Dear reader,
I'm changing the scope of my writing. As a valued reader, I want to explain my new direction and why.
Hopefully, I'll provide enough information for you to decide whether to stay or go. If you choose to go, thank you graciously for reading my work thus far - sending you love and gratitude.
Firstly, all my articles will now focus solely on the female neurodivergent experience. My work has always been about this theme (even when I wasn't aware!), but now I want to plant a stake in the ground.
Secondly, and this ties in with my exciting new business venture mentioned a few weeks ago, I'll also be writing about the experiences of neurodivergent women in business and entrepreneurship.
Why? Because I'm a neurodivergent businesswoman, and my new role is Business Coach for Neurodivergent Women. I'm calling my new venture Business Unmasked.
Whether you are a writer, coach, healer, therapist, artist, photographer, or any other freelance professional—or even if you aspire to monetise your skills, products, or services—this new writing is crafted especially for you.
As many of you know, I was a Life Coach until recently. I took a year off to focus on writing my memoir and to recover from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), Autistic Burnout, and Hypothyroidism.
The decision to pause my coaching practice was difficult, but my health was so fragile I couldn't imagine feeling whole again.
But now, I am in good health, having individually tackled each energetic breakdown separately. I am profoundly grateful for my recovery, and it's time to return to work.
From Life Coach to Business Coach
While I cherished life coaching and thrived in it, it drained me emotionally. I felt others emotions profoundly and struggled to disentangle myself from my clients' traumas, significantly impacting my health.
Now, I have no choice but to pursue what I've always wanted (it seems like the universe always forces us in the end): to become a business coach.
I've always had an entrepreneurial spirit. I opened my first business—a fashion boutique—in my early twenties and have worked for myself in various endeavours ever since. My neurodivergence made traditional work environments intolerable, driving me to self-employment.
I've grappled with much shame because of this.—feeling embarrassed about my inability to handle a typical 9-to-5 job. This significantly impacted my self-esteem.
Business has always been a core special interest of mine, yet I kept it hidden, feeling it underscored my inability to hold down a "proper" job.
Discovering my neurodivergence allowed me to release this burden. What an immense relief.
I've worked as a coach for years and am proud to say I'm really good at it. My expertise, experience, and neurodivergent gifts have allowed me to guide others extremely successfully.
Some of my clients made significant life changes after working with me, with a couple even leaving their husbands.
Others sought my help starting businesses as they had newfound confidence. In helping women learn to earn money independently—a real feminist endeavour— I realised I'd finally found my place.
I was in my element—never drained, always energised, and buzzing with excitement.
However, imposter syndrome prevented me from launching the business coaching website I built to offer my new services.
Then, I got sick.
But this significant illness became a chance for awakening.
Now, I have no time for imposter syndrome. I'm here to claim my place in the world.
I view my new role as a Business Coach for Neurodivergent Women as a social justice venture.
We face systemic barriers and societal biases that completely underestimate our abilities and isolate us from mainstream life. By offering specialised coaching, I aim to dismantle these obstacles and provide tools, strategies, and support to thrive in business. This work levels the playing field and ensures our voices are heard and celebrated.
Many neurodivergent women are unable to thrive in traditional work environments, often leading to chronic health conditions.
This is serious stuff. While many women choose self-employment to spend more time with their children or enjoy greater creativity or flexibility, the stakes are profoundly higher for neurodivergent women.
We may want these things, too, but at our core, working in conventional workplaces—whether an office, classroom, clinic, or other traditional environment—is simply not viable.
These settings can become unsafe spaces.
I've connected with many ND women who've been forced to leave behind 'prestigious' careers, sometimes spanning decades.
They've endured relentless bullying, suffered the agony of burnout—sometimes to the point of hospitalisation—and faced significant mental health challenges and chronic conditions.
I'm never returning to an office, and I don't want others to have to, either.
Self-employment offers a viable alternative, but it comes with its own set of challenges:
- Marketing
- Selling
- Setting up business systems
- Deciding on offerings
- Identifying the target audience
- Establishing boundaries
Most online advice is geared toward neurotypicals, which is overwhelming and unsustainable for neurodivergent individuals.
This leads to task paralysis, burnout, and a disconnect between energy and financial reward.
I had to find a way to work that suited my sensitivities and needs. Something that aligned with my values and nervous system AND brought me the desired income.
I've developed a new, unique approach, rejecting mainstream business advice. This has brought me peace and profitability, and I want to share it with others.
Finding our way in life can take time. I’m 47 next week. I’m proud to continue taking chances and moving forward. Sadly, for me, it took severe chronic illness to finally acknowledge who I am and what I truly want.
As I was building this new business and talking to other ND women, it just felt so right. And the universe responded. It's been a bit wild because before I even launched my new site or designed my offer, I already had clients waiting to work with me—it just shows how much this service is needed.
Anyway, I'll still be writing my usual meandering posts about ND life, but there'll now be this added element.
I envisage writing three weeks out of four from now on.
If you'd like to learn about my business offerings, check out my new website here. I built it myself, and I'm reasonably proud of it!
There will also be new branding. Notes on a Rebellious Midlife will now be Hannah Anstee Unmasked.
With gratitude and excitement for the future,
Love Hannah xoxo
P.S. Paid subscriptions remain on hold while I determine what type of content will go behind the paywall.
Congratulations on launching this brilliant new venture, Hannah. I got totally burned out from working in toxic cultures where the politics was all the more complex because I didn’t know I was autistic! I think the freedom of freelance suits us neuorkin Having a neurodivergent Coach to help you work out how to align your business to your neurodivergent way is a fantastic thing.
LOVE THIS! Wishing you great success. Your message is right on. I didn't realize how much of a square peg I was in the round hole of corporate life until years after I left. I wasn't a failure!! I was never meant to be there.