Mentoring for Neurodivergents & Creative Thinkers
Mentoring for Minds that Move Differently
Professional growth shouldn't require you to hide who you are.
The creative industry is built on "fast-paced environments" and "linear workflows"—concepts that don't always align with a neurodivergent brain. If you've spent your career masking, battling executive dysfunction, or waiting until you feel "ready" to take the next step, you aren't the problem. The system is.
I offer professional mentoring for creative minds and neurodivergent thinkers who want to build sustainable, meaningful careers without the burnout.
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Who Am I?
I'm James Kindred, a brand consultant and creative mentor with over 25 years of experience in the design industry. I've worked with clients ranging from startups to global brands, created my own businesses including the world's most-awarded beer brand, and I've also navigated the complexities of mental health and neurodivergence firsthand.
My approach to mentoring is deeply personal and tailored to your unique needs. I understand that traditional professional development models often fail to accommodate different ways of thinking and working. That's why I focus on building a framework of support that respects your individuality while helping you achieve your goals.
Disclaimer: The advice and strategies shared during mentoring sessions are based on my personal experience and professional expertise. They are not a substitute for medical, psychological, or legal advice.
James has a way of cutting through the 'shoulds' of the industry to find what actually works for the person standing in front of him. — A. M., Creative Director
How I Can Help
I don't offer a generic multi-step program. I've tried traditional coaching methods and found them lacking. As a neurodivergent thinker myself, I understand the unique challenges you face, and how that sometimes cannot fit into tidy frameworks. Instead, we work together to build a series of strategies and tools tailored to your specific goals and challenges.
The "Doom Pile"
Practical systems for executive function, admin, and project momentum.
- Body-doubling: Real-time accountability for people who know what to do but just... aren't doing it.
- Working Smarter: Workflows that don't feel like a chore. No rigid grids, no boring maths (I have dyscalculia, so it's best avoided!), just stuff that works.
- The Admin Audit: A "where is my time going?" audit to kill off the soul-sucking tasks you shouldn't be doing anyway.
Strategic Unmasking
Finding a way to show up authentically in business without feeling exposed.
- Boundaries: Learning how to say "no" without being an **** (or feeling like one). We'll figure out what’s public, what’s private, and why.
- Networking: Building actual relationships instead of doing that exhausting "look at me" dance. Depth over LinkedIn facades.
- Being You, On Your Terms: Creating a public version of yourself that doesn't feel like a costume you have to squeeze into every morning.
Confidence vs. Readiness
Moving past the "not ready yet" trap and taking calculated creative risks.
- The Perfectionist’s Pivot: Stop re-working that idea for the fifteenth time and just launch something, anything!.
- The "Good Enough" Framework: Nothing is ever really "finished". Knowing exactly when a project is ready to deliver so you can stop over-polishing it.
- Risky Biscuits: Figuring out if you’re actually unprepared or if you’re just overthinking it. (Hint: It’s usually the second one.)
Commercial Strategy
Using my 25+ years in brand design to help you scale your own creative business.
- The Hourly Rate Trap: Stop selling your life in 60-minute chunks. We’re pricing for the result, not the clock.
- Portfolio Positioning: Making your work look as valuable as it actually is, so you stop attracting the "budget-conscious" tire-kickers.
- Human-shaped Growth: Designing ways to grow your income without needing a third pot of coffee and a nervous breakdown.
Creative Sparring
A safe space to pitch, refine, and stress-test your ideas with a seasoned peer.
- Live Pitching: Practicing your pitch until you stop rambling and actually get to the point.
- The "Why it Works" Critique: Looking past the colours and shapes to see if your strategy is actually going to make you money.
- Stress-Testing: Poking holes in your idea until we find the part that’s actually bulletproof.
Who I've worked with
Aside from working one-to-one with individuals, I've collaborated with a variety of organisations:
A Different Kind of "Meeting"
Standard 60-minute Zoom calls can be a sensory and cognitive drain. My mentoring is designed to be accessible and low-friction:
Low-Pressure Dialogue
We can work via video, audio-only, or asynchronous voice notes (Voxer/WhatsApp) if that helps you process thoughts better.
Time to Decompress
I never book back-to-back. Every session has breathing room for us both to decompress and transition.
Body Doubling
If you're stuck on a specific task (like a proposal or a deck), we can use our session time to work "side-by-side" in companionable silence.
No Shame, Just Support
I'm not setting homework. If you don't complete a task, we don't skip the session. We look at why it didn't happen and adjust the system.
Frequently Asked Questions
Being a neurodivergent creative comes with unique challenges and opportunities. Here are some common questions I get about my mentoring. Naturally, I'm sure you'll have more questions, and I'm always happy to answer them.
Everyone is different - and that's amazing.
My approach is tailored to your unique needs, strengths, and challenges. There's no one-size-fits-all solution here. My advice is based on my own lived experience and professional expertise. I also have an AQA Qualification in Autism Assessment and Diagnosis to support my understanding of wider neurodivergent experiences.
Book a SessionWhat's your cancellation policy?
Life happens, and sometimes your brain refuses to cooperate. Give me 48 hours' notice and we can reschedule. If you're having an overwhelming day and can't do it, just message me. I'd rather reschedule than have you "power through" when you'd rather be resting.
Is our work together confidential?
Absolutely. I treat our sessions with the same NDAs as my high-level strategy work. Whether we're talking about a business pivot or the fact that you're struggling to keep it together, it stays in the room. Period.
What if I'm having a "low-verbal" day?
If you can't face being on camera or talking, we have options. We can switch to text, go audio-only, or just body-double in silence. You don't have to "perform" for me.
Do you offer one-off sessions or long-term packages?
Both. Book a "Creative Sparring" session if you're just stuck on one thing. If you need ongoing support, we can talk monthly. Use the link above to book a single session first—it's the best way to see if we actually like each other before committing.
What should I bring to our first session?
Just yourself. Don't waste time making a presentation. If all you have is a "doom pile" of half-finished ideas and a sense of dread, that's a perfect place to start. We'll find the priority together.
How do I know if this is the right fit for me?
Book one session. If my approach works for you and you actually get stuff done, we keep going. If not, no hard feelings — I'm here to help you move forward, even if that means realising I'm not what you're looking for.
Writing & Thinking
What's Shove Got To Do With It?
We have all been there. You have a brilliant idea for your brand or creative project. You can see the direction clearly in your mind's eye, and you know it has potential.
The Algorithm in the Room: When Tools Become Distractions
When AI tools are forced into creative workflows, they often become distractions rather than solutions. This essay explores why the rush to integrate LLMs into design and writing is slowing creative thought, and why old-school algorithms — the ones that simply worked — might have had it right all along.
The Accidental Detox: Why Silencing Your Phone Isn’t Enough
Some thoughts on why silencing your phone isn't enough—and why leaving it behind entirely might be the real path to focus, especially for neurodivergent minds.
The Curator of Good: Why Taste Trumps Technology
What we have right now are Large Language Models (LLMs) and generative image processors. These are incredibly clever pattern-matching engines that have read the entire internet and are exceptionally good at guessing which word—or pixel—comes next. They are synthesisers, not thinkers.
500 Days of Sober
I’m not “sober” in the traditional sense. I microdose THC gummies to help with some of my trickier autistic traits, particularly around unwanted hyperfocus, rigidity, and OCD-style looping. I also take prescribed medication for my ADHD. None of that feels contradictory to me.
Confidence vs Readiness: Why Waiting Holds Us Back
Confidence and readiness often get bundled together as if they’re interchangeable. They’re not. I’ve seen plenty of people brim with confidence while standing on foundations made of very little. I’ve also watched brilliant ideas stall because their creators were waiting for the perfect moment.
I demand real
Everywhere you look, there’s an algorithm pretending to care. An AI-written caption that sounds like a human who’s read too many self-help books. A brand that says it’s “for the community” but has never actually spoken with one.
Sorry, your idea is worthless…
Ideas on their own have almost no value. Everyone has them — in the shower, on the school run, in a meeting, while staring out of the window trying to look productive. The difference between an idea and something of value is action. It’s what you do with that spark that gives it weight, momentum, and meaning.