Am I an Entrepreneur with ADD or Because of It?

Am I an Entrepreneur with ADD or Because of It? written by John Jantsch read more at Duct Tape Marketing

Peter Shankman via Twitter

Marketing Podcast with Peter Shankman

As a growing number of people are diagnosed with ADD and ADHD those same people are starting to look for better ways to understand and manage what has been categorized as a significant disorder.

In fact, rather than bombing the diagnosis with drugs, some are starting to question if it's a disorder at all.

My guest on this week's episode of the Duct Tape Marketing Podcast is Peter Shankman, entrepreneur, best-selling author, and advocate for entrepreneurs with ADD and ADHD. He created the site Faster than Normal: Unlocking the Gifts of ADD and ADHD. We discuss the entrepreneurial spirit, and how “disorders” like ADD and ADHD can be viewed as gifts.

I have no research to back this claim, but my guess is that entrepreneurs are blessed with just a touch more ADHD than the general population – it's a productivity tool when managed.

My wife often points to the fact that the way I think, work, and act at times looks an awful lot like the characteristics of ADHD. I guess one question that I would love to explore is whether I'm an entrepreneur with ADHD or because of it. It's pretty easy to get good at omni-tasking when you own a business.

Anyone who has met Shankman in real life knows that he is a great spokesperson for those trying to reframe the gift of ADHD.

Questions I ask Peter:

• Why does the world view these as disorders?


• What gifts do you view as superpowers?


• How do you avoid the pitfalls of ADD and ADHD?

What you'll learn if you give a listen:

• How to embrace your differences as gifts


• How Peter has changed his lifestyle to improve his productivity


• How your health can impact your ability to run your business

If this subject interests you, you should check out the Distraction Podcast at distractionpodcast.com, Peter's mastermind group at shankminds.com, or FasterThanNormal.com.

This episode of the Duct Tape Marketing Podcast is brought to you by FreshBooks, small business accounting software for non-accountants. Freshbooks is offering a free month of unrestricted access just for Duct Tape Marketing podcast listeners. You don't even need a credit card to register. To get your free month, go to freshbooks.com/ducttape and enter DuctTape in the “How Did You Hear About Us?” section.