Finding Patterns In Neurodivergent Careers

When we notice the patterns that run through our work and life, our careers begin to make sense in a deeper way.

Every career tells a story. The challenge is slowing down long enough to listen to it. Hopefully by the time you reach the end, you'll have a better idea about what story your career tells.

When I look back over mine, I see a pattern that has quietly repeated itself for years. I tend to step into places that are complex and caring but worn thin. Schools and organizations that want to do good work but are struggling to keep pace with the demands placed on them. I often arrive when people are trying hard to improve, but the system itself is gasping for air.

Across all of it, one thread continues to appear: helping people rediscover how they collaborate, learn, how they think, and how to create environments that allow others to do the same.

My work has moved through many forms. I have taught neurodiverse students with learning differences, led special education projects and training organizations, created systems, designed professional development for teachers, and coached leadership teams in public, private, and international settings. Across all of it, one thread continues to appear: helping people rediscover how they learn, how they think, and how to create environments that allow others to do the same.

Much of my perspective comes from working in neurodiversity. Every mind has its own rhythm and language. Some people need structure to thrive, others need space to explore, and most need both in balance. The art of learning design is not to make everyone fit one model but to build systems that can breathe with the people inside them. When that happens, schools and workplaces begin to feel alive again.

Finding patterns can also help you identify any pitfalls or character issues you may need to work on. And believe me, I've had a couple!

Over time, I have realized that the same rhythm shows up in my own career. I am drawn to complexity that can be restored to order. I enjoy bringing calm where energy has turned into exhaustion, and designing frameworks that allow ideas to move freely without falling apart. That is where I have seen the most growth in others and the most peace in myself.

Finding the patterns in your career is a way to understand what kind of work calls you forward. It helps you see what you have been cultivating all along and what deserves more attention in the season ahead. Finding patterns can also help you identify any pitfalls or character issues you may need to work on. And believe me, I've had a couple!

You do not have to have it all figured out. Just look for the themes that keep returning. Look at the moments that make you feel fully present. Look at the places where others seem to find stability when you are near. Those are the signposts of your purpose.

Reflection

What patterns can you trace through the different chapters of your work?

Where do you bring energy, peace, or clarity without trying?

How might your next step build on what has already been quietly unfolding?

When we notice the patterns that run through our work, our careers begin to make sense in a deeper way. The noise quiets. The purpose comes into focus. And the rhythm that has been guiding us all along begins to sound a little clearer.

I'd love to hear what story your career tells and the story you want it to tell.