Unmasking ADHD: My Journey of Discovery, Skepticism, and Growth

When I was a child, I was the classic "good girl"—the kind teachers loved. My school reports were peppered with phrases like "a pleasure to have in class" and "well-behaved." I wasn’t disruptive, always had my homework ready, and kept my desk tidy. To everyone else, I seemed calm, collected, and organized. But inside my head? That was a different story.

It was a swirling storm of big dreams, endless ideas, and stories that never stopped. My imagination was my playground. At just seven years old, I directed a class play, content to take a minor role on stage but fully in charge of the creative vision. By age nine, I was corralling my friends during break times, organizing performances for Friday afternoon drama sessions. Outside school, I lived at dance classes, crafting routines and chasing that creative outlet daily.

Even in college, where I excelled academically, I was far from truly focused. I often looked like I was present, nodding along in class, but my mind was in a world of its own. Thankfully, my best friend always had my back, keeping me grounded enough to stay on track.

When I lost my dad unexpectedly after college, my plans to study journalism evaporated. I couldn’t face more structured learning, so I turned to the stage instead, pouring myself into performing. Between gigs, I dabbled in over 20 different jobs within two years—some lasting months, others mere minutes. By all accounts, I wasn’t sticking to the mold, but I was determined to carve out my path.

Fast forward to age 40, when I stumbled across something that would shift my entire understanding of myself: ADHD. Out of pure curiosity, I pursued a formal diagnosis, half-skeptical about whether I “fit” the label. After all, wasn’t ADHD for hyperactive boys who couldn’t sit still in class? That wasn’t me. I’d always been poised and organized—or so I thought. But the diagnosis made sense. It explained why my focus had always felt so slippery and why I gravitated toward high-energy, multi-passionate pursuits. Even with the diagnosis in hand, I needed to know how they were so sure. Why did I fit this mold when I still felt like an outlier?

Over the last three years, I’ve immersed myself in learning about ADHD, peeling back the layers of how my mind works. Some days, I lean into the extraordinary abilities that come with it—hyperfocus, creativity, and the drive to achieve the impossible. Other days, the challenges rear their heads: overwhelm, self-doubt, and the kind of mental exhaustion that tests my resilience.

One of the most eye-opening parts of this journey has been connecting with other women like me. Business owners, creatives, and multi-passionate women—so many of them share similar traits. It’s made me wonder: Is this wiring more common than we think, or is it just that I’ve surrounded myself with people who think and work like I do?

Recently, I had the privilege of inviting Kim Raine, author of Square Pegs, onto my Born to Be Brilliant podcast. Together, we explored how women in business can navigate life with ADHD traits. It was a conversation full of insights, laughter, and moments of pure connection—proof that, no matter how we’re wired, we can turn our unique challenges into gifts.

Here’s what I’ve learned: Whether or not you have ADHD, life is full of challenges to overcome, lessons to learn, and opportunities to grow. Our wiring—however it looks—is just one part of the puzzle. The rest is shaped by how we choose to move forward. For me, that means embracing my quirks, continuing to discover how my mind works, and leaning into the extraordinary. It means surrounding myself with people who inspire me and sharing my story in the hopes that it resonates with others.

Whatever your wiring, your story is still unfolding. And the best part? You get to choose how it’s written.

On The Podcast:

Learn more about ADHD and how to navigate business with it from my conversation with Kim Raine, ADHD expert and author and fellow ADHD woman in business. it's all on the podcast here;

Looking for more? I have a whole set of tools that I use personally to help manage my performance with work which, in turn enahnces my personal life too!

Get your hands on these tools inside the 'Diamond Club' - The membership for creating the ultimate success you seek in life and business! Find out more here.