EP 65: ADHD as an Entrepreneur’s Superpower

“In the context of entrepreneurship, ADHD can be an advantage, but it surely can be a disadvantage in life,” says Dr. John Torrens, an accomplished entrepreneur, professor of entrepreneurial practice at Syracuse University, and author of “Lightning in a Bottle: How Entrepreneurs Can Harness Their ADHD to Win.” Joining Alex Raymond in this episode, he discusses how traits like impulsivity and hyperfocus often associated with ADHD can fuel entrepreneurial success but require careful management to avoid burnout and personal setbacks.

 

Dr. Torrens shares his work on ADHD and its interesting connection to entrepreneurship. From his university course on entrepreneurial well-being to his research with the Young Presidents’ Organization, he uncovers how many high-performing CEOs share ADHD traits. Could this be a hidden “superpower” for innovation and decision-making in entrepreneurship?

 

Join Alex and Dr. Torrens’ discussion to learn actionable strategies for maintaining health, building strong support networks, and achieving resilience. Dr. Torrens offers a fresh perspective on how prioritizing well-being can lead to sustainable success in both business and life.

 

Quotes

• “Why work so hard for your company that you can’t even enjoy the fruits of your labor? I’ve seen it in myself and my peers—they push so hard that, in their final years, they can’t even enjoy what they’ve built. They’re dealing with chronic diseases that could’ve been prevented or struggling with mental health issues. Some focus everything on the business and acquiring things, only to find themselves spiritually bankrupt. What better place to address this than at an institute of higher education, where we’re teaching people about entrepreneurship?” (04:25 | John Torrens)
• “The reality is that stress is a real part of entrepreneurship, but you can manage it if you’re proactive.” (11:11 | John Torrens)
• “When you dive deeper and you start to look at impulsive and hyperactive ADHD and the traits that are associated with that, you see a pretty clear link with entrepreneurial success... It’s really two sides of the coin. On one side, it really works well for you, but on the other side, if you’re not managing it, it could be seriously detrimental... It’s the context. In the context of entrepreneurship, ADHD can be an advantage, but it surely can be a disadvantage in life.” (23:49 | John Torrens)
• “People with ADHD often don’t choose conventional paths. What we’ve figured out is that they choose entrepreneurship because other pathways don’t always feel accessible to them.” (25:23 | John Torrens)

 

Links

Connect with John Torrens:

Website: https://whitman.syracuse.edu/faculty-and-research/faculty-staff-directory/details/jtorrens

 

Connect with Alex Raymond:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/

Website: https://amplifyam.com/

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