“I hope that we can all become more compassionate and empathetic towards other ways of thinking.”Simon Smith, ACE

Simon Smith, ACE is an award-winning editor whose most recent credits are the HBO series Chernobyl and the Disney+ series Star Wars: Andor. While Simon has been on many podcasts talking about his successful work as an editor, our conversation instead centers around neurodiversity in the workplace. Why? Because it was only recently that Simon was diagnosed as an adult with autism.

Not only does Simon embrace his autism, he considers it to be one of his greatest assets when it comes to his successful career as an editor, and this is a mindset he inspires us all to adopt. Whether it’s mental, physical, circumstantial, noticeable to others or just to you, each and every one of us has some form of disability. No matter the disability that may be holding you back in your life, this conversation will give you the tools and inspiration you need to reframe your obstacles and transform them into your superpowers. It’s all about perspective.

In this conversation, Simon shares with us that autism is nothing more than a difference in the way the mind works, and we discuss the importance of embracing all forms of neurodiversity in the workplace such that we can utilize everyone’s value. He provides a refreshing take on how we can open our minds to the fact that we don’t all think the same, nor should we! And as an added bonus, Simon and I geek out on the fallacy of striving for work-life “balance” and what we should be focusing on instead to live more fulfilling lives.

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Here's What You'll Learn:

• KEY TAKEAWAY: Neurodivergent minds are highly effective and terms like ‘Autism’ mean nothing other than the fact that their brains work differently, not poorly
• Understanding the main differences behind a neurodivergent mind and what tasks they are wired to thrive in
• How to recognize and allow your neurodivergent mind to be your superpower
• The signals to look for in children and adults that might suggest they could be neurodivergent
• KEY TAKEAWAY: Everyone’s brain works differently, even for people with Autism. No two people with Autism have the same experience
• How the Autism spectrum really works (from the mind of an Autisic person)
• What companies are beginning to recognize people with neurodivergent minds are more successful at particular jobs than those who are not
• How we can make the shift from seeing any disability as a negative and understand it’s true value and superpower
• KEY TAKEAWAY: If we hired strictly by qualification, there would be far more people with Autism employed across many industries based off of the super abilities of their mind
• What you can do to work better with a neurodivergent person in the workplace
• What you can do if you’re prone to feeling overwhelmed by too many (or too little) tasks
• How work-life balance is a term of the past, and what we should be striving for instead

Useful Resources Mentioned:

GO FAR: The Christopher Rush Story

Exceptional Minds VFX

Continue to Listen & Learn

How to Pursue Fulfilling Work and Find Your ‘Calling’ | with Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar

Legendary Editor Walter Murch On Optimizing Creativity, Productivity, and Well-Being In Hollywood For 50+ Years

Managing Limiting Beliefs, Imposter Syndrome, and all the “Chatter” In Our Heads | with Ethan Kross

FOCUS: The Superpower of the 21st Century | with Cal Newport

Making It In Hollywood as a "Creative" (What They Don't Teach You In Film School) | with Norman Hollyn

How to Overcome Doubting Yourself When You Know You’re Meant For More | with Sandy Zimmerman, ANW

Real Talk About Mental Health and Depression | with Michael Kammes

Understanding the Link Between Creativity and Depression with Dr. Edison de Mello

The Science Behind Depression and Anxiety | with Dr. D and Dr. Michael Mark

The Importance of Setting Boundaries, Advocating For Yourself, and Asking For Help | with Janace Tashjian

Guest Bio:

Simon Smith

Simon Smith, ACE is an Editor, whose credits include the award winning HBO series CHERNOBYL, and the Disney+ series STAR WARS : ANDOR. He has three small children and lives by the coast in Brighton, England.

As an adult, Simon was diagnosed as autistic, which he considers one of his greatest assets working as an editor.

Show Credits:

This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared by Debby Germino and published by Glen McNiel.

The original music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Joe Trapanese (who is quite possibly one of the most talented composers on the face of the planet).

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/zackarnold/exclusive-content