Thank you so much for joining our interview series! Before we get started, we would love to “get to know you” a bit better. What is your ‘backstory’, and how did you get started?
I grew up in San Francisco, went to college on the East Coast, then came back to work for a few years with my future wife, before going to Montreal for my MBA. My father unfortunately got sick then, which lead to our moving to Austin, TX for the last semester of my MBA and his last semester. I wasn’t certain of my path during my MBA and then after, but I was contemplating going into the video game industry. After my dad passed, I reflected on how my mom is well positioned financially because of the decades of planning they had done. I then compared that to the people I knew from high school, college, jobs, even the MBA. People I cared about, good people, well-intentioned and intelligent people, some of whom weren’t doing even some basic things when it comes to financial planning. I had a “if not me, then who?” moment, and have been in some kind of financial planning for the last 7 years.
Can you share an interesting story or anecdote that happened to you, and which you think helped direct your career?
One of my favorite moments came a few years ago. I had recently changed companies and was reaching out to some old contacts to start rebuilding my client and prospect list. One of my former contacts connected me with one of her clients, who then called me and left a voicemail, which I still have saved. Her voicemail went on about how thankful she was that I was reaching out to her, how concerned she has been about her finances, and how much she was looking forward to meeting with me and getting started. She is one of my favorite clients, and I’m always excited to talk to her and meet with her. Especially so earlier in my new job, in a career known for rejection, to have someone reaching back out and talking about how excited she was to meet and work with me, was very motivating and validating.
In a way, we are all standing on the shoulders of giants. Is there a person who helped you get to where you are today? Can you share a story about that?
I only get to talk about one person? There have been so many people that have helped me get to where I am today. A few elementary and high school teachers, college friends, work mentors, etc. I think throughout it all, my mom has been one of the driving forces in my life. Even if we ignore the first 18 years, she has continued to be a source of support, listening to my problems and questions, giving me her advice and counsel but letting me know that I should make decisions for my reasons and my wants. She has been a great source of emotional support and decision-making,
Excellent. Let’s now move on to the core of our interview. For many of us, the pandemic fundamentally altered the way we work. Most notably, many teams have started working remotely, which is very different from the more traditional office environment. In your experience, has this shift negatively impacted people living with ADHD?
I think that for some it has, and for some it has had a positive impact. My brain demands structure and boundaries, knowing in advance what will happen in a day and what I need to do. I think that initially everyone suffered due to the chaos that came with everyone working from home, but once a new routine could be established it was a great help to some. For others, having to be at home and not being able to get away from the constant distractions of home, it has definitely had a negative impact.
On the other hand, what are some significant benefits of remote work for neurodiverse professionals?
I think a lot of the benefits come from the social distance that remote work has created. From my experience, the intricacies of social niceties and work place politics can be a struggle for neurodiverse individuals to navigate. Remote work cuts down on the need to engage in these situations. It also makes it much easier to get out of engagements that you want to get out of, through family issues or connection issues.
Overall, how would you evaluate the impact of these changes on the way we work? Is it mostly positive or negative?
I feel they are mostly positive. The way remote work cuts down on commuting has given people more time, both to get work done and to care for themselves. While the decrease of in-person interactions is more of a negative than a positive in my opinion, I feel the increase in efficiency and personal autonomy outweighs the negatives.
As some organizations make the move toward making these changes permanent, what are some recommendations that you would make for ADHD professionals, particularly those in positions of responsibility?
One of the best aspects about remote work is the freedom to set up that space to suit your individual needs. In that vein, don’t assume that the best solution for John is the best solution for Jane. Work to find the set-up that works best for you and/or the people around you. Different desk set-ups, different daily/weekly/monthly schedules, different priorities, etc.
Drilling down a bit, a common quest among ADHD individuals is finding the ideal daily routine that provides productive focus without neglecting incoming responsibilities as they arrive. What do you think is a good baseline to start planning a good day at work, and at home?
I am a big proponent that we find the time for the things that are important to us. You should look at your individual situation and figure out how to structure your day. A good first step is if you must take your work home with you, or can you have a clear divide between the two (work electronics stay at/in the office, no work emails after X o’clock).
Is your situation such that you have to expect constant disruptions (working from home with kids, your work involves constant disruptions, your boss demands you respond to their emails within 5 minutes)? If so, then you need to carve out some 15-30 minute blocks to power through some important tasks that aren’t as urgent. One interesting tip I heard recently is to break up email. Instead of dealing with every email as they come in, separate that task into 3 categories – Prioritize, Read, Respond.
We are big believers in the power of prioritization. With what frequency do you think someone should review their day-to-day priorities? And what are some good tips for deciding what is your next task, when you can choose among literally hundreds of options?
I like the following system. On an annual basis, make a massive list of all the things you want to accomplish personally, professionally, and financially. Don’t limit yourself at this point, just think of anything and everything. Now that you have the list, see if there are any goals that are linked (e.g. I want to make more money and I want to advance in my career), then pare the list down to the 3-5 that are the most important to you.
Now that you have your annual goals, think about what you need to do on a quarterly or monthly basis to put you on track for your annual goals. Then break it down into the daily activities that you need to do to stay on track for your goals. If after the course of a week or month, you are off track, re-evaluate how to adjust so that you can stay or get back on track.
In terms of what to do next, I advocate starting your day making a list of the top priorities for the day, or ending the day listing the priorities for tomorrow. Between the first part giving you the handful of things you need to do every day and this step giving you the top things to do this day, you should be in a good start. IF you find that you routinely run through both lists with time to spare, then add more items to your current day priorities.
On a more personal note, how do you get yourself in the zone for productive work? Any tricks, techniques or aids that you can share?
It’s all about your environment. We associate different spaces with different tasks, and I’ve discovered that I am less productive when I am at home, in the spaces that I relax and spend time with my family. Changing the physical space I am working in is part of the process. Leaving most distractions at home, setting up my schedule to focus on the task at hand, using applications/settings for blocking out distractions and disabling notifications. I turn off notifications on my phone and computer, and use an app called Freedom to disable access to the websites/applications that aren’t work related during work hours.
As a financial advisor, you must spend a big portion of your day talking to strangers. For some people, this is incredibly stressful. Do you have any recommendations to combat that type of anxiety?
Find out the root of the anxiety. Is it talking in general that makes you stressful, or talking to strangers? Does it make a difference if it is social or work-related? Are you fine in large groups but anxious in 1-on-1 settings, or vice versa? Once you know what part makes you anxious, you can take steps to address it. In my case, I enjoy speaking to large groups, I enjoy talking to people in small groups, I hate mingling in large social events. Every new person I talk to in a small setting is an opportunity to impact someone’s life for the better, ideally the other party and myself. How we view situations and how we talk to ourselves have huge power over our relationship with the world, so focus on what you can control and adjust as you go.
At a systemic level, what do you think organizations can do to help employees with ADHD thrive at work, and contribute at the top of their capacity? What are some DOs and DON’Ts?
Being flexible and being supportive and understanding top the list. Talking with them and listening to their issues and concerns, as well as working with them to set up their environment for success.
What are some specific tools or techniques that you recommend in order to stay organized and productive? Can you give a concrete example of how to integrate them?
Block out your day for the big activities that need to happen in a day. Then keep to it. I’ve found that people will respect your time to the extent that you do. If you have a commitment at 9 am and a client wants to meet then, tell them you are busy and offer some alternatives. Break down your day into the time chunks for your priorities, and stick to them. If you need more time for a task, readjust your time budget and move forward. If this type of system is new to you, I recommend budgeting some time throughout the day to catch-up on tasks you didn’t finish. This lets you get things done while also building the muscle memory for task switching in a timely manner.
Getting a bit more serious now. I read about lots of people who went through their young years thinking they were incapable of great work, only to learn as adults about their ADHD. This finding is often liberating, and it enables them to understand how their mind works, and how to best deal with it. What are some red flags for someone who has not been diagnosed, but who suspects they suffer ADHD?
This is really difficult for me, because I was probably “always” ADD and could have benefitted from therapy or medication, etc. I have always been an A student who did B work, with my best grades coming in subjects I cared about. I struggle to focus on things I don’t care as much about, and I will tunnel-vision on things I care about for hours on end. So far, those all sound like things that can be typically of most people, so where is the line between being a “normal” person and having ADD?
For me, the tipping point is when it crosses into harm. Does your struggle to pay attention to important things harm you, or the people around you? If so, you need to address the situation, whether you have ADD or not.
For someone who ticks some of these boxes, what next steps would you recommend? Read more, or talk to someone? When is it a good time to seek professional help?
I like doing some research to get a handle on the basics before reaching out to someone. A lot of the basic questions can be addressed through some research, and it shows that you are invested in your own mental health and not just seeking a label to get out of responsibilities or have an easier time in school. Now that you have a foundation, look into your available resources. Does your school have counselors or mental health professionals on staff? Can your family afford to send you to someone? If not, what free resources are available in your area?
Ok, we’re winding down now. Something I like to ask everyone: Do you have a favorite “Life Lesson” quote? How has it been relevant to you in your life?
I forget where I got it, it might be a Psalm, but I like “Grant me the strength to change the things I can, the grace to accept the things I can’t, and the wisdom to know the difference.” It is so easy to let so many things control you and influence you, especially how you view and talk to yourself, and so easy to obsess over all the things that happened to us that we could not control. The more I separate myself from outcomes I can’t control and instead focus on my actions which I can control, the more satisfied with my life I become.
I also like Invictus by William Ernest Henley – “I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.”
Finally, my favorite part of the interview, the “rapid fire” session! (Tiny answers for tiny questions.)
- In the recent past, what book has impacted you the most?
Psychology of Money. - Coffee or tea?
Water. - What was your childhood dream job?
Teacher. - What public figure do you admire?
I don’t really follow public figures, but the most notable I can think of is Stephen Fry. Loved his comedy work when he was younger, and love his more recent activism and speaking. - What advice would you give to your younger self?
Focus on the few people that matter and ignore the rest. - What is something most people don’t know about you?
My favorite fiction book series is the Wheel of Time.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
The simplest way is to follow/connect with me on LinkedIn. I enjoy meeting with new people, and if I can improve your situation in some way, just let me know!
Thank you so much for the time you spent doing this interview. This was very inspirational, and we wish you continued success.
About The Interviewer: Pablo Diaz-Gutierrez is the founder and CTO of Appfluence, an award-winning software company that focuses on helping busy professional make the most of their limited time, better organizing emails, projects and meetings. Priority Matrix has been recommended by ADHD experts as a useful tool to help manage time, tasks and life priorities. Appfluence is producing this interview series to highlight the tools and techniques that top experts find most effective. If you would like to suggest a new topic or interviewee, please reach out to us.