I was diagnosed with a Superpower, Adult ADHD, what’s yours?

In my work with growth technology companies, I often come across leaders with Superpowers. People who come up with novel ideas, and achieve things others only dream of. With the formation of PBM Consulting Ltd, my own Superpower has found a home!

ADHD means my brain works in different ways, often at a much faster pace than others, and I seem to be able to formulate unique solutions to complex problems with multiple inputs very quickly, and think of options and viewpoints others don’t consider.

I get to use my Superpower on a daily basis; to understand the complex issues that startup and scaleup companies face, get to grips with new concepts and industries quickly, design custom workshop processes to facilitate strategic decision-making, and formulate winning strategies to help my clients gain customers and secure investment.?

My story

My story starts with a bang, quite literally, when on 3rd January 2020 I was rudely shoved off my cycle by a Mercedes driver at 50 mph!

What many of you may not know was the full extent of my recovery process and how much it took a toll on my #mentalhealth. With the crash and what followed, I ended up in a darker place than I had ever been, losing my sense of purpose, my motivation, and not being able to get out of bed in the morning.

I was privileged to receive amazing treatment that gave me a new mindset, a set of tools to increase my mental fitness and build better resilience for the future, but it also uncovered my Superpower.?

I was diagnosed with Adult #ADHD, something I have probably lived with all my life, without knowing it. Suddenly things started to make sense. There’s a reason I have always chosen exciting jobs where one day to the next is never the same, there's a reason I avoid routines.

My brain works best in bursts of focused, intense activity, which is probably why I excel in working with clients in Design Sprints - workshop-based intensive, impactful interventions to get from a challenge to a customer-validated concept in a short space of time.

It doesn't make me the "smartest person in the room", far from it, I'm used to working with PhD-level scientists after all! My technical knowledge isn't what's important, my ability to create goal-oriented, structured processes that harness all the talent in the room to achieve a team outcome, that's what makes me different. That's where my Superpower helps.

"With great power comes great responsibility"!

It does, however, always need to be controlled, just like Superman’s strength. My control mechanism isn’t Kryptonite, but #mindfulness. I’ve practiced mindfulness for years, and have felt the positive benefits that come from being truly present in the moment in all areas of my life. (Check out The University of Oxford Mindfulness Centre)

If I am not mindful, my brain jumps and suddenly starts working on solving a different problem or different task. This is great sometimes, but problematic at others, as the video below shows. See how many unfinished tasks you can spot in my after-work visit to the kitchen!!?

But I am not alone. Many people have hidden Superpowers:

? People that are told they have limitations from a condition can develop resilience and resourcefulness to prove their doubters wrong

? Those with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders often have the ability to think differently and work more creatively

What’s your Superpower?

What can you do seemingly better than others? What's your most admired quality?

Please share, if you feel comfortable doing so. Thank you for reading.

I'm enjoying being an active contributor to the LinkedIn community, creating content to help others and it is nice when the community gives back. So if this post has been useful to you, please let me know in the comments.

P.S. Here are the answers!