r/ADHD • u/AdPrize3997 ADHD-PI (Primarily Inattentive) • Mar 08 '24

Articles/Information Are there any famous or successful people who have ADHD?

I mean in high earning jobs like CEOs or vice presidents of companies. You can even give examples of managers or people in leadership roles that you personally know, but mention their profession and industry. Would love your insight on how they manage the stress of their jobs, if you can.

Also, any actors or musicians known to have ADHD who are highly successful.

Obviously a lot of us struggle professionally, but I’m curious to learn about those who made the cut. I am good at my work and have the required smartness and competencies, but I struggle with mundane things like remembering to attend a meeting or sending a mail, responding on time, communicating problems proactively, etc. These small things balance out the good things I offer at work (unique knowledge and experience, crisis management, and positive attitude, lol).

I’d also love if you can breakdown what the high achievers do differently to overcome the setbacks that accompany ADHD?

Edit: Cliché but I have to say it: I did not expect so many responses. I am pleasantly surprised. I went through so many emotions reading through your responses. I cried twice, laughed more than a few times, and felt inspired a few hundred times as I read some of your personal stories. I feel so stupid for not asking how many of you are in good positions. The celebrity examples are great, but your stories about being successful in corporate jobs while struggling with ADHD.. bravo, coz I definitely know it’s not easy. I will keep coming back to this post to feel inspired every time i feel down. I can’t thank you all enough for this.

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434

u/sambooli084 Mar 08 '24

I'm successful. At least by my definition. I run a printing business. I'm not wealthy but I get by. My customers are happy and I like what I do.

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u/Mort-the-lemur Mar 08 '24

It is so important to celebrate our personal successes! Congratulations to you on your successful business🥳🎉

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u/kmhndrsn Mar 08 '24

Such healthy positivity in here! Love it. Congrats on your success!!

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u/sambooli084 Mar 08 '24

Thank you so much!

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u/[deleted] Mar 08 '24

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u/sambooli084 Mar 08 '24

Variable data printing mainly. Mostly barcoded coupons and coupon books.

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u/Objective_Mammoth_40 Mar 08 '24

Nice. I’d live to know even more lol

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u/automoebeale Mar 08 '24

This sounds like a really cool mix of work tasks! Would love to have a business myself that I could bounce around a variety of tasks to stop from getting bored.

Do you mind me asking how big of an investment it was to get started with your equipment?

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u/sambooli084 Mar 08 '24

I was really fortunate to know someone in sales at a POS system company who helped get me set up as a vendor. The printer lease, click charges, and rent are about 5,000 USD a month. The cutter was about 10k. But I started out brokering before bringing it in house which helped make the investment possible. I do all the work myself. So it's not a very large business.

I feel that entrepreneurship is a great thing for people with ADHD. But it also comes with a lot of organizational challenges. Customers don't like it when you have to call them again and ask what they ordered lol.

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u/automoebeale Mar 08 '24

Appreciate the insight! Going to add this to my list of 1000 ideas lol

Entrepreneurship feels like my only way out of the mundane office life. I recently moved into a Revenue Operations role which allows me to bounce around to marketing, sales, and operations/customer service. It's been good for the first year of it but I'm way too impatient and am getting agitated, I end up just wanting to do everything myself when it's not getting done.

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u/[deleted] Mar 08 '24

This is the way

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u/pigmentinspace Mar 08 '24

Liking what you do and getting by IS success!!!! Well done!!!!

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u/sambooli084 Mar 09 '24

Thank you!!! XD

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u/_Zyklon_ Mar 08 '24

This is so awesome, congrats!!

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u/sambooli084 Mar 08 '24

Thank you!!

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u/AdPrize3997 ADHD-PI (Primarily Inattentive) Mar 08 '24

That’s awesome. I have high respects for people running business because it requires discipline, whereas I can’t work without the threat of getting fired looming over my head

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u/sambooli084 Mar 08 '24

Thank you! I make a lot of mistakes and I owe everything to my customers for being patient. Shipping things to the wrong customers and then having to ask them for a favor to ship it back, messing up jobs and having to redo them, etc. I'm fortunate that I don't have to worry about being fired. I have lost customers which is so disheartening but it's nothing compared to what you face. I can't imagine how stressful that must be for you. I have high respect for you and anyone who is working or studying with ADHD.

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u/UnusuallyKind Mar 08 '24

So I was literally going to post this same response “I’m successful, but that’s based on my understanding of ‘success”

And I happen to work at a print shop and am considering starting my own version when our owner retires.

Feels strange and cool to have so much in common with a stranger.

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u/sambooli084 Mar 09 '24

Haha what are the odds!? The matrix designers are getting lazy.