ADHD

As you enter our office, you may notice certain well-placed pieces of art which provide an environment that feels connected and natural from the very moment you step in. Many clients ask about the natural wild butterflies and the simple pencil-sketched moose. In my personal and professional life, the moose and butterflies are metaphors that have given me guidance and direction in a nonlinear, metaphysical way.

If you’re an adult or student with ADHD looking for an internship, a first-job, or considering a career change, I believe developing relationships is KEY. I encourage my clients to find a mentor or volunteer in a field that interests them. Companies are eager to take on folks who are already excited about their organization, and shadowing others helps you to see first-hand what a job entails.

As I reported in my Oxymoron blog, an important area for the ADHD executive to develop is having an executive assistant who takes care of details and helps manage the underactive nature of the pre-frontal cortex of the brain.

Being a strong leader, staying focused, and following through on important tasks are all characteristics of successful executives. But would an adult diagnosed with ADHD fit these criteria. The perspective that ADHD and success can’t go hand in hand is absolutely off the mark. Two examples of executives who’ve succeeded with ADHD include David Neelman, founder and CEO of JetBlue, and Paul Orfalea, founder of Kinko’s, both of whom exhibited creativity and risk-taking abilities.

In 1989, my passion for treating the diagnosis of ADHD was born out of seeing the pain of children diagnosed with the condition being separated from their natural abilities and instead were viewed as disruptive and difficult.

For anyone diagnosed with ADHD, the use of supplements is a necessary component to support your brain chemistry, which may be underactive or overtly stressed. Supplements can span the course from vitamins and amino acids, to herbal remedies, to homeopathic formulas.

As I read an inspiring message from Keith Miller, a dear friend and mentor who has cancer, a flash of insight hit me to dedicate my first and subsequent blogs to him. For years, Keith has supported me in the development of The Life Empowerment Center (TLEC) and has stood by me as I have envisioned “really writing” my first book over the past eight years.