🏆Achieving greatness & with a Neuro Difference (Part II)

Last week, I discussed ‘achieving greatness’, while mastering our darkside of our neuro differences, in my case ADHD:

In today’s post we’ll continue from where we left off, by telling a story how I applied it in a previous role.

I’ll add a few more emotions which I’ve lightly touched upon in previous posts.

• Fear 

• Stress

• Anxiety

Lets’s go…

Some years ago (during lockdown) as a Commercial Manager for a multi-billion dollar media company.

I had a deadline for the months’ financial deliverables, Friday at 5pm, not a second later! 

The previous months submission were woeful, sloppy work and not on time.

The problem was this month; I had a retreat with some friends booked a while ago later in the evening.

The work had to be right the first time, which was never done.

I’ve bullet pointed some further context to add flavour to the situation I was in:

Context: 

• I failed my initial probation (it got extended), never got on with the manager there

• My current manager was a maternity cover and they were not supportive at all 

• My real manager was returning from maternity leave (and I’d never met her before, I was hired by their manager)

• The previous deadline deliverables were a shambles 

So as you can see, the stakes were extremely high and the pressure was really on. I was not going to let anything stop me from having this weekend retreat.

My back was against the wall, I had a point to prove:

• To my returning manager from maternity leave (we’ll call her Emma) who I haven’t met at this point and was scheduled to review my work upon her return

• To my acting manager (we’ll call them Alex) who I felt was out to tarnish my name (we didn’t get on)

• AND most importantly to myself. Any fxck ups and I’m flatlined. 

At this point I had a bunch of mixed emotions:

• Fear

• Anxiety 

• Paranoia

• Stressed

• Pressure

What my acting manager (Alex) didn't know about me was that I am “psycho competitive”.

I didn’t know I had ADHD at this point but the symptoms were there and if there was ever a time to activate it, it was now! Like to rocket below!

My Strategy:

1. I limited all distractions → told my family I’m busy → phone was on do not disturb

2. I love playing Calling of Duty → I had to throw my Playstation 4 in another room to reduce my impulse playing it → and tell my friends I couldn’t play 

3. I wrote down every single piece of work I needed to do → nothing was left unturned

4. For each task →  I allocated time it’ll take to complete → and wrote down the location for additional sources i.e. emails, files etc.

5. Operated on a check list system see pic below: → This provided clarity for my ADHD brain, on where I am in the process.

The results…

I finished my work Thursday at midnight, t’was due Friday at 5pm. I triple checked my work. Mission accomplished..

I nervously sent the email to both my managers (Alex and Emma) that I’ve completed the work and it’s ready for review and approval. 

More context:

• If my work was not correct the first time → I have to correct it which eats into my time travelling to my retreat

• It raises eyebrows that my work is sloppy

• Alex will be vindicated → Which I was never gonna allow

All that was left was my manager (returning from Maternity Leave) to review and approve my work.

The company had to follow legal requirements for financial integrity hence the need for approvals.

I ‘called in’ sick for the Friday deadline as I had a headache from the all-nighter before, and shooted off to my weekend retreat with my friends later in the evening. 

I didn't know whether my work was approved whilst I was recovering. As much as I was anxious, I trusted my process in regards to how I got the work done.

The weekend retreat was fun. 

Monday Morning..

My manager calls me, I anxiously pick up. She says, ‘your work was perfect, I approved everything!”

I respond “Thanks Emma”

Emma: “As a matter of fact, I’d like to pass your probation now even though you have two months left, I don’t know what Alex has been talking about in terms of your performance, but you did a great job!”

In our finance team catchup Emma mentioned how that months’ deliverable was on time and accurate on her return from maternity leave.

Insinuating that the problem may be Alex’s management. 

My ears couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

I thanked Emma and came off the call. I felt like an innocent individual, all charges and investigation dropped

My confidence went through the roof, all of this was prior to my ADHD diagnosis. 

Verdict:

Anecdotally speaking, us neurodivergent individuals do have superpowers. In my case of ADHD I think I’m:

• Resilient

• Combative 

• Chaos survivor 

• Quick problem solving 

All of which have served me well thus far. 

My ultimate superpower is channelling those negative emotions:

• Frustration

• Fear

• Anxiety 

 And becoming resourceful and productive.

Something New:

• Quote of the week: “Name one genius that ain’t crazy” - Kanye West

• I love reading, I might do a chapter review on books that I think are helpful to us Neurodivergents. 

Watch this space!

The ADHD Exec 

Disclaimer: I am not your psychiatrist, coach, doctor. Neurodiverse Diaries does not provide medical services or professional counselling and is not a substitute for professional medical care. Everything I publish represents my opinions, experience, not advice.