Chapter Thirty-Eight: Doing Things and Doing Them “Right”

Okay, now time for another one of those ad hoc trains of thought that just wandered into my head…

In one of my early League meetings, I remember a fellow Aspie quoting the line, “If something is worth doing, it’s worth doing right.” And I don’t know why I was lying in bed thinking about that now, but I decided to bring it up because I think that is a very Aspie philosophy and a common trait among many of us. When we are passionate enough to want to do something, we want it done well. The goal isn’t just to get it done but to achieve something to be proud of. Often, we go above and beyond expectations if that’s what it takes to meet our vision. Aspies excel at doing exceptional things!

I myself have always been a little bothered by sloppiness, inaccuracies in calculations, numbers not adding up, or messy or inconsistent presentation. I just have this itch to want things correct, consistent, and in their proper place. Ah, no—all those lines are indented but that one. I can’t handle that!

Call it meticulous, but it’s the perfectionist in me, and I don’t feel satisfied with my work until I’ve achieved this. I suppose the big difference between Autistic people and typical people is that we are task focused and all about doing the task right, whereas neurotypicals are usually more impression focused and concerned more about how their work appears to others.

I recall one of the League members, Rob, once commenting that everything he’s done, job or hobby, he’s always been exceptionally good at, a stand-out talent. And while people reading those words might assume it’s arrogance, I have to say I also relate to the feeling of being naturally strong at anything I put my mind to. It seems to be the case for those of us who share this perfectionist trait. We excel because we take so much pride in what we do. Combining this with Aspie hyperfocus allows us to outdo what most can achieve. We become visionary.

Unfortunately, I’ve seen that not all working roles are suited to this type of focus and perfection. Some places put more emphasis on producing rapidly and cheaply and may prefer staff to work faster, even if to a lower standard. Some are more focused on politics and appearances than actual quality of work, and we can be out of place in these environments.

However, I think there are many roles that could really take advantage of our scrupulous nature, and in fact, I read recently a report about some companies seeking people on the spectrum for this very reason. I think that’s a terrific step forward for the Autistic community.

It would be nice if, in time, society could come to recognize us more for the things we can do and stop seeing us as a drain when we struggle to work and make money in the standard way. Though our culture teaches us otherwise, working nine to five is not the only way to give back to the world. You should see what some of us contribute in our hobbies! We are anything but a drain on the community at large. On the contrary, as a group, paid or unpaid, we create a lot!

And I know that’s a point I’ve probably made before, but I think it’s worth repeating. We Aspies can help society a lot if you only accommodate us. Accommodate us, world! I’m telling you, it’s worth it!