30in30

Write 30 in 30

This article is part of the "Write 30 in 30" challenge, where participants commit to writing and publishing for 30 minutes a day over 30 days. I joined this challenge to kickstart my writing journey. Through these stories, I share insights from my life and career, including my experiences with ASD (Asperger's) and the challenges I've overcome to become the person I am today. Given the 30-minute time limit, these pieces are more like drafts—unpolished but heartfelt snapshots of my journey.


Amanda Benadé

The "Write 30 in 30" challenge was created by Zuzana Kunckova. It was inspired by Anne-Laure Le Cunff's upcoming book, Tiny Experiments (2025), which encourages adopting an experimental mindset for problem-solving and goal achievement through small, actionable changes. Zuzana created the "Write 30 in 30" challenge as a personal experiment to foster growth and overcome self-doubt.

The challenge: write and publish for 30 minutes each day for 30 working days. (Although I will probably write over weekends too!)

When I heard about the "Write 30 in 30" challenge, I thought, "Oh, that's so cool!" I was inspired to try it myself. So, here I am, sitting at my desk with complete writer's block, wondering what on earth I could write about - other than work. I could write about any number of general topics, but if I'm going to take the time and effort to write, I should at least focus on something that could contribute positively to my readers.

It took me a while to decide which topic to choose for my writing journey. I thought about it at great length, mulling it over in my sleep. I have to admit that writing and actually publishing my writing is far outside my comfort zone. But, as it happens, operating outside of my comfort zone is nothing new - it's something I do daily. I finally asked myself, "What is the biggest and most difficult question anyone has ever asked me about myself?"

This question came from a long-time client who discovered that I am on the autism spectrum (Asperger's) and that I am a single mother to a son who is also on the spectrum. Surprised, the client wanted to know how I managed to overcome my challenges to become who I am today. I decided that's what I would write about.

When my journey started, I was terrified of people - so much so that I lost my first job out of school because customers complained that I looked like I might faint when they talked to me. Today, I am a businesswoman and the director of a successful web development company, where my son recently joined me. Over the next 30 days, I will share my journey: the ups and downs, the challenges I have had to overcome, and the people who came into my life to help me along the way.