You Are Not Broken, You Are Designed: How to Lead with ADHD | EP 202

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Engineer Your Success

Dr. James Bryant

221 episodes

2 days ago

Engineer Your Success is the podcast for engineering leaders and technical professionals who want to master the leadership, communication, and mindset skills that drive measurable results—so you can win at work and at home.

Hosted by Dr. James Bryant, PhD, PE, this show gives you the tools to navigate the real-world challenges of engineering leadership—from leading teams and making confident decisions to setting boundaries and preventing burnout.

Whether you’re an aspiring manager or a seasoned executive, you’ll get actionable strategies to help you grow your influence, advance your career, and enjoy a meaningful personal life—without sacrificing what matters most.

🎯 You’ll learn about:
• Leadership for engineers and technical teams
• Delegation, decision-making, and strategic thinking
• Resolving workplace challenges and conflicts
• Work-life integration and personal growth
• Building strong teams and effective communication

Subscribe for weekly insights, expert interviews, and practical tools to help you thrive in every area of life.
Because you don’t have to choose between a thriving career and a fulfilling home life—you can engineer your success and win at work and at home.

All content for Engineer Your Success is the property of Dr. James Bryant and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

You Are Not Broken, You Are Designed: How to Lead with ADHD | EP 202 | Guest Jake Brown

Engineer Your Success

27 minutes 5 seconds

3 months ago

You Are Not Broken, You Are Designed: How to Lead with ADHD | EP 202 | Guest Jake Brown

What if your ADHD wasn’t a flaw—but a design feature?
In this episode of Engineer Your Success, Dr. James Bryant talks with Jake Brown, business coach and consultant for entrepreneurs and middle managers with ADHD, about how embracing neurodivergence can unlock new levels of leadership and self-acceptance. From hiding ADHD at work to reframing it as a superpower (without the cape), Jake shares his journey of shedding judgment and building a business that embraces his wiring.

You’ll discover:

* How Jake reframed ADHD from a liability to a leadership asset
* The surprising role of doodling in managing overwhelm and unlocking flow
* How to navigate rejection sensitivity and create judgment-free zones for creativity

Whether you're navigating your own ADHD or leading someone who is, this episode will help you lead with empathy, design your rhythm, and own your brilliance.
Introducing Engineer Your Success Insiders
You're always the one everyone comes to for guidance and solutions. But who's in your corner?

Engineer Your Success Insiders is my new private podcast for leaders who want practical frameworks, not just theory. Every week in just 3–5 minutes, you'll get:

One Story | One Insight | One Action

This isn't content you'll hear on the main podcast—these are the tools and strategies I use with my private coaching clients.

Ready to have a coach in your corner? Join Engineer Your Success Insiders.
Key Moments in the Episode
00:00 – Welcome & Introduction: James welcomes Jake Brown back to the podcast
02:15 – Hiding ADHD at Work: The invisible tax of masking neurodivergence
05:00 – Finding His Niche: Realizing that 90% of his coaching clients have ADHD
08:34 – From Broken to Designed: The Monet moment that reframed everything
13:00 – The Power of Doodling: How this practice helps Jake focus and switch tasks
15:30 – Rejection Sensitivity & Fear of Judgment: How RSD affects ADHD leaders
18:30 – Unjudged Output: Why play matters more than productivity
20:30 – Creating Your Own Operating System: Practical adaptations that work
23:00 – Radical Self-Acceptance: You can’t lead others until you accept yourself
25:00 – Final Reflections: Lead with your design, not in spite of it

Key Insights & Takeaways

* You’re not broken—you’re designed. ADHD isn’t a defect; it’s a different operating system.
* Masking your identity at work creates hidden stress. When 20% of your energy is spent on not getting caught, you’re not thriving.
* Doodling can be a focus tool, not just a creative outlet. It helps pause mental chaos and jumpstart action.
* RSD (Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria) is real. And it explains why so many leaders hold back from showing up authentically.
* Unjudged output—like play or doodling—can restore confidence and energy.
* Acceptance is the foundation of growth. You can't lead or connect fully until you accept who you are.

Notable Quotes
“It’s a design feature, not a design failure.” — Dr. James Bryant
“People aren’t broken. They’re just operating on a different rhythm.” — Jake Brown

Guest Information
Jake Brown – Business Coach for Neurodivergent Leaders
Jake helps entrepreneurs and middle managers with ADHD unlock their unique leadership style and thrive without pretending to be someone else. He’s known for his coaching insights, powerful analogies—and his doodles that have taken over LinkedIn.

Connect with Jake Brown

* Website: https://airballoonadvisory.com/jakebrown/
* LinkedIn:Back to Episodes