You Are Not Broken, You Are Designed: How to Lead with ADHD | EP 202 | Guest Jake Brown
Description
What if your ADHD wasn’t a flaw—but a design feature?
In this episode of Engineer Your Success, Dr. James Bryant talks with Jake Brown, business coach and consultant for entrepreneurs and middle managers with ADHD, about how embracing neurodivergence can unlock new levels of leadership and self-acceptance. From hiding ADHD at work to reframing it as a superpower (without the cape), Jake shares his journey of shedding judgment and building a business that embraces his wiring.
You’ll discover:
- How Jake reframed ADHD from a liability to a leadership asset
- The surprising role of doodling in managing overwhelm and unlocking flow
- How to navigate rejection sensitivity and create judgment-free zones for creativity
Whether you’re navigating your own ADHD or leading someone who is, this episode will help you lead with empathy, design your rhythm, and own your brilliance.
🎧 Introducing Engineer Your Success Insiders
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Engineer Your Success Insiders is my new private podcast for leaders who want practical frameworks, not just theory. Every week in just 3–5 minutes, you’ll get:
One Story | One Insight | One Action
This isn’t content you’ll hear on the main podcast—these are the tools and strategies I use with my private coaching clients.
Ready to have a coach in your corner? Join Engineer Your Success Insiders.
🕒 Key Moments in the Episode
00:00 – Welcome & Introduction: James welcomes Jake Brown back to the podcast
02:15 – Hiding ADHD at Work: The invisible tax of masking neurodivergence
05:00 – Finding His Niche: Realizing that 90% of his coaching clients have ADHD
08:34 – From Broken to Designed: The Monet moment that reframed everything
13:00 – The Power of Doodling: How this practice helps Jake focus and switch tasks
15:30 – Rejection Sensitivity & Fear of Judgment: How RSD affects ADHD leaders
18:30 – Unjudged Output: Why play matters more than productivity
20:30 – Creating Your Own Operating System: Practical adaptations that work
23:00 – Radical Self-Acceptance: You can’t lead others until you accept yourself
25:00 – Final Reflections: Lead with your design, not in spite of it
💡 Key Insights & Takeaways
- You’re not broken—you’re designed. ADHD isn’t a defect; it’s a different operating system.
- Masking your identity at work creates hidden stress. When 20% of your energy is spent on not getting caught, you’re not thriving.
- Doodling can be a focus tool, not just a creative outlet. It helps pause mental chaos and jumpstart action.
- RSD (Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria) is real. And it explains why so many leaders hold back from showing up authentically.
- Unjudged output—like play or doodling—can restore confidence and energy.
- Acceptance is the foundation of growth. You can’t lead or connect fully until you accept who you are.
Notable Quotes
“It’s a design feature, not a design failure.” — Dr. James Bryant
“People aren’t broken. They’re just operating on a different rhythm.” — Jake Brown
👤 Guest Information
Jake Brown – Business Coach for Neurodivergent Leaders
Jake helps entrepreneurs and middle managers with ADHD unlock their unique leadership style and thrive without pretending to be someone else. He’s known for his coaching insights, powerful analogies—and his doodles that have taken over LinkedIn.
📲 Connect with Jake Brown
🔧 About Engineer Your Success
Engineer Your Success equips technical professionals and business owners to become confident, purpose-driven leaders who thrive at work and at home.
Through executive coaching, business consulting, and strategic content solutions, we help you:
- Lead with clarity and communicate with impact
- Build aligned systems that support your values
- Avoid burnout while achieving professional success
- Transform from technical expert to influential leader
🔗 Learn more at www.engineeryoursuccessnow.com
Follow Dr. James Bryant | https://sleek.bio/jbryant
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