Fish in Trees
"Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing it is stupid"
Einstein said that. He was really onto something. And I think fish in trees is a perfect metaphor for being neurodivergent.
There are many stereotypes about neurodivergent people for why they can't be 'successful':
Autistic? No social skills!
ADHD? Too distracted!
Dyslexic? Not smart enough!
Wrong, wrong, WRONG!
In fact, many highly successful people are ADHD, Autistic, Dyslexic, and more.
Some 'tree fish' you've probably heard of:
Steve Jobs, Jennifer Aniston, David Beckham, Simone Biles, Tim Burton, Billie Eilish, and many more!
The System Is Broken, Here's What That Looks Like
The biggest struggles neurodivergent people face are:
• Social Expectations & Demands
• Work Structures & Systems
• Sensory Environments (noise, light, scents)
• Burnout
Hi - I'm Lacey Artemis. I'm Autistic and ADHD, but I was 'late diagnosed'. This is especially common amongst women.
I struggled to fit (let alone thrive) my whole adult life - both at work and socially.
I was a fish out of water - in a tree.
I knew beyond a doubt that I was highly capable, I just didn't have the support I needed. This is the common experience for many neurodivergent people.
I kept trying to climb but in Nov 2024 extreme stress and burnout landed me in the hospital. That was my wake up call.
I left my job and decided to build something better for all of us who are capable of more but need more support. To be seen, and to excel.
The Problem ISN'T The Brain, It's The SYSTEM
The systems and structures we're forced to live within stifle us. We are the proverbial square peg in the round hole.
• ✅ With proper support, neurodivergent adults can deliver up to 140% higher output than their peers
• ✅ ADHD adults outperform their peers in creative solutions and excel as entrepreneurs
• ✅ Dyslexic adults outperform their peers in spatial reasoning and communicating complex ideas
• ✅ Bipolar adults are more likely to be in the top 10% of earners
• 📉 Up to 50% of autistic adults are unemployed
• 📉 ADHD adults are 2x more likely to face work instability or homelessness
• 📉 Many neurodivergent people earn below minimum wage (which is too low to begin with!)
If you're a tree fish, are you feeling heard?
If you're a manager, are you listening?
BUILDING A TREE FORT FOR THE FUTURE
Now I'm working to be part of the solution - to help improve conditions for the neurodiversity community and the disabled community more broadly. I founded NeuroMix Consulting.
A lifetime of mixed experience that was never all applicable in one job made me uniquely suited to address this need/niche. I am suited to address the systems, the social, the sensory, and the burnout recovery.
What you'll get when you join the Fish In Trees Movement:
🐟 News, insights, and thought leadership around neurodiversity, accessibility, and inclusion
📊 Facts and stats, lived experience, plus input from other industry leaders and experts
✨ Encouraging and empowering writing to elevate you (because there’s enough negativity online as it is)
🎉 And yes — a few surprises (because tree fish are born to deliver the unexpected!)
Whether you're neurodivergent or not, you will learn and grow through this newsletter.
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