My Neurodivergent Brain Is My Superpower — Especially in Marketing

My entire life, I’ve felt different. And that’s because... I am.
Growing up, I struggled in ways I didn’t have the words for. In lower elementary school, I had a hard time making friends — unless they were already built into my life, like cousins or neighbors. Math? A nightmare. I was constantly told I was lazy because I counted on my fingers. (Spoiler alert: I counted on my fingers because I had to — and I still do.)
Middle school hit me like a freight train. Suddenly, I was expected to juggle multiple subjects every single day, plus enough homework to crush a small child. I was drowning in expectations. And I hated it.
Even now, I function best when I’m allowed to laser-focus on one thing at a time. It took me ten years after graduating to finally understand that this wasn’t a flaw — it was just my brain being wired differently. I’m neurodivergent. My brain takes a different route to arrive at the same destinations. And honestly? That route might take longer, but it’s scenic as hell.

Here’s the wild part: that different path? It’s also where my superpower lies.
When I pour energy into something, I’m not just dipping a toe in. I’m cannonballing into the deep end. In traditional jobs, this used to get me in trouble. I was accused of “kissing ass” or being “too eager.” Older managers chalked it up to a “good old-fashioned work ethic.” And hey, they’re not wrong. I want to do things well — and if I’m in, I’m all in.
That said, this drive has come with some not-so-fun side effects. Hello, burnout and learned helplessness. If I ever felt like I could’ve done better — even when I was giving 110% — I’d spiral. Why try next time if I might fail again?
Thankfully, I’ve done the work (and some therapy) and I now realize: my “second best” is often better than most people’s best. That’s not ego. That’s just facts.
Oh, and don’t even get me started on the knowledge thing. I’m basically a walking, talking trivia machine. People constantly joke that I should be their first pick for bar trivia — and I am. But I’m not a genius. I just save information differently. If it interests me, it gets filed away in the same mental cabinet as “where I stashed that $20” and “what pants I wore when I found it.”
This is also why I must have a place for my keys. Because my brain? Does. Not.

So how does this tie into being a social media manager and digital marketing pro?
In every possible way.
I love marketing. I always have. Not just the “make pretty graphics” part, but the real nuts-and-bolts strategy behind it. I geek out over ad campaigns, dissect copywriting like a crime scene analyst, and get genuinely excited about acronyms like CTR, ROI, and SEO. I know what makes an ad work — and I can spot pandering a mile away. Give me raw, honest storytelling and I’m in.
And yes, I do have a favorite ad campaign of all time. Ask me about it. (Hint: FreeCreditReport.com — the original jingle era. Don’t test me, I know all the lyrics.)
Being neurodivergent means I see patterns differently. I solve problems creatively. I build strategies from the inside out. And I never stop learning, because it’s how I cope, connect, and thrive.
This brain of mine may not be conventional — but it’s powerful as hell.

Want more like this? Stick around. I’m just getting started. 💻✨