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I went to see a company today that I have been having some tentative discussions with over the last few months.
They want to enter a new market, one that I have knowledge of and so are tapping me for some initial information.

I found out about the company via an ex-colleague who introduced me to them. I trust him immensely and so am happy to offer some initial advice.

However, following today's meeting I am beginning to get an initial impression that not much is coming back my way. Indeed, they asked something of me which has startd to give me the impression that they be trying to exploit my knowledge without, perhaps, offering to reciprocate.

I could be wrong of course. However, having Asperger makes me conscious of the need to be on my guard so as not to allow anyone to take advantage of my good nature.

It stems from my innate honesty and it has in the past - perhaps - meant that I have at times been taken advantage of slightly from a personal perspective.

I was at Oxford university yesterday to discuss the student transitions project that I have been running with Nottingham University.

Very interesting and the subject of support for students with Asperger transitioning into the workplace is obviously one that is generating a lot of interest.

I am very heartened by the fact that support for adults on the atutistic spectrum is increasing. Part of this is due to the Adults with Autism Strategy which will become law later this year in the UK, but I do also believe that there is a greater awareness and understanding of the condition generally which can only be good.

Later this week I seeing some global law, accountancy and banking organisations. It is going to be interesting to see what their take is on all of this and what they are doing for their employees, some of whom will be in highly responsible positions!

I've started looking around for a new job in earnest!

Its a bit frustrating having to go through the same process again, but I know I need to do it and I am trying to view it as an opportunity - which actually it is!

From an Asperger perspective I know I need to adopt a positive mindset. I find the whole dumb process to be anaethema to what I believe in - be yourself, be honest etc - but that is the way of the world of work.

What I am looking at is a bit of a portfolio career: I want to work back in entertainment in some form, but I am also trying to progress my Asperger consultancy.

If I can bring all of this off I hope I get develop a situation that will mitigate many of the challenges that I face with respect to my AS and the workplace: working independently will enable me to avoid a great deal of corporate politics and will enable me to select who I work with ..... and when.

I have started to look for a new job which is a bit laborious but I don't have a great deal of choice!

What I am also trying to do is something different. I am at the stage of my life where I want to be in control of my own destiny more and be less reliant on other parties.

Its not going to be easy of course. However, I am also viewing it as an opportunity and a chance to change my lifestyle.

If I can adopt a more positive mindset I am sure that it will make the whole process much easier!

As readers may be aware, I have been working with the University of Nottingham here in the UK on a Transitions Project to help students with Asperger transiion successfully into the workplace.

The project has gone very well and I am meeting both Oxford and Cambridge Universities in the next month to discuss the project with them. As both are very prestigious Institutions, I am very excited about the possibility of working with them.

I am now looking to extend the programme into the corporate sphere as well and a number of banks and similar professional firms are also keen on discussing what the project involves.

I am obviously keen on exploring potentialities here also. The opportunity to pass on some of my experience and expertise that I have gained in a corporate setting is something that I am very eager to achieve.

I went to an entertainment event today and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Entertainment is where I have spent most of my career and, having stepped outside for the last year or so for reasons of (economic) expediency, I am determined to get back in.

The event was very interesting. I also met some interesting people and engaged with them in conversation which was good. I think I have made some useful contacts.

I went with a specific objective as well: to gain some specific and relevant information.

I got that and it may help me to forward a career path!

Its been a long time since I last entered a blog entry.

The reason being is because I am experiencing upheaval at work. It seems a regular occurrence in today's environment but it doesn't get any easier.

I have started to look around and, hopefully, something will appear shortly, but I know that it may be a slog in this economic climate.

It may mean making some drastic and radical decisions but I am going to cross that bridge when i come to it!

I wrote a piece in my last newsletter about Asking for Assistance.

I have been guilty in the past of not doing so when I have taken on things that, perhaps, I have not been sufficiently capable of doing or fully prepared for.

The reasons are that I feel I have wary of asking for help and appearing dependent on others; also because my introversion and independence have meant that I have tended to naturally want to try and work alone.

I am going to have too use a new Simulation system at work. Its been on the horizon for a while and I have become gradually very apprehensive about it as the deadline has approached.

Last weel I asked the IT manager if he would assist me. I need to work with a second person anyway to use the system and he immediately agreed to help. He is a very approachable and agreeable person so I felt comfortable asking him.

I have just been reading an article by Dr Wendy Lawson who states that people with Asperger syndrome should be referred to as "differently abled", as opposed to, disabled.

I like this terminology. As her piece goes on to say, "this difference means that people with ASDs need different types of support from ‘neuro-typicals" and uses the analogy of someone with short sight who would be ‘disabled’ if they were never given glasses, but with glasses, they can achieve all that they want to.

I think that this area is so relevant and important to people in work with AS. If you have dxyslexia then people know you are disabled, but it doesn't have the stigma that the word "autism" does.

The main reason why I have never divulged my condition is because of the risk of being stigmatised.

I am going to use the word "differently abled" wherever possible from here on in, in my writing.

I had what I call an "Asperger Day" yesterday.

My boss criticised me (probably justifiably) about an event earlier in the week when I didn't demonstrate sufficient knowledge about the product that we are selling to customers.

It is in an area that doesn't interest me so, of course, I hadn't bothered to learn it thoroughly!

The reason why I am slightly upset is that I am disappointed with myself. I have repeated the same mistake that I have done previously and have not learnt the lesson. Its as though I have to be pulled over the coals with some issues before I buckle down and learn about them!

These Asperger Days are very demotivating for me. They are also incredibly important so I am going to write a piece about them for my next newsletter and try and take the lessons in going forward.