{"id":210657,"date":"2025-04-15T17:23:14","date_gmt":"2025-04-16T00:23:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/firmsconsulting.com\/?p=210657"},"modified":"2025-04-15T17:23:14","modified_gmt":"2025-04-16T00:23:14","slug":"the-systems-behind-sustained-high-performance-with-adhd","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/firmsconsulting.com\/the-systems-behind-sustained-high-performance-with-adhd\/","title":{"rendered":"The systems behind sustained high performance with ADHD"},"content":{"rendered":"

How to Perform Above Average with a Brain That Works<\/span><\/h4>\n

Nothing Like Most People’s<\/h1>\n

When I worked in consulting and banking, the open-plan layout (endless desks, no offices except for the most senior leaders) was pure torture.<\/p>\n

For example, having a conversation with a colleague while someone else was speaking loudly next to me was a constant test. My attention would lock onto the louder voice, and I would miss a lot of what the person I was speaking to was saying.<\/p>\n

I did well, getting accelerated promotions, despite all of this because I built systems that allowed me to do well.<\/p>\n

I constantly looked for quiet places to get work done.<\/p>\n

I found the best noise-blocking headphones you can buy. The kind that allow you to block noise completely. When possible, I would position\u00a0my chair so I was facing\u00a0the wall, even if it is just a cubicle\u00a0wall, and that would help me focus better. The only issue is that if someone tried to talk to me, I would get startled.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

I also utilized the following:
\n– Unbooked boardrooms.
\n– Deserted corners of the office building.
\n– Coming at 6 am.
\n– Staying long after everyone else had left.
\n– Doing a lot of the work on weekends and at nights from home.<\/p>\n

Most people don\u2019t see what it takes to get through a day when your brain isn\u2019t wired like that of most people.<\/p>\n

In consulting, we value structured thinking. We often expect linear thinking.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve built a career in a profession where clarity, speed, and polish are the currency.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s tension in that.<\/p>\n

I process differently. I work differently.<\/p>\n

It doesn\u2019t mean I\u2019m unfocused or difficult.<\/p>\n

Sometimes, I need more time, but I get a better answer than most people.<\/p>\n

I test more paths than most before committing.<\/p>\n

I need quiet to think.<\/p>\n

Over the years, I have become better at being able to perform above average while having a brain that works differently from most people.<\/p>\n

\n

Noteworthy Highlight<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

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If you want something lighter, we also offer a more accessible path through The Published Author Program, Lite,\u00a0where you can become a bestselling author by contributing a smaller chapter to a book with many more co-authors for an\u00a0affordable<\/strong>\u00a0$997<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a04 payments of\u00a0<\/strong>$275<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In both cases, all you need to do is write your chapter. We handle everything else, from design, formatting, and Amazon launch to providing training to help\u00a0you leverage the book to grow your brand. You\u2019ll also receive a beautifully designed PDF of your chapter and optional help (optional paid add-on) packaging your ideas\/wordsmithing service.<\/p>\n

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\n

Here\u2019s what helps me:<\/p>\n

–\u00a0Music<\/strong>\u00a0that helps me stay focused
\n– I get up to 10x more done if I\u00a0work at night\u00a0<\/strong>(9 pm to 5 am). This is not possible or healthy on an ongoing basis but when needed, the option is there
\n– My mind switches on as soon as\u00a0the sun sets,<\/strong>\u00a0so while many people rest in the evening, I work until it is time to sleep.\u00a0And if you look at my calendar, I have meetings and podcast recordings all the way to 9 pm. And some solitary work is done well after 9 pm.
\n– I have to work in\u00a0a quiet space\u00a0<\/strong>with no one talking around me.\u00a0Ideally, it needs to be a room with\u00a0a closed door<\/strong>. An open-space office is pure torture for me
\n–\u00a0Fresh air<\/strong>\u00a0helps, so my windows are often open, even during the depths of winter or in the peak of summer
\n– It helps me focus if I work in a\u00a0larger room<\/strong>
\n– I get good work done in a\u00a0quiet space outside<\/strong>. In fact, if I work outside without any people around, I can get up to productivity level of 9 pm to 5 am (up to 10x)
\n– If my mind spaces out during a discussion, it is ok to ask a person to\u00a0repeat<\/strong>. I am doing everything I can to stay focused. That is all I can ask of myself. And I know that what my mind produces (solutions, ideas, insights) is well worth the trouble for everyone involved
\n– Planning for what should be accomplished in a day must happen\u00a0the night before<\/strong>, not the morning of
\n– I keep\u00a0categorized to-do lists<\/strong>\u00a0for a day,\u00a0a week, a month, plus the main list with everything else.\u00a0I also have a separate column for the highest priority tasks where I can\u2019t drop the ball
\n– I have people on my team who are\u00a0highly organized<\/strong>\u00a0and keep the \u201ctrains\u201d moving on time
\n– My\u00a0main business partner<\/strong>, Michael, is the most organized person I have ever met. He is also the most talented person I have ever met. If I had to describe him in one word, it would be Godsend. And I don\u2019t use that word lightly
\n– I\u00a0leverage the power of my mind<\/strong>\u00a0to see what others don\u2019t see by regularly spending time in spaces (such as\u00a0solitary walks in nature<\/strong>)\u00a0where my mind can most effectively come up with new ideas and solutions. I am diligent about it because I get very important insights\u00a0not just for my life but for our clients (e.g. for our executive coaching clients)<\/p>\n

\n

Noteworthy Highlight<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

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\n

Neurodivergent consultants and leaders bring something unique.\u00a0Not just one strength but a constellation of abilities that often show up in unexpected, high-impact ways.<\/p>\n

1. A unique lens on the same data<\/strong>
\nNeurodivergent leaders often approach problems from non-traditional angles. This can lead to insights others overlook.<\/p>\n

2. Focus others can\u2019t sustain<\/strong>
\nThis is characteristic of ADHD. While the focus is generally\u00a0difficult to initiate or sustain on not engaging tasks, once interest and clarity are present, many experience “hyperfocus,” an intense, sustained concentration that can last hours. In my particular case this also shows up as being able to remain regularly hyperfocused on the same topics for decades.<\/p>\n

3. A natural resistance to groupthink<\/strong>
\nMany neurodivergent thinkers are less influenced by social pressure or convention. They may ask uncomfortable questions, raise red flags early, or propose contrarian ideas. This strengthens decision-making.<\/p>\n

4. Creativity shaped by constraints<\/strong>
\nWorking around neurotypical systems often forces creativity. The need to build workarounds\u00a0often translates into sharper creative problem-solving.<\/p>\n

5. Precision with language or logic<\/strong>
\nSome neurodivergent people are extremely sensitive to ambiguity, unclear phrasing, or flawed reasoning. This can elevate the rigor of a team\u2019s thinking and the quality of the team’s output. This is one reason I sometimes struggle in\u00a0meetings. If a question involves a lack of clarity because of a lack of understanding of what the situation demands to be asked,\u00a0I will first adjust what the question\u00a0should be before I can answer it. For someone who is not paying as much attention as I do to\u00a0unclear phrasing\u00a0or flawed reasoning this can be frustrating.<\/p>\n

6. Pattern recognition and systems thinking<\/strong>
\nMany neurodivergent thinkers may notice relationships across concepts, data points, or systems that others miss. In consulting, this ability to \u201csee the whole chessboard\u201d is a significant advantage.<\/p>\n

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Noteworthy Highlight<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

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