If you’re neurodivergent, you’ve probably spent a good portion of your life trying to “run the race” the way neurotypicals do. You’ve been told to grind harder, network more aggressively, and stay on that 9-to-5 treadmill until your legs give out.
But for us, “the chase” isn’t just exhausting, it’s biologically expensive. When we chase money, we’re usually masking our true selves to fit a mold we think will pay. The result? We end up broke, burnt out, and staring at a wall for three days straight because our “executive function battery” is at 0%.
I’m here to tell you there’s a better way. You don’t need to be a hunter. You need to be a magnet.
The Law of the Mirror: What You Put Out, You Get Back
There is a fundamental concept in both physics and spiritual sanity: What you put out is what you get back. If you put out “chaser energy”, which is essentially anxiety, desperation, and a “please-pick-me” vibe, the universe (and the market) will reflect that back to you. You’ll attract clients who haggle, jobs that undervalue you, and opportunities that feel like heavy lifting.
When you shift your internal state to one of service and value, the mirror flips. You start attracting what you actually want because you’ve finally started being the person who deserves it.
1. The Value Solution: Solving “Pain Points” Without Painful Effort
In the ND world, we often struggle with “traditional” work because it feels meaningless. But here is the secret: Money is just a receipt for value provided.
Instead of asking, “How can I get someone to pay me?” ask, “What is a problem I can solve that feels like play to me but looks like work to others?”
Because of our unique brain wiring, whether it’s the pattern recognition of Autism or the creative leaps of ADHD, we can often see solutions that others miss. When you solve a massive problem for someone, you aren’t “chasing” a check. You are providing a transformation. The money isn’t the goal; it’s the side effect.
2. The Magnetism of the “Zone of Genius”
Attraction is about leverage. If you try to be a “well-rounded” professional, you are replaceable. You are a commodity. And commodities have to chase customers.
But when you lean into your Hyperfocus, you become a category of one. I used to try to hide my “32 open tabs” brain. I thought it made me look unprofessional. Then I realised that my ability to synthesise massive amounts of random information was actually my greatest asset.
When you operate in your “Zone of Genius,” you don’t have to convince people you’re the best, it’s obvious. You become magnetic because you are the only person doing what you do, exactly how you do it.
3. A Realistic Case Study: The “Accidental” Consultant
Let’s look at a hypothetical (but very realistic) example: Alex, an AuDHD freelancer.
- The Chase Phase: Alex spent years applying for every graphic design job on LinkedIn. He masked during interviews, promised he could “handle fast-paced environments” (he couldn’t), and ended up with low-paying clients who micromanaged him. He was exhausted and perpetually broke.
- The Attraction Shift: Alex stopped applying for jobs. Instead, he started a tiny blog about how to design accessible websites for neurodivergent users, a niche he was obsessed with. He shared his “weird” insights on LinkedIn. He offered free 15-minute audits to non-profits he actually cared about.
- The Result: Within six months, Alex didn’t have to send a single “cold” email. A major tech firm found his blog and hired him as a consultant to overhaul their UX. They didn’t hire him because he was a “good designer”, they hired him because he was the only guy talking about ND-inclusive design. He stopped chasing £50 logos and started attracting £5,000 consulting fees.
4. Being of Service vs. Being a Servant
There is a big difference between being “of service” and being a “servant.”
- A Servant does what they’re told in exchange for a crumbs.
- Being of Service means showing up with your unique gifts to make someone else’s life better.
When you show up to a networking event (or a Zoom call) with the intent to help, you remove the pressure of “performing.” For an ND person, this is a game-changer. It takes the focus off our social anxiety and puts it onto our competence. By being helpful, you build a “Social Greenhouse” of trust. Eventually, those seeds grow into referrals, partnerships, and high-value opportunities that walk right through your front door.
5. Mindset: Killing the “Scarcity Monster”
We are often told the world is a cold, competitive place. This “Scarcity Mindset” is a poison for the ND brain. It triggers our “fight or flight” response, making it impossible to access our creative, problem-solving “Zone of Genius.”
To attract money, you have to cultivate an Abundance Mindset. This isn’t about ignoring reality; it’s about choosing which reality to focus on. If you believe there is “not enough,” you will act like a beggar. If you believe there is “more than enough,” you will act like a host.
When you act like a host, someone who provides value, connects people, and stays calm under pressure, you become the most attractive person in the room.
The Solution: Your 3-Step Magnetism Plan
If you want to stop the chase today, do these three things:
- Audit Your Output: Look at your social media or your CV. Are you putting out “Please hire me” vibes (Chase) or “Here is a cool thing I solved” vibes (Attraction)?
- The 5-Minute Help: Once a day, use your ND “Pattern Recognition” to help someone else. Connect two people who should know each other, or send a useful article to a former colleague. Put “helpful” energy into the mirror.
- Respect Your Battery: You cannot be magnetic if you are burnt out. Set boundaries that allow you to stay in your “Zone of Genius” rather than forcing yourself into “The Chase.”
In Conclusion
You were not born to be a hamster on a wheel, chasing a carrot that is perpetually six inches out of reach. You were born to be a creator, a solver, and a lighthouse.
Stop running. Start planting. Build a garden so beautiful that the money doesn’t just come to you, it decides to stay.
