How ADHD Became My Superpower in Business

Written by Dario Hudon-Verrelli
Picture of Written by Dario Hudon-Verrelli
Written by Dario Hudon-Verrelli

Digital Marketing Strategist | Marketing Lecturer at Mount Royal University | Co-Founder of Work Nicer Coworking

In This Article ...

Synopsis

For a long time, I saw my ADHD traits as roadblocks: impulsivity, time blindness, scattered focus, and that ever-present pressure of procrastination. But somewhere along the line, something shifted. I stopped seeing ADHD as something I had to fix and started treating it as something I could work with.

The moment I stopped fighting myself and started building around my brain, everything changed. Not overnight—but with intention.

Turning Traits into Tools

Here’s the truth: many of the traits that once got me into trouble are now the reasons I succeed.

  • Hyperfocus became my secret weapon.
  • Working memory challenges led me to build a digital memory system that now powers my business.
  • Divergent thinking and nonlinear problem-solving became the foundation for creative storytelling and strategic marketing.
  • Intuitive communication helps me read the room and skip to the core idea—once I learned how to pace myself.

Even the so-called negatives—like inconsistent motivation and difficulty prioritizing—became invitations to build better systems, not shame spirals.

 

Systems That Work With My Brain, Not Against It

One of the most transformative tools I created is a master Google Sheet for each client. It includes:

  • A content matrix mapping ideas to audience needs
  • A tutorial and visual calendar
  • A checklist of digital assets
  • A campaign tracker
  • A weekly metric dashboard with stoplight colors for easy status checks

This system allows me to think once and use often. No more mental clutter. No more wondering if I forgot something. It’s like an external brain that supports my internal chaos.

On the personal side, I start every day with a slow, grounding routine:
tea, breathwork, journaling, stretching. No screen time until I’ve paid myself first.

I learned this from watching a speaker pause before stepping on stage—taking in the moment rather than being consumed by it. That’s how I want to start my day: regulated, not rushed.

 

Mindset Shift: From Liability to Leverage

There was a time when I believed ADHD made me a “bad entrepreneur.” I struggled with consistency, procrastinated until the last second, and found myself overwhelmed by unstructured work.

But then I discovered something powerful: medication helped create a level playing field, and once that baseline was in place, I could build effective systems around my strengths.

I stopped blaming the traits and started owning the responsibility of navigating them.

“Clients—and the world—don’t care what acronyms you have. They care if you show up, follow through, and create results.”

And showing up for myself first—acknowledging the real traits I face each day—allowed me to build that consistency without betraying my nature.

 

Creativity Needs Structure to Thrive

The biggest lesson? Creativity isn’t random. It’s supported by systems.

The more organized I am on the backend, the more freedom I have on the front end. That’s when my ADHD superpowers truly shine: when the foundation is built, and I’m free to create, connect, and tell the story no one else sees.

And that’s what clients are actually buying: not just marketing—but my lens, my pattern recognition, and my ability to pull a story from a stone.

Key Takeaways

  • ADHD traits like hyperfocus, divergent thinking, and intuitive communication can be business strengths when paired with the right systems.

  • Building self-aware routines and project frameworks helps reduce overwhelm and supports creative flow.

  • The key is not to fix yourself, but to understand yourself—and build from there.

FAQ

Not necessarily. While ADHD presents challenges, it also offers unique strengths like creativity, rapid problem-solving, and passion-driven focus—especially with the right support systems in place.

Using tools like Google Sheets to track campaigns, metrics, and content can offload cognitive load and help prioritize tasks effectively.

Yes. ADHD often involves interest-based motivation. Systems, routines, and meaningful work are key to maintaining momentum.

Accept that your brain works differently—and stop fighting it. Acknowledge the challenges, build processes that support your success, and own your strengths.

In maintaining the ethics and transparency of AI use, we leveraged AI tools to enhance the insights shared here in this article. Learn more about Why the Ethical use of AI is Important to Your Business.

How ADHD Became My Superpower in Business

Synopsis For a long time, I saw my ADHD traits as roadblocks: impulsivity, time blindness, scattered focus, and that ever-present pressure of procrastination. But somewhere along the line, something shifted....