Shawn Smith joins me on the podcast this week.  Shawn has his Master’s in Education and Counseling.  He is the proud founder and CEO of Don’t dis-my-ability Consultation Services, an innovative, multi-faceted coming specializing in the emerging field of neurodiversity.  He is a counselor, psychotherapist, and national award-winning entrepreneur.   

Diagnosed with ADHD Inattentive Type at age 30, Shawn struggle through every level of the public education system prior to his diagnosis.  It took Shawn 32 attempts to earn the 18 credits required to graduate high school.  Medication gave Shawn’s brain a jump start it needed to wake from 30 years of slumber, taking his thought process from dial-up to fiber-op.  

In this conversation, you will hear Shawn talk about his company and the services he provides.  He explains why his company being located in a cooperative creates a constructive environment for his work.  Shawn discusses his background, his struggles in school, his diagnosis, and why the entrepreneurial life fits him well.   

Connect with Shawn Smith: 

Website - Don’t Dis My Ability 

You’ll Learn: 

• [07:45] - Shawn describes the Villa cooperative, where his business is located.   
• [09:41] - Shawn provides some details on the services Don’t dis-my-ability provides, and shares how this environment fits him.   
• [10:47] - Keynotes and workshops are things that Shawn frequently does, and he describes the content of these offerings. 
• [11:54] - Shawn describes his life before diagnosis as “hell.” 
• [12:28] - We discuss the idea of being “lazy.” 
• [14:07] - Shawn describes some of the strategies he uses to stay organized and productive. 
• [15:47] - Shawn talks about growing up and seeing people around him making changes he wasn’t making. 
• [18:23] - A labor dispute is what led to Shawn’s diagnosis. 
• [22:07] - Shawn describes the changes in his life after diagnosis, and he started medication. 
• [24:06] - Shawn talks about being “snuck in” to college. 
• [25:26] - We talk about trying to filter out background noise, and I share my technique for accomplishing this.   
• [28:45] - Shawn shares more specific information on the services Don’t dis-my-ability provides. 
• [30:35] - Shawn talks about being a social entrepreneur and describes some of the challenges he faces in this role.  We also talk about being drawn to entrepreneurship out of boredom and resentment. 
• [34:42] - Shawn says the name of his business came from a rap beat he had in his head. 
• [40:06] - Shawn lists some of the things he does with his company.   
• [42:50] - Shawn shares how he plans projects. I talk about using Miranda to help with time zones.  We also talk about the challenge of writing checks and addressing envelopes as “macro thinkers.” 
• [45:49] - Shawn describes how to make context matter. 
• [48:37] - Shawn talks about his podcasting experience, including his upcoming video podcast, Don’t dis-my-ability Podcast.  
• [52:50] - Shawn speaks about the term neurodiversity and why it’s being used. 
• [1:00:05] - I talk about the book Rocket Fuel, and understanding the unique skills we as people with ADHD have. 

Use my Audible.com affiliate link for your favorite titles: 

http://www.audibletrial.com/ADHDreWired 

ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group 

Our fall season of the ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group will begin September 24th, and the group is now full.  If you’d like to secure an early spot and an early registration price for our winter session by RSVPing for our registration event on October 4th at 2pm Central.  This session starts January 7th. To learn more or RSVP for the group registration, go to http://CoachingreWired.com.   

Support the podcast on Patreon 

Patreon allows listeners like you to support content creators like me.  With a monthly contribution, you can get access to different levels of perks.  One perk example is our Patreon-only Adult Study Hall.  Learn more at http://patreon.com/adhdrewired  

ADHD reWired Facebook Group: 

If you would like to join the ADHD reWired secret Facebook group, go to EricTivers.com/community and fill out an application. 

Productivity Q&A 

Get your ADHD questions answered live!  These Q&A sessions take place on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 12:30pm.  Go to http://erictivers.com/events. 

Want to be a guest? 

Hey! What about you?  Do you have a story?  Are you a Coach?  Are you an ADHD Clinician?  If you answered yes to any of these questions and you’d like to be a guest, schedule a pre-interview call here. 

Maria Luisa Ruiz Luna joins me on this episode. She is the founder of Wellways, a venture whose goal is to promote a way of living that prioritizes our nature, wellbeing, and peace.  She creates experiences that provide the tools and space for modern humans to thrive by honoring and networking against their individual and biological nature.   

Maria Luisa moved from Peru to Arizona fifteen years ago to attend grad school.  She obtained her degree in neuroscience at the University of Arizona.  Currently, she offers coaching to individuals and workshops to crowds. Focus subjects are related to wellbeing.   

In this conversation, you will hear Maria’s insight into how ADHD impacts her, and how she lives her life.  She points out that we live in a fast-paced society, which is challenging for those of us with ADHD.  She shares some strategies for slowing down, embracing silence, and overcome this busy lifestyle we all live.  

Connect with Maria Luisa Ruiz Luna: 

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/mruizluna 

You’ll Learn: 

• [05:18] - Maria starts this conversation by talking about what she trusts, and is in situations that other people view as “crazy.”  
• [07:15] - According to Maria, having ADHD causes you to constantly try to be someone else.  
• [09:36] - Maria explains how mindfulness blends with her academic studies involving neuroscience and biology. 
• [16:17] - Our modern, fast-paced culture can be difficult for us.  Maria shares that we urgently need to be comfortable in our own skin.  
• [19:12] - Leaving space between activities helps Maria overcome our fast-paced society.   
• [22:47] - Maria explains what has led her down this path of mindfulness. 
• [25:25] - It’s easier to be positive when things are going well.  Maria explains how to find gratitude when things are rough. 
• [32:33] - Maria talks shares how to practice mindfulness when you have ADHD. 
• [42:18] - Silence is something we desperately need! 
• [44:40] - Maria says that she always thinks that she doesn’t deserve a break.  But that keeps her from experiencing the clarity of silence.  
• [45:50] - I walk in the evening, and I’ve been trying to let my mind wander instead of taking in information.  
• [47:33] - Maria explains why she sees everything as being sacred. 
• [52:00] - Maria talks about an upcoming trip to Africa, and she explains that she has no plan for this trip.   
• [55:30] - Our fast-paced society makes things more challenging for those of us with ADHD.  Maria talks about simplifying.   
• [1:02:12] - Maria and I talk about the idea of “work less, live more.” 

Use my Audible.com affiliate link for your favorite titles: 

http://www.audibletrial.com/ADHDreWired 

ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group 

Our fall season of the ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group will begin September 24th, and the group is now full.  If you’d like to secure an early spot and an early registration price for our winter session by RSVPing for our registration event on October 4th at 2pm Central.  This session starts January 7th. To learn more or RSVP for the group registration, go to http://CoachingreWired.com.   

Support the podcast on Patreon 

Patreon allows listeners like you to support content creators like me.  With a monthly contribution, you can get access to different levels of perks.  One perk example is our Patreon-only Adult Study Hall.  Learn more at http://patreon.com/adhdrewired  

ADHD reWired Facebook Group: 

If you would like to join the ADHD reWired secret Facebook group, go to EricTivers.com/community and fill out an application. 

Productivity Q&A 

Get your ADHD questions answered live!  These Q&A sessions take place on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 12:30pm.  Go to http://erictivers.com/events. 

Want to be a guest? 

Hey! What about you?  Do you have a story?  Are you a Coach?  Are you an ADHD Clinician?  If you answered yes to any of these questions and you’d like to be a guest, schedule a pre-interview call here. 

This episode is the recording of August’s live Q&A.  The questions answered in this episode were submitted by listeners of this podcast, both ahead of time and live.  Brendan Mahan once again joins me on this Q&A.   

This month, we have a few questions on careers.  We talk about exploring careers and finding the one that best suits us and our strengths and weaknesses, and we talk about being successful with a manager or in a workplace that is not necessarily ADHD-friendly.  

If you’re listening to this on the day it is published, you can listen to September’s live Q&A at 1:30pm Eastern.  Join Brendan Mahan and me as we answer your questions live.  You can register at http://ADHDreWired.com/events.   

Connect with Brendan Mahan 

ADHD Essentials Podcast 

You’ll Learn: 

• [07:09] - Jennifer starts with a question about working for a manager or in an organizational structure that is not friendly to techniques people with ADHD use to thrive.  She also asks about disclosing ADHD.   
• [18:13] - Nick asks about using rewards to manufacture a habit.   
• [23:30] - Madeline admits to starting a lot of things, and finishing few of them because of “choice paralysis.”  She asks how to overcome this.  
• [30:40] - Christian shares a dilemma with us.  He believes he is in the career field he wants to do, but now he’s not sure.  He’s having trouble with blending his passions with his abilities, which are impacted by ADHD.  This leads to a discussion on self-awareness and strengths.   
• [44:45] - We answer another question about accomplishing career goals.  Brendan and I share our thoughts on satisfaction in careers. 
• [49:05] - Sheila is worried about being overwhelmed and stressed with her daughter visiting.  She wonders how to get her emotions under control.  We share some ideas with her. 
• [1:00:30] - Brendan shares how the heat and humidity have impacted his productivity.  
• [1:03:10] - Brendan asks me how I transition from one minor task to another minor task.  I share my strategy with these situations. 
• [1:04:45] - Brendan asks how I avoid being derailed by infrequent appointments. This leads to a discussion on cars. 

Use my Audible.com affiliate link for your favorite titles: 

http://www.audibletrial.com/ADHDreWired 

ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group 

Our fall season of the ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group will begin September 24th.  If you’d like to try to snag one of the last two spots, RSVP for the last registration event. To learn more or RSVP for the group registration, go to http://CoachingreWired.com.   

Support the podcast on Patreon 

Patreon allows listeners like you to support content creators like me.  With a monthly contribution, you can get access to different levels of perks.  One perk example is our Patreon-only Adult Study Hall.  Learn more at http://patreon.com/adhdrewired  

ADHD reWired Facebook Group: 

If you would like to join the ADHD reWired secret Facebook group, go to EricTivers.com/community and fill out an application. 

Productivity Q&A 

Get your ADHD questions answered live!  These Q&A sessions take place on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 12:30pm.  Go to http://erictivers.com/events. 

Want to be a guest? 

Hey! What about you?  Do you have a story?  Are you a Coach?  Are you an ADHD Clinician?  If you answered yes to any of these questions and you’d like to be a guest, schedule a pre-interview call here. 

Today’s guest is Bob LeVitus.  Bob is the author of more than 80 technical books and has been a columnist for the Houston Chronicle since 1996.  He’s known about his ADHD for almost 20 years, and he says at this point, he considers it “kind of a blessing.”  Bob has a company called Working Smarter for Productions.

Bob is a Mac aficionado, and he’s going to help us understand how he uses different Mac products to improve his productivity, and hopefully help your productivity.  If you don’t have a Mac product, I would encourage you to still listen to this conversation.  Bob says that most of his information is applicable across other platforms.

In this conversation, Bob shares a ton of great tips for organization and time management. You will hear us discuss lots of apps and services. If you would like to take Bob’s course, you can get it 50% off!  The coupon code is ADHD reWired.

Connect with "Dr. Mac":

Website - http://WorkingSmarterForMacUsers.com

You’ll Learn:

• [07:50] - Bob shares his ADHD story.
• [09:46] - Being in a group for adults with ADHD was more beneficial for Bob than individual therapy.
• [11:17] - Bob explains that he tried several strategies for organization and time management.
• [12:40] - Bob describes the Pomodoro Technique.
• [14:33] - Not a single one of David Allen’s suggestions worked for Bob.
• [15:56] - Bob talks about time-blocking and keeping himself in the chair.
• [17:16] - I talk about one of the oldest documented descriptions of ADHD.
• [18:41] - We talk about predicting the amount of time a task should take you and comparing that to the amount of time it actually takes.
• [20:17] - Bob talks about typing speed, and suggests TypingTest.com to test yourself and improve your typing speed.
• [22:35] - Most thinner keyboards actually slow your typing speed down.  Bob talks about keyboards built in a manner that helps your typing.
• [25:44] - We talk about using dictation and enhanced dictation.  Bob compares Dragon to the built-in dictation on Mac.
• [28:40] - Bob shares how he uses voice with his iOS devices.
• [33:53] - I share that I wish location reminders were able to be micro-location reminders.
• [35:36] - When Bob was writing an article, he discovered weird things you can get Siri to answer.  This leads us to a rabbit hole and a beat-boxing Siri.
• [39:56] - Bob talks about how you can create snippets or shortcuts on Mac and iOS.
• [48:00] - Bob suggests not obsessively checking email. He shares ways to pry yourself away from the inbox.
• [49:52] - Bob doesn’t pay for many services, but he pays for Sanebox.
• [52:03] - Turn off your notifications!
• [52:40] - Bob used to believe he was great at multitasking. He now realizes he CAN’T multitask.
• [54:53] - We talk about the amount of time it takes to create or break a habit.
• [56:16] - Bob talks about the Pomodoro Technique app he likes to use, Zonebox.
• [56:55] - I talk about one of my favorite apps, NextMeeting.
• [58:35] - I share how I use AutoSilent.
• [1:00:06] - Focus At Will is a paid service that we have both used in the past.
• [1:01:52] - I share that Bose headphones have helped my focus.
• [1:03:07] - Bob talks about how he organizes the apps on his iPhone.
• [1:05:03] - Bob attributes almost all of his weight loss to the Apple Watch.
• [1:08:00] - I share a usage monitoring tool for the iPhone, which leads to a confession.

Use my Audible.com affiliate link for your favorite titles:

http://www.audibletrial.com/ADHDreWired

ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group 

Our fall season of the ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group will begin September 21st.  Registration ends this week! To learn more or RSVP for a registration event, go to http://CoachingreWired.com.

Support the podcast on Patreon 

Patreon allows listeners like you to support content creators like me.  With a monthly contribution, you can get access to different levels of perks.  One perk example is our Patreon-only Adult Study Hall.  Learn more at http://patreon.com/adhdrewired

ADHD reWired Facebook Group: 

If you would like to join the ADHD reWired secret Facebook group, go to EricTivers.com/community and fill out an application.

Productivity Q&A 

Get your ADHD questions answered live!  These Q&A sessions take place on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 12:30pm.  Go to http://erictivers.com/events.

Want to be a guest? 

Hey! What about you?  Do you have a story?  Are you a Coach?  Are you an ADHD Clinician?  If you answered yes to any of these questions and you’d like to be a guest, schedule a pre-interview call here.