(Transcribed by TurboScribe.ai. Go Unlimited to remove this message.)
Okay, welcome. Imagine if something you've maybe always seen as a hurdle, a big challenge, or perhaps even a diagnosis. What if you could actually reframe that, see it as a unique asset, maybe even a strength? Today we're doing a deep dive into a really interesting book, Faster Than Normal, Turbocharge Your Focus, Productivity and Success with the Secrets of the ADHD Brain by Peter Shankman.
Our goal here is to unpack Shankman's pretty compelling perspective on ADHD. We'll look at his strategies for, well, leveraging it, and also give you a balanced view of the book's ideas and how it's been received. The core idea, and it's a powerful quote from the book, is this, ADHD isn't a diagnosis, it's a gift.
So let's explore what he really means by that. All right, let's start with that foundational idea. Shankman's whole argument seems to rest on this reframing, not seeing ADHD as a deficit, something wrong, but as, well, an advantage, a different kind of brain wiring.
He even floats the idea that, maybe many successful innovators, entrepreneurs, historical figures, maybe they had these faster than normal brains, use them to make a real impact. Exactly. And what's really fascinating is how that simple shift changes the whole conversation, doesn't it? It moves away from just managing symptoms towards actively identifying and using strengths.
Shankman encourages you to look for specific traits common in people with ADHD, things like generating tons of innovative ideas, seeing connections others miss, really thriving in high energy situations, adapting super quickly, and just thinking creatively, unconventionally. He argues that understanding this is the first step. It's key to using ADHD effectively in your life, in your career.
It basically turns a potential challenge into a unique strength. Okay, so if this faster than normal brain is a gift, how do you actually harness it? How do you make it work for you? Shankman gets practical here. He talks a lot about rituals.
He says, rituals, not resolutions, are the holy grail for those with ADHD. Why that distinction? Why are rituals apparently so powerful for this type of brain? Well, that's a great question. It gets into how the brain works, really.
Resolutions often rely on willpower, right? Constant decision-making. And for the ADHD brain, those executive functions, particularly things governed by the prefrontal cortex, can get overwhelmed easily. Rituals, on the other hand, become more automatic.
They get ingrained. You build these neural pathways. So Shankman argues by automating essential daily things, you kind of bypass that decision-making bottleneck.
You free up mental energy. His process is, start with a positive goal, work backward, build in fail-safe ways to keep yourself on track and visualize success. Like his example of waking up early.
It's not just try harder. It's consistent bedtime, maybe smart lights, alarm across the room you have to get up, and then importantly, rewarding yourself. By making these things almost automatic, you conserve that precious mental bandwidth for the stuff the ADHD brain often excels at, creativity, problem-solving, big ideas, not getting stuck in the small stuff.
That makes a lot of sense. Automating the mundane to free up the creative. But then he adds another layer, undeniable life rules.
These sound stricter than rituals, he says quite directly. To truly thrive with ADHD, you simply have to have rules. How do these rules fit in with the rituals? Are they different? Yeah, they are a bit different, though complementary.
Think of rituals as automated actions and rules as non-negotiable boundaries. They're tailored guidelines you set for yourself. The main goal, eliminate choice where possible.
Reduce that decision fatigue you mentioned. It's a real thing, especially with ADHD executive function challenges. So his examples are things like having a very simple wardrobe, fewer choices in the morning, eating consistently, prioritizing sleep, no negotiation, regular exercise, specifically outdoors.
It might feel restrictive at first setting these hard rules, but the idea is they ultimately create more freedom by minimizing the negative ways ADHD can trip you up. You save your energy for what matters. Okay, so we've got rituals for actions, rules for structure.
Schenkman also really emphasizes the physical side of things, our bodies, our environment. He says when you have ADHD, you're all about the feeling. That seems to point strongly towards physical activity, right? How important does he think exercise is? Oh, it's crucial in his view.
Absolutely central. He highlights exercise for managing the core symptoms and for boosting cognitive function overall. See, exercise naturally increases neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine.
These are often the ones that are less regulated or available in ADHD brains. So movement gives you a natural boost. It can help with focus, impulse control, even creativity.
He suggests thinking of it as a natural reset during the day. The recommendation isn't necessarily about running marathons, though he's an iron man himself. It's about consistency.
At least 20 minutes daily, find something you enjoy so you stick with it. Even using short bursts of activity as a dopamine break, like taking the stairs, quick jumping jacks. It's about consistent movement impacting brain chemistry positively.
Right. Consistent movement. Got it.
And then there's the environment. He has another strong quote. Clutter is just distractions waiting to happen.
I think many people, ADHD or not, can relate to that one. How does he suggest we deal with this environmental clutter, these waiting distractions? A clean, organized space is key for focus, he argues. Especially when your attention can be easily pulled away by, you know, visual noise.
His strategies are pretty practical. Regularly getting rid of stuff you don't need. A one-in, one-out rule for new things you buy.
Digitizing paper stacks of paper are visual clutter. Having designated spots for essential things, keys, wallet, phone. Using apps to organize digital files, too, because digital clutter is also a thing.
He basically advocates for a kind of minimalism. Not necessarily extreme, but reducing unnecessary stuff reduces decisions and frees up that mental energy again. It's about consciously shaping your surroundings to support focus.
Shaping your surroundings. I like that. Beyond the physical environment and positive habits, he also talks about things that can actively derail you.
Triggers. And he doesn't mince words. Triggers don't respect you, they're out to get you.
That sounds almost adversarial. What kind of triggers is he talking about and how do you fight back, so to speak? Yeah, it's a strong way to put it, isn't it? He's talking about common things that can really throw someone with ADHD off track. These often include those cluttered spaces we just talked about or a lack of clear structure or routine.
Too many choices at once can be paralyzing. High stress is a big one. Even certain foods or substances, sometimes caffeine or alcohol, can actually worsen symptoms for some people counterintuitively.
Identifying your specific triggers is the first step. He suggests things like self-observation, maybe journaling. Then you build coping mechanisms.
That means putting those organizational systems in place because you know clutter is a trigger. Setting clear boundaries, practicing stress management, maybe dietary tweaks, and getting support from friends, family, professionals. It's about proactive defense.
Proactive defense. Okay. Now, Shankman is also really keen on using tools, digital tools, analog tools, basically anything that helps.
He makes a point I think is important. Using apps and other tools isn't cheating and it's not being weak. That feels like permission to just use what works.
Absolutely. He frames them as external supports for executive functions, like an outsourced part of your brain almost. He lists quite a few.
Digital stuff like calendar apps, Google Calendar, things like that for time management. Task managers, he mentions, Wunderlist, Trello for breaking down big projects. Note-taking apps like Evernote or OneNote to capture ideas before they vanish.
Focus apps, Forest, freedom to block online distractions. Even time tracking apps like RescueTime to see where your time actually goes. But he's not just about digital.
He values analog too. Physical planners, bullet journals, whiteboards for visual thinkers, sticky notes, even fidget toys to help regulate energy and focus. The message is experiment.
Find your mix. There's no one size fits all. It's about leveraging these external aids to make your internal strengths shine.
Leveraging aids. That makes sense. Moving beyond personal management, what about relationships? That's often a challenging area.
Shankman offers this quote, which feels very empathetic. None of what we do is done maliciously or with hurtful intent. That seems crucial for understanding.
It really is. Open, honest communication is the bedrock, he argues. Educating loved ones about what ADHD actually is, not the stereotypes.
Being transparent about struggles and needs without feeling ashamed. Setting clear expectations and boundaries both ways. Developing a shared language to talk about it.
And importantly, celebrating the wins together. Active listening is also vital. Using techniques like paraphrasing, asking questions to clarify, minimizing distractions when you're having important conversations.
And he tackles common myths head on, that ADHD is just a deficit, that meds are the only answer, that it's just for kids, or that everyone with ADHD is the same. Dispelling those is huge for mutual understanding and relationships. Right.
Challenging those misconceptions seems key. Okay, finally, let's talk about work and school. He frames ADHD as a potential superpower in these settings.
He quotes his own experience. Being a scientist with a faster than normal brain became pretty awesome once I figured out a few life rules. That really brings it full circle to the gift idea.
Exactly. It highlights how ADHD traits like intense creativity, hyper-focus, when it's directed at something interesting, and that outside the box thinking can actually lead to really exceptional results. His strategies for success here include things like consciously choosing tasks or roles that play to your strengths.
Breaking down huge projects into smaller steps to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Using deadlines, even self-imposed ones, to create focus. Seeking jobs with variety and less rigid structure, perhaps.
Building a support network, mentors, understanding colleagues. And he specifically talks about imposter syndrome, that feeling of being a fraud despite success, which he says is common for high achievers with ADHD. He encourages acknowledging your wins, reframing negative self-talk, and owning your unique perspective is valuable.
Owning your perspective, so thinking broader now. For someone listening who doesn't have ADHD, why should they engage with this book or these ideas? Is there something in Faster Than Normal for them too? Oh, definitely. Several things, I think.
First, it offers really valuable insights into the lived experience of ADHD. That builds empathy and understanding, whether it's for family, friends, or colleagues. We all know someone affected by it, right? Plus, many of the productivity strategies are just good strategies for anyone.
Building routines, minimizing distractions, organizing your space, using tools effectively, that helps everybody focus better. It also gives practical advice if you are supporting someone with ADHD, which can strengthen those relationships. And maybe most broadly, it encourages all of us to look at differences differently, to see potential strengths where society might just see challenges.
Neurodiversity benefits everyone. That's a great point about neurodiversity. So considering all this, the reframing, the strategies, the anecdotes, what has the general reaction been to the book? You mentioned Shankman's own impressive background.
How did the book land? It's had a pretty mixed but generally positive reception. If you look at ratings on sites like Goodreads, it averages around 3.9 out of 5 stars with quite a few reviews. A lot of readers really connect with the positive reframing.
They find the idea of ADHD as a potential superpower encouraging. And Shankman's personal stories are often seen as relatable and inspiring. Founder of HATO, Ironman, Skydiver, he walks the talk in terms of high achievement.
However, there are criticisms too. Some reviewers feel his perspective comes from a place of privilege, suggesting maybe not all his advice is easily doable for everyone depending on their resources or life situation. Some also question if certain strategies are practical for the average person dealing with ADHD alongside, you know, everyday life constraints.
So overall, it's generally seen as an accessible, often motivating read. It provides encouragement and some solid actionable tips for managing ADHD. But yeah, it's specific approach might not click with every single reader.
It definitely gets people talking though. You know, this whole discussion about faster than normal, I really highlight something important. Knowledge is powerful, but especially when you understand it and figure out how to apply it.
And it makes you wonder, doesn't it? What other things in our lives, things we see as weaknesses or maybe struggles, what if they're actually hitting strengths? Just waiting for us to find the right frame, the right way to leverage them. That is an excellent thought to leave things on. Really powerful.
Whether you're looking to understand yourself better, support someone you care about, or maybe just grab some effective productivity ideas, this deep dive certainly offers a unique and I think ultimately empowering perspective. If you found this conversation helpful, we really hope you'll subscribe to the Deep Dive wherever you get your podcasts. And hey, if you're feeling generous, a five-star review would be fantastic.
Until next time, keep exploring those big ideas.
(Transcribed by TurboScribe.ai. Go Unlimited to remove this message.)
