How my brain works
I have ADHD. It shapes almost everything about how I work, and once I learned to build around it, most of that has been for the better.
How it shows up
- Interest over importanceMy attention follows what's interesting, not what's important. It's sometimes called an "interest‑based nervous system," and that describes it pretty well.
- Deep divesWhen something grabs me, I can go all in on it for hours and come out the other side knowing far more than I planned to. That's been true with every hobby I've picked up, and it's how WhatBars happened.
- The hard partRepetitive, low‑stakes work is genuinely hard for me. Admin, data entry, and anything I've done a hundred times drains me faster than the hardest creative problem.
What I build around it
I don't rely on willpower. I rely on systems.
- A quiet phoneStripped down to the stock apps, with notifications off except for family and work calls.
- Blocked distractionsDuring work hours, the websites I waste time on are blocked by a tool that won't let me turn it off once it's set. I've blocked some sites for months at a time.
- Keystone habitsA regular workout makes eating well, sleeping well, and focusing at work all noticeably easier.
- A want listA new idea for something to buy has to survive three to six months before I act on it.
- A second brainNotes and checklists that keep information short and scannable, give me one decision at a time, and remember what I'd otherwise forget.
- AutomationRepetitive work goes to automations, so my attention is free for the parts that need a person.
What it gives me
- BreadthI've done a lot of different jobs, and that range helps with problems nobody has seen before. That's most of the job when you're the only marketer and the problems change every day.
- ConnectionsBrand, product, sales, and data are all in my head at the same time. That's how something a buyer says on a call ends up shaping the website.
- DepthWhen a problem is interesting, I'll research it further than almost anyone wants me to.
If we work together
The short version is on my About page, under Working with me. The part that comes from ADHD: I write everything down, and when I'm working on your problem, I go deep on it.