Overcoming Distractions The Podcast

This is an important episode for anyone that has had their work environment abruptly altered due to the COVID-19 Coronavirus crisis. Many of us are now working from home and may not be ready for that change to our working environment. Dave sits down with Casey Dixon of Dixon Life Coaching about how you can continue to work and stay productive during this drastic change in our work and home life. Casey works with professionals including lawyers, professors and others in high-demand careers to help them stay on track and stay productive. Dave and Casey talk about how in a time of crisis, there can be a shock to a person’s work environment and they talk about what can happen. However, many with ADHD who have become successful, have systems in place and can transition during these times. But there still can be challenges. They discuss how to set up a place in your home if you don’t already have a dedicated space to work from. And they walk through how to set priorities when you suddenly have a house full of child

If you want to improve your focus with ADHD, this will be a great podcast for you to listen to. Back for round two is Dr. Sarah Cheyette, a specialist in ADHD and the author of Winning with ADHD and the title of our podcast, ADHD and The Focused Mind. In her book, Sarah and her co-authors Peter Johnson and Ben Cheyette walk readers through how you can use the techniques of athletes and martial artists to achieve greater focus when you have ADHD. Sarah and Dave first talk about the myth that those with ADHD cannot focus. In fact, people with ADHD can have tremendous focus when they want to and on things that matter to them. They address both the public’s perception as well as the self-talk that many with ADHD tell use to tell themselves otherwise. Sarah and Dave discuss our need for goals, how we have our best performance when we have practical and achievable goals and how self esteem comes from achievement. Sarah also goes through the concept of SMART Goals and how to implement them in your life. Sarah talks

This week we are talking about time again but this is not a time management episode. This episode we are talking about how those with ADHD experience time differently than others. Dave sits down with ADHD Coach, Shelly Collins. Shelly also co-hosts the ADHD podcast Translating ADHD with Cameron Gott who has also been on Overcoming Distractions for a couple of discussions. Dave and Shelly discuss what adults with ADHD struggle with when it comes to time and of course, the list could become numerous. But they also point out that those with ADHD are not the only ones that have challenges with time and that it is important for anyone with ADHD to understand this. Dave asks Shelly what time “feels Like” for adults with ADHD and how that can be different than those that are neurotypical. Shelly discusses time horizons and how many with ADHD struggle with long term planning in regards to time. Does the future exist for adults with ADHD and what is destination thinking. They also discuss topics such as procrastinatio

This week we chat with Sarah Cheyette MD about social anxiety. While many adults with ADHD might be very outgoing and have the gift of being a great communicator, some of those with ADHD also experience social anxiety in various situations. Sarah Cheyette is the author of two books on ADHD; ADHD and the Focused Mind, as well as Winning with ADHD. Sarah starts out by describing just what social anxiety is and how those with ADHD can experience this in various settings, both at home and at work. She discusses negative thinking and the neuroscience around it. Sarah also talks about the anxious part of our brains and that sometimes, we have challenges thinking straight when we are nervous. Dave and Sarah talk about extrovert versus introvert and how for many of us, depending on the situation, can be both. Many with ADHD are outgoing. Can we be both? Sarah says that from many that experience social anxiety, it can start at an early age. Many with ADHD experience a large amount of negative talk as we grew up. From

Back this week for another podcast is Dr. Sharon Saline to discuss the topic of whether people grow out of ADHD. It is another one of those common discussions in the world of ADHD and a topic that many have different views on. Dr Saline is the author of the book What Your ADHD Child Wishes You Knew and in private practice in Western Massachusetts. Dave and Dr. Saline first discuss her book and that fact that there are many parts of the book that resonate with both children and adults with ADHD and there are valuable lessons to be taken away from her book. Dr. Saline cites various research that suggests some children do outgrow ADHD but there is another camp that suggests that in most cases it is more about adapting to your environment and becoming more self-aware. Dr. Saline brings up our 11 executive functions and how they operate. When we are doing the things we love, in the right environment or we have a great career that we enjoy, those executive functions may work great. She also brings up what she calls

If you have ADHD, you are probably a creative person and this podcast is dedicated to you. This week, Dave has back Laura MacNiven, founder of the Springboard Clinic based in Toronto. Laura is also the co-author of the book, “May We Have Your Attention Please.” and Dave and Laura had a chat back several months ago about the book and several other topics with adult ADHD. Laura and Dave discuss the topic of having ADHD and being a creative person. While many of us are creative by nature, some struggle with getting in that creative zone. Once we do, magic can happen. But we need to get there first. Laura walks us through some of the tactics we can do to harness our creative expertise and make it flourish. She talks about learning when you can be most creative and what setting provides a flow of creativity. Laura also speaks about how to track your creative ideas and how to find the easiest way to express your creativity. And she speaks about finding out if you have a certain time of day that your creativity flow

This week Dave invited Jeff Copper from Dig Coaching back to continue the theme of ADHD myths. There are many myths about ADHD and Jeff and Dave tackle one that is always on the minds of many. Myth- People with ADHD cannot focus. This myth discussion is for both the general public and those with ADHD who feel they cannot focus. While many with ADHD do have issues with attention, the fact that those with ADHD cannot focus is simply not true. Yes, some with ADHD do have challenges with focus but there are a few key elements when it comes to focus, attention and getting important matters taken care of. Jeff explains that what we focus on depends on what we are interested in which is not unlike anyone. Whether an individual has ADHD or not, humans pay attention to things that they are interested in. That goes for career and other interests. Dave and Jeff talk about emotions, social media, getting in the right job and right career and they discuss positive self-talk. They also talk about how certain jobs and indus

This week, Dave sits down with Dr. Hackie Reitman, the founder of Different Brains. Different Brains is a tremendous resource for those who consider themselves neurodiverse and their families. And for that matter, anyone that wants to learn more about those of us with different brains. From ADHD, autism and so much more, the website covers a wide range of topics.   Hackie and Dave talk about what neurodiversity is as well as where Hackie got his passion for this stage of his life. Hackie talks about his daughter and her challenges early on and how this inspired him to bring more attention to the world of neurodiversity.   Dave and Hackie talk about how a different brain can add value to a business and how different perspectives can be gained by an organization that listens to those with different abilities. Is ADHD misunderstood by the public and the business world? Hackie and Dave discuss this as well.   Hackie talks about his book Aspertools which is a guide for those with Asperger syndrome and others on th

This week, Dave gets to sit down and chat with Max Fennell, a professional triathlete, entrepreneur and ADHD advocate. Max was also featured on the CBS show Million Dollar Mile, produced by LeBron James.   Max talks about growing up and how he found the world of triathlons and how a sports injury led him to this sport.   Max also discuses his tips for adults with ADHD and how he manages his ADHD including running and why he feels that is an important way to start the day.   Max and Dave also talk about the fact that many professional athletes have ADHD and that is the path in life they took.   Max gives the parents who may be raising a child with ADHD some hope and inspiration as he talks about making sure children and young adults who may be neurodiverse, the chance to find their way in life. Academics may not be for everyone and many with ADHD thrive in careers and business opportunities that they did not go to school for.   Learn more about Max at: https://www.maxfennell.co/

This week we discuss some of the more popular myths about ADHD. And back to discuss this topic is Cameron Gott, an ADHD coach that works with adults, leaders and others in high-demand positions. Cam was on Overcoming Distractions in episode 39 when we discussed good brain management for those with ADHD.   There are countless myths about ADHD that you will find out there on the internet and beyond. Dave and Cam discuss some of these in a humorous and frustrating way to try and shed more light on the topic and understanding of ADHD.   Cam and Dave talk about the ultimate ADHD myth and that is the notion that ADHD is not real. With science behind the diagnosis of ADHD, there is more than enough proof that ADHD is a real thing. But listen to hear more about this myth.   Another very popular myth as that ADHD is just in kids. If you know anything about ADHD, it is best described as an unregulated amount of dopamine that enters the prefrontal cortex of the brain. While many may learn to cope, and become more self-a

This week, Dave chats with Peter Shankman, author of the book, Faster Than Normal. The book is about adult ADHD and how to use that gifted brain you were given at birth. Peter also hosts a very popular podcast by the same name.   Peter Shankman as you may know is a very successful entrepreneur and keynote speaker. Peter travels the county and the world and can be in New York one day, and across the globe the next day. And that’s what Dave and Peter discuss.   How to manage your ADHD and thrive with ADHD when you are a busy entrepreneur.   Peter talks about how he has created routines that help him with his very busy schedule. Whether he is in New York or another part of the world, Peter keeps a routine to make sure he stays on track and as productive as he can be. Peter talks about the importance of exercise and working out. And how he uses it to stay on track when he might cross several time zones.   Does Peter have a different routine for when he’s home and when he travels? He’ll answer that question as wel

This week Dave sits down with Cena Block and they discuss why many of us always feel too busy. Cena is an ADHD coach, working with many professionals and entrepreneurs. Cena is also a certified organizer coach and productivity consultant.   Why do I always feel so busy? Cena talks with Dave about this important question.   Dave and Cena discuss why many of us feel like there are just not enough hours in the day to get what we need to get done. We always feel like there is just too much on our plate. Cena talks about the reasoning behind this and offers her thoughts on the way our busy world works today.   Cena talks about some of the reasons that contribute to our business including time management, cluttered mind and clutter spaces as well as our lack of systems in our business life.   Cena offers us some advice for when we are actually too busy and we have too many things on our plate. Sometimes we can feel busy but other times, we actually do have too many items on our to-do list. Cena sorts this out for u

This week we have Jeff Copper back from DIG Coaching to talk with us about working memory. Lost your car keys, forgot why you walked into a room or forgot to pack the right cloths for your trip? Your working memory is probably to blame. Jeff explains what working memory is and how we need a good working memory to get things done during the course of our day. How working memory can affect our productivity and frustrate us when we do forget things are a major topic of discussion. Jeff and Dave also have a little fun at our own expense. Forgetting things around the house such as walking into a room and not knowing why you are there is sometimes amusing. But also, in business, it can affect our business and the people around us if we don’t come up with solutions. Jeff gives us real life scenarios and small examples of tests we could do to see how our working memory manages and he runs through actionable ways in which we can come up with solutions to the challenge of a lack of working memory. Jeff also lays out a

The topic this week is about how to have more confidence in business and in your personal life. This week on Overcoming Distractions the podcast, Dave speaks with Alyssa Dver, founder of The American Confidence Institute.   Many who might have had a challenging upbringing (such as ADHD) have had their confidence eroded over time. Dave and Alyssa talk about why some people have lost their confidence or in many cases, never had enough confidence to chase their dreams or big goals.   Alyssa defines confidence and lets us know exactly what she feels leads to a professional having the confidence they need in business.   Other discussion points in this podcast include, the topic of what actually contributes to lack of confidence and what brain science has to do with confidence. They discuss what can do for us in a business setting and the steps someone needs to take to create more confidence in their lives.   Alyssa and Dave also chat about one of the age-old questions-Confidence VS> Arrogance. What is the differen

Grandmaster Chris Berlow is back on Overcoming Distractions to talk about how to set and achieve the biggest goals of your life.   In 2017 Chris climbed Kilimanjaro (19,341 feet) in Tanzania, in 2018 he went to Everest Base Camp (17,600) and climbed Kalapathar (18,508) in the Himalaya’s in Nepal, in 2019 Chris went to Ecuador and climbed Cotopaxi (19,347) which is one of the tallest active volcanos in the world.   Chris will tell us about how he prepared to do these climbs and he tells us what drives him to set and achieve big goals such as climbing.   He talks about some of the highlights of those climbs and what he did to prepare mentally for these climbs.   He answers the questions: How do we get “out of our head”?  How do we deal with frustration?  How do we set and achieve the biggest goal of our life?    Find Chris Berlow and Empowered Mastery: https://empoweredmastery.com/

This week we have Dr. Sarah Reiff-Hekking back on Overcoming Distractions. And we’re talking about how to get the most out of going to or attending a time management workshop or seminar. Dr. Sarah runs True Focus Coaching just outside of Boston, MA. She coaches professionals on how to get a grip on their time and she also runs the Time Matters Boot Camp.   Dr. Sarah and Dave discuss how to make sure your walk away from a time management event with actionable goals and a plan to maximize your time and why you should consider taking the right time management workshop.   Dr. Sarah walks us through some of the indicators that may lead us to decide we need to get a handle on our time and if it actually makes sense for the entire team in your business to attend as well. How do we maximize our investment is such a program and how do we follow through on the tactics and processes we have learned?   Dr. Sarah also discusses how we can do our best to make time management not complicated and what to do when our week see

On this episode of Overcoming Distractions, we chat with Cris Sgrott who will guide us on how to get and stay organized when you have ADHD. Cris is with Organizing Maniacs a firm that works with many people but has a specialty in working with individuals with ADHD. Cris is becoming well-known in the ADHD world and helps her clients with many aspects of getting organized which include physical items as well as other things including time. Whether you have ADHD or not, you will find some incredible value and some great tips on how to get organized. Cris answers the following questions about organization and ADHD: On the list of challenges those with ADHD face, how high on the list is disorganization? Is there a root cause of someone being disorganized? Why are some people with ADHD disorganized? Why is it so hard for some of us to get and stay organized?  When has disorganization gone too far in someone’s life or business? Organization comes with physical items as well as time. Cris and Dave chat about how time

Overcoming Distractions was founded on the belief that people with ADHD can thrive and be successful, despite what you see and hear from others. Many entrepreneurs have ADHD and many with ADHD become entrepreneurs. Many also enter leadership roles in other organizations and are responsible for not only the direction of a company but are charged with leading others. How does someone in leadership manage their ADHD and use it to their advantage? This podcast we chat with David Rickabaugh of Leading With ADHD. David works with professionals and leaders that just happen to have ADHD and help them become better leaders as well as use their Superpowers of ADHD to become even more effective. We discuss: What superpowers can a leader with ADHD bring to an organization and what are the challenges associated with having ADHD in a leadership role. We chat about how to stay focused as a leader when you have employees and others under your direction. We also discuss if it is difficult for someone to lay out their challeng

This week we are talking about ADHD and entrepreneurship, something that Overcoming Distractions was founded on. We chat with Rick Fiery of Inventive Labs based in Massachusetts.   Inventive labs is just that, a lab were those who think and learn just a little differently, can grow, thrive, learn and build their ideas. With a main focus on entrepreneurship, Inventive Labs also focuses on career advice, gap years and they host a pitch competition.   Rick and Dave discuss more about Inventive Labs and what the atmosphere and vibe there is like. Rick chats about why he feels feel those with ADHD make great entrepreneurs and what separates someone with neurodiversity from others in the area of entrepreneurship?   Finding a career for many with ADHD can be a challenge so Rick discusses how Inventive Labs helps in that area and how the team atmosphere helps everyone thrive and drive their ideas forward.   He discusses how to bring ideas to the next level including writing a business plan and how to get funding for

This week on Overcoming Distractions, we chat with Cameron Gott, an ADHD coach that works with those in business, entrepreneurs and other professionals. We are going to talk about brain management and how to thrive with Adult ADHD, focusing on the total person, rather than just one type of technique. While many might focus on time management techniques for those with ADHD, Cameron will discuss with us that the picture is much larger than that and if we focus on the individual, we will have a much better chance of managing our ADHD and actually thriving with it. Cameron describes what good brain management is and the components of being self-aware. He talks about why sleep so important to thriving with ADHD and how to achieve that goal. Why is exercise part of good brain management? And what does it do for the brain. He speaks to what impact proper brain management can have on an individual with ADHD. And we discuss what other aspects of brain management are important and he gives us some quick tips for gettin