We like to think our quirks are our superpowers. But they're also our Achille's Heel.

I've talked about my problem with inattentiveness before. Of the three parts of ADHD that I live with, it's the "AD" part that has the greatest impact.

And since being diagnosed I've been able to keep it mostly at bay through knowing what my usual triggers are, and understanding how to live with it, rather than medicate it.

Because I've always seen my ADHD as a superpower. 

It's allowed me to do things that others think are superhuman. 

The amount of stuff that I'm able to do and do well is crazy. Even I can see that. But I also recognise that this is my normal state. 

But like all the comic book heroes, while they have tremendous powers, they are also subject to equally tremendous weaknesses. 

Superman can be brought to his knees by kryptonite. 

Wonder Woman can be brought down by her own Lasso of Truth. 

Batman's enemies use his sense of justice against him. 

Black Widow is tormented by her past and her psychological scars. 

Iron Man Tony Stark is just an ordinary man without his suit. 

Storm suffers crippling claustrophobia due to a traumatic childhood. 

So while my ADHD allows my brain to jump from topic to topic and client to client almost seamlessly, it has a dark side. And this is where the "disorder" begins.

When attention-deficit becomes hyper-focus.

Not a lot of people realise that many people with ADHD also have a flip side to their inattention. And that's too much attention - a level of focus that operates at the expense of anything else that needs to be done in their lives. 

So while I'm in a period of hyper-focus, I'll plough writing ten chapters of a book, or building seven websites or boost my reach on LinkedIn from 5,000 views a week to over 100,000... 

... but my rent won't get paid, my clients won't get their calls replied to and my tax repayments are generating letters from the ATO warning me to pay up or get in big trouble. 

THIS is why I say that no one should live a life like mine. 

It's not balanced and not realistic.  

This is why I don't have kids. Or a pet. Or any adult responsibilities apart from holding down my contracts well enough to not lose all my income. 

It makes me an amazing sales person, a charismatic speaker and an attentive mentor. But it also makes me a terrible project manager, an unreliable worker and an awful communicator with my clients. 

And this has come to a head in a few areas of my life recently. 

Remember, that passing mention of LinkedIn a little earlier? That just happened. 

I got hyper-focused on my own digital marketing activities. I went down a rabbit hole of information and solved one of my biggest problems with my marketing. 

1. I chose my focus area for the next year
2. I increased my reach by 20x
3. I produced more content that found more viewers
4. I rolled out a flurry of new initiatives 
5. And I completely ignored two valuable clients for a month while doing it. 

I knew that I needed to do the work. 

But I repeatedly refused to do it.

What to do next.

There are always consequences to our actions - or inactions. I'm about to face mine. And it's going to cost me both in terms of money and reputation. 

I deserve that. 

The trouble is that I took on that work out of a need to be needed - not because I wanted the work. I had stars in my eyes and attention on myself. A deadly combination for a guy like me. 

Yet life has to go on. 

And it will. 

The clues on what to do next have been sprinkled throughout this newsletter so far. And they're probably more obvious to you than they have been to me up to this point. 

1. Return the calls and face the music.
2. Pay the bills.
3. Apologise to those I wronged.
4. Stop taking on work I don't like.
5. Do something about my ADHD.

That last one isn't that hard a thing to do. I don't have any problem with medication. I just hate having to deal with doctors to get it. They're horrible humans. At least that's what I have convinced myself that they are. Sorry doctors. It's me, not you. 

But the medication that I may need to get will change me. And there's a lot of me that I don't want to change. 

But I have big dreams and bigger plans. Things can't keep going on the way they are. I can't do another round of self-sabotage. 

Oh - and before you ask, yes, I am ok. 

In my core work, I am crushing it. I'm just not doing a good job of transitioning out of my old work to my newer work. Rather than exiting gracefully through the gates, I'm running through them with a flamethrower trying to set the whole place on fire as I yell, "I am the queen of the night!" 

It's crazy stuff.

Well, that was bleak. Where's the lesson?

I don't dig this deep into myself on this medium without there being some kind of light lesson that we can all take away with us and smile about afterwards. 

And this edition will be no exception. 

People. Deal with your shit. 

Young people. Deal with it while you're young and before it roots deeply. 

Old people. Deal with it before you die. Or you'll die miserable.

I'm not miserable. I'm the happiest I've ever been. But that's possibly the "H" in the ADHD coming through. 

But seriously, do a SWOT analysis on yourself often. I do it almost monthly. Almost. Which is why I missed preparing for this latest episode of "Let's do one thing and ignore everything else!" 

Know your Strengths: you have many of them. More than you realise. And they are many-splendoured and multi-faceted. You're awesome. 

Know your Weaknesses: and stop calling them superpowers while thinking that is cute and clever.  It's not. It's denial. They are a double-edged sword that shines brightly one one side, but cuts you to pieces with the other. 

Know your opportunities: they are everywhere. And they're glorious and plentiful and will draw you to them to help you win.. and help you be distracted from what your true goals are. 

Know your Threats: there's fewer of them than you think there are, and most of them are tied up in your own mindset and behaviours. 

Be better. 

Because you are. 

And the world needs it.

That's all for this weekend. Just one short read about dealing with your darkness. It's time.

If you're not getting value out of these tips, please consider unsubscribing. 

I won't mind and there are no hard feelings. 

And if you are enjoying this newsletter, the best compliment you could pay me would be to share it with one person who you think would benefit from it. 

See you again next week.

Cheers,

Dante

P.S. Here's a few free ways I can lend a hand if you need some help.

I made a YouTube video last week about why being old isn't an excuse - it's actually an advantage when it comes to making online content. After all, some of the best content creators are over forty. Watch it here.

On Monday night this coming week in Darwin I'll be showing you how to aim for thought leadership in a free workshop at Darwin Innovation Hub. It's free and I'll even have some food and drinks. Book it here.

On July 17 I'll run through what a pitch deck is and how to create one that works for investors, customers and anyone who wants to know who you are, what you do and why that's important. It's online and free here.