an extremely supportive husband who takes care of tax payments and tech issues, which drive me mad. 😊 A really helpful video, thank you!

[@jessicanicolebelmonte6252]

Growing um as an undiagnosed neurodivergent person was extremely difficult, especially in a society that values and expects conformity and uniformity. I graduated from high school in spite of the educational system, but ultimately failed at university. I had a very hard time holding down an employment job due to my unrecognized neurodivergence. My longest single employment was just under three years. I was over 30 when I got “diagnosed” with ADHD. But there was no social acceptance for ADHD, especially the adult kind: “You are just a lazy lout with no self-discipline!” So out of necessity I became a free-lancer. It was extremely hard! I had to live on a very strict budget way below minimum wage levels for many years. One of my biggest struggles was meeting the deadline for filing and paying the monthly Value-Added-Tax declarations, so early on I decided to retain an accountant to keep up with the constant changes in tax regulations and to remind me of the monthly deadlines for filing the receipts. I have tried the idea of a partnership, but I got ripped off by the supposed business partner.

[@kikitauer]

This is interesting! As an AuDHDer I have many special interests, some of them for decades. Some of them could probably sustain me if I went all in but I am risk-averse and also in debt so it will have to wait. But good that I know you're on it! Sound like a great endeavor 😊🤩 Also I hope for your 2024 be great as well 🥰

[@portraitoftheautist]

Thank you Sam, sage counsel, something you love and something you do for a living can never be quite the same. The word amateur means for love, a profession is always different. Very best for 2024 ❤

[@TheCeejay95]

This. It's me.

[@MDonuT-of7px]

I just like to thank my brain for allowing me to have advertising as a special interest. All of my other ones are related to tabletop wargames, CRPGs and comics, so it's nice to have one that benefits me directly! (My favorite commercial is an Italian animated one about floor polish from the 1960s)

[@ArjanKop]

I’ve been asked to become the curator of a small natural history museum, which ticks almost all my ‘special interest boxes’. I declined, hesitantly, because I’d be responsible for a lot, without much help. IT is not my passion, but I’m fairly good at what I’m doing and it feeds my kids.

[@imjustjules]

I was a therapist for 2 years and mental health / neurodiversity are my biggest special interests. Didn’t work for me but I know it does for a lot of my autistic therapist friends.

[@egrace3738]

Heck YES, turn your passion into money. I turned my love of nature into an educational non-profit... library programs. I incorporated this through a lawyer and submitted taxes every year.

[@edwardlulofs444]

This video and comments contain ten times more good advice on business and employment than the repetitive drivel that passes for career advice that I have seen. There ate real practical examples of how we can find a place in this strange world that we live in.

[@almondthefurret6818]

Thank you for putting my special interest (Tweek, South Park) in the thumbnail.

[@MartKart8]

I like making 3D art, using software called Blender, I used to draw things a lot, and used to make montages. The thing is I'm pretty bad at most other things, like I find maths to hard. one thing I've noticed is companies are pushing A.I to make art, and then hearing people getting fired and replaced with A.I, so the business leaders can make more money.

[@roadrunnercrazy]

I had to laugh at your "selling crochet on Etsy" example. It is just what I did and soon realized that it would not be profitable. Fortunately my other special intrests are books and researching history, so I was able to pivot my Etsy shop to selling antiques; mostly books. 😀 While it isn't bringing me a livable income yet, that is because I have chronic illnesses that limit the time I can put into my business. For the amount of time I spend working, it does very well.

[@lykanbluepaws]

I've often wanted to start a business but i don't think i could do it without alot of help, so i never have, and im not even sure what i could make one about. I think id rather go into real estate myself.

[@the_irav]

Unrelated but can't avoid noticing it... -- the reflection of the ring light just does my head in and I struggle focusing on the content --- --. Sometimes using a different lens (longer/shorter) will change the angle enough to send the reflection mostly out of camera, but it depends if your glasses are flat, curved and/or on an angle. If that doesn't do it, I'd say try with a circular polarizer (CPL) filter. As they get rid of a lot of unwanted reflections. And then if that doesn't do it, consider a different light. maybe swap your ring light for a 2 or 3 point lighting setup. Anything that would change the angle a bit further. It's quite hard to get fully rid of, but there's often a sweet spot of minimal reflections. I know I'm nobody suggesting changes, but it's just micro feedback.... ( I used to do video... and photography... but now I'm designing... and making cabinets and other stuff... and with a bit of coding....trying to leave the live events industry.... maybe that's why I ended up here.. exploring....)

[@elinek5470]

I am already overwhelmed, so this video will go into the 'watch later' line 😋

[@eleanorwillow9671]

I would love to turn a special interest into a business. My biggest two issue are the public, and being overly trusting, When I think of having a shop, I over simplify it: I supply something, customers come buy it, we're both happy. But some customers are never happy (i.e. Karens), some are cheapskates, sometimes your product is flawed and you have to fix the situation. but then some customers want to be over-compensated.... it gets to be more hassle than it's worth. Autism is known to come with a certain amount of trust and gullibility. We can learn from our mistakes and improve, but if the mistake is big enough....... SMH. If other people were good and kind and honest, there would be no issues. But they're not, and I prefer the protection of being an employee with fewer responsibilities, rather than an owner or manager. I don't like going higher than team lead, trainer, or expert (SME for those who know). Guide and help, but not assess for do paperwork. It's sad, but the idea is better than the practical side.

[@Jesswithponies]

Im starting a business (creating sensory and eco friendly equestrian items/wear) and i often forget how much admin stuff there is, im definitely going to have to get someone to do it for me once ive raised the funds 😅. Its also hard to start because i need money for samples, tech packs, manufacturing, etc but i dont have that money to put into it. I also want to have some other businesses in the future (all related to horses/animals) but to do them theres courses i need to do to be qualified which i dont have the money for again. Money is hard 😭

[@edwardlulofs444]

So, what might I tell neurodivergent young people about what to consider for work??? Even now I can’t think of any work that would fit me and my personality. Perplexed.

[@crowkraehenfrau2604]

I am lucky that teaching suits me. As AuDSL person it is the same routine every day and then it is different every moment. I love it though it ts exhausting.

[@Dingle1234]

You appear to be a very different person than in the last post I watched. I could go on to explain the changes I see in your demeanor, but would be much more interested in hearing your comments on what you think might have changed inside. Particularly how your recent changes in occupation may have impacted you personally. 🙂

[@BrazenNL]

Absolutely not, at least for me. My SIs are a hobby. I'd never want to spoil them by turning them into a business.

[@GTSongwriter]

I'm going to name my pet Samdy Sam, so I can say "Here Yo Samdy Sam", Come here! LoL 😂

[@yoghertpak]

I'm looking into the possibility to start my own business. And hope to find the right support to make it work. Very overwelming. And scary. And its goong to be rough. For sure. But i want to try it. I think i can do it. Aslong i have support. Atleast in the start fase. I really hope i can make it work. If i fail i Atleast tried it.

[@celinahuezo5518]

My interest is witchcraft so I can't really do anything with that. I do reiki but I'm not seeing any benefits or change in my self either. I am knowledgeable with tarot but I suck at talking and putting things in a story and I don't want to do it on KZbin. I been focusing on my violin but I don't see it as a way to make money, I'm still a beginner. Every day I think of my life and feel hopeless. I'm not working either and I get targeted all the time at work.

[@chrissie3742]

My Dad is obviously (to me, as I am also) neurodiverse to the point where it’s making living with him impossible 50% of the time. I’m disabled and chronically ill so I need a few adjustments making, some empathy and for him to be considerate, rather than utterly impulsive and clueless. Unfortunately because my Dad can’t empathise with people different from him, it means he can’t understand. He also has terrible memory probs (his immediate short term is good though, to the point he SEEMS to understand for about 12 hours that day). I’ve been trying to help him on his journey to cope with life easier (in a way to help myself, I admit) but he sees it as me and my mate ganging up on him and trying to convince him he ‘has something wrong’ with him. Gaaaagh! He saw a social worker who was meant to be for the family but she insisted on no input from us - at all, ever!? Any advice welcome!

[@thetangle7464]

So if I know my special Interest is not commercially viable and i see people making a business from daft things like fimo clay landscapes or abstract mop painting yet when I try i fail. It always seems like there is a page of the manual missing as to why i can’t get a business of the ground. I can do marketing finance web design marketing and get suppliers, why can other make a business but I can’t. I have had 4 business all failed, I have the skills the willing the want the drive but the product eludes me, I am desperate to leave the rat race and I would love for there to be a solution. Why does my thing I sell never work but someone’s else’s obscurity does

[@blackberrymagpie]

I think success has more to do with _luck_ than most people care to admit, and I suspect that the reason it _feels_ like everyone else has some magic formula is mostly confirmation bias; the businesses that _don’t_ succeed generally go unnoticed to those outside of said businesses, so _your_ flops look like the _only_ failures amidst a sea of often-inexplicable successes, despite actually being part of the majority. There are so many people vying for a prospective customer’s attention that, statistically, most aspiring merchants won’t be heard over the noise. You could create the most marketable, useful, revolutionary product in the world and still not get any traction, or you could get blessed by the TikTok algorithm and have your wacky mop art go viral; it all comes down to getting spotted in the first place, and that’s heavily reliant on luck. Sure, there are strategies one can employ to _stand out_ more and _better the odds_ of getting noticed, and once you _do_ get noticed, there are things you can do to _retain_ that attention and harness it into a sustainable business. But the real ‘secret’ is to just keep trying and remember that success is the exception, not the rule. You say your special interest isn’t commercially viable, but if this subject has managed to catch _your_ attention, there are enough humans on this planet that surely at least a _few_ of them will share said interest. The market may be miniscule, but it _does_ exist; there _are_ people out there who would buy your product, if only they knew it were there. The challenge is _finding_ those people and getting them to notice you. Be realistic about your odds and don’t blow your entire life’s savings on that metaphorical lottery, but if you have a spare dollar, don’t let the improbability of winning stop you from grabbing a scratch-off every now and then, just for funsies. You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. Worst case scenario, you’ve wasted a dollar.

[@ShellyString]

💜💜💜💜

[@RobinPalmerTV]

If you are prone to special interests/fixations fizzling out quickly and abruptly (which frequently happens), avoid! Always make a plan B and a plan C.

[@GinTemoshawsky]

It's nice to enjoy things you love, sometimes those things need to be protected from the effects of capitalism. It's a highly personal issue.

[@FrankieHansen-sc2ys]

Im an autistic person myself and i say if i turn my special interests into a business man it may keep me on the edge of my seat but it might worn me out sooner than you may think and that will not be good.

[@GyllyTV]

Hi Sam, I’m wondering how you find the difference with Autism ADHD between the UK & Nederlands? In business & generally. Was your Autism diagnosed in The Nederlands? Is it more or less progressive / accepting of Autism ADHD? And how that affects running your own business - eg. communicating with regulatory departments?

[@melissaschlafmann2685]

Hi, been listening to you, I'm 50(f), mixed race, raised in all white community. I listen to your experiences and noticed that we have very similar life paths. I would love to chat with you one on one via Messenger.

[@jodiehamilton9719]

My special interest is reading 📖

[@medowucha]

I dont have "special interests", I got passions. And one of these is programming and design. I have been working as a frontend designer cum web developer since 1998. Is it profitable? Well, I can pay my rent :)

[@GreenBlueWalkthrough]

I mean in the US atleast it's the norm for autiscs to do their special interests professnally... it's kinda expected over here including by nerotypicals who want someone like you in their field or under their roof... And if you a savant most of the time you'll end up there anyway... That said I'm a super savant and have been doing my special insts profesnally for 11 years now and have only made tops $5k in reality a lot less... Because I'm still disabled and have not been able to take full advantage of my gifts.

[@Catlily5]

I love doing art. I don't like selling it.

[@hugowilkinson4373]

😻 P R O M O S M

[@orangeblitz4786]

Capitalism isn't bad, corporatism is bad. Capitalism is the voluntary exchange of goods and services. Corporatism is the state or the government and businesses being in bed with each other.

[@dinieldelaware]

Do you have an email 📨 ? I looked in ur bio but couldn't find any contact info 📥