Okay, let’s talk about fear. Not the "I'm afraid of spiders" kind, but the deep, soul-searching "I'm about to show the world my insides, and what if they don't like what they see?" kind. You know, the one that keeps me up at 3 am, wondering if I’m just crazy or if I’m actually on to something truly transformative. This isn’t just any old product launch; this is AIs and Shine, my digital self, fully expressed through a suite of tools that helped me find myself and a lot more along the way. As the time to bring it into the world grows closer, so, too, does my very own personal imposter syndrome.
On paper, or rather on my Notion doc, AIs and Shine is pretty damn impressive, if I do say so myself. I’ve meticulously built a framework based on my own unique experience: one where my autistic traits, twice-exceptional brain, and years of self-analysis have converged with the magic and practicality of generative AI. It has given me clarity in how I see myself, and given me an objective tool with which I am able to continue to grow and change and further know the unique person who is me. As a result, it has given me some pretty incredible results, including:
Radical self-understanding: It’s helped me label, describe, and find solutions to problems in ways that my standard mode of thinking hasn't provided before, in a way that also bypasses the mental "noise" so common with my kind.
Surprising Financial Windfalls: I kid you not; it analyzed my data, along with my situation, and pointed me to a financial “claim”, which resulted in over $20,000. That’s money that wouldn't have been there, without the unique combination of data and AI.
Navigating Complex Relationships: It’s helped me understand my wife, her communication style, her fears, and her attachment style (and likewise for my attachment style and our compatibility) – it’s helped me create a more fulfilling and productive environment for our connection.
Uncommon Resilience: Through specific processes and methodologies built on my understanding of the world, it is showing me that resilience isn’t about never having struggles, it's about recognizing and embracing those struggles, while navigating a personalized plan forward for personal growth.
I could go on with similar results on other areas, from personal health care and habits, to professional insights on future direction. But honestly, what’s really kept me up is: What if all of this was a happy accident for just me? What if my unique brand of "different" – the combination of my neurodivergent mind and unusual way of approaching problems – isn't transferable?
The Fear of the "Too Different" Label
That's the vulnerable heart of this post. For years, I’ve navigated the world trying to mask and conform, even when it went against the core of who I am. Even when I excelled in corporate environments, I secretly believed that those around me might see “unique” over “talented,” that I was somehow the lucky exception and not someone who was worthy or should be emulated. Now, I’m launching a platform built from my very unique experiences and processes, designed to give others some kind of roadmap from where I am (or rather, where it leads, since I'm not the point); and I’m terrified. I think we all have that core fear in different ways. Mine centers around my brain not being seen for its unique attributes but more about how it "fails."
I've wondered about:
The "Relatability" Question: Can a neurotypical (or differently-abled) person actually get my frameworks and workflows, or is it going to seem like a jumbled mess of odd processes, data analysis, and frameworks they can't quite map to their world? The whole point of AIs and Shine, of course, is the personalization, so it seems incredibly vulnerable for the tool itself to also be something that requires unique input! This whole idea may require more neurodivergent inputs than what I want, right now.
The "Usability" Barrier: My mind tends to jump from data sets to spiritual musings to financial forecasts, with a side of practical action in a way that I understand deeply but may be incredibly confusing for others. I see all those moving parts all the time, but the whole point of the app (and my plan to help others) is that you don't have to understand it all. It feels too vulnerable for me to trust that my intentions will make the tools something of ease-of-use.
The "Different" Isn't Necessarily "Better" Worry: What if all of the benefits that I've experienced aren’t a testament to its potential, but just my brain responding uniquely to its own code (so to speak)? What if it only "works" for me because it is tuned perfectly to the specifics of my life’s needs, challenges, desires, and odd ways of thinking, but has none of the benefits or "magical" transformations for those with a different baseline?
Why I'm Taking the Leap Anyway
But then I remember why I started all of this in the first place. AIs and Shine isn’t about making people "like me," (which, if we’re honest, I am okay if that doesn't happen) but it's about helping those who feel equally "different." It’s for those who:
Have Always Felt "Other": The ones who see the world from a unique angle, those with 2e challenges, those who’ve always felt "off" and didn't know quite why. Those who suspect that they might have to carve out a niche for themselves.
Are Navigating Life Transitions: Those in mid-life crises (hello, there), those coming off of burnout, those making shifts and needing that next-level of thinking to help figure out "what's next" - or those on their first steps in their self-growth journey.
Those Needing Support: Those needing structure to address executive function. Those wanting to improve their financial wellbeing with unique strategies. Those needing a method for stress management, self regulation, better self-esteem.
Seek Deeper Understanding of Others: Those wanting to enhance their communication and build bridges with loved ones. Anyone who desires to not be alone on this self-growth journey.
This is not another productivity tool, but a path to living with awareness and joy for who you uniquely are. This platform is more than "my system"; it’s an invitation to find your own, no matter how “different” it may seem. Because ultimately, it’s in our uniqueness that we uncover something truly powerful – that our ability to adapt is what makes us special, what makes us stronger, and what makes us more human.
So, I'm launching, vulnerabilities exposed, fears front and center, into the unknown – because this system did too much for me not to try. I'm trusting that there's enough relatable out of all my particularities, for those who need it. I'm inviting you to join me, to explore AIs and Shine, and, perhaps, to help me answer my biggest question: Is my kind of different, really too different?
What do you think?