Ep 113: Risk-Taker, Entrepreneur, Bodybuilder: John Brink on Living Without Limits

Are you stuck believing that ADHD is a limitation rather than a superpower? John A. Brink, an 85-year-old entrepreneur, author, and competitive bodybuilder, joins us to share how discovering ADHD at 57 completely transformed his understanding of himself - and his life.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How undiagnosed ADHD became the hidden ingredient to business success (and why 75% of highly successful entrepreneurs may have ADHD)
• The pivotal discovery of Dr. Hallowell's work in 1997 and why knowing who you are changes everything
• Why failing grade 7 three times was actually a gift—and how to reframe academic struggles as interest problems, not intelligence problems
• The transformative power of Toastmasters in overcoming communication anxiety and building confidence
• How to manage multiple business ventures and interests without feeling scattered (the secret is systems and structures)
• The critical connection between health, fitness, and mental stimulation for thriving at any age
• Why authenticity in content creation attracts a global community of 2-2.5 million viewers

John shares his remarkable story of arriving in Canada with just $25.47 and no job, building a lumber empire from the ground up, and discovering at 62 that he had ADHD all along. We dive deep into how his ADHD brain actually enabled his entrepreneurial risk-taking, his ability to juggle multiple business "silos," and his passion for continuous learning and growth. John also reveals how he became North America's oldest competitive bodybuilder and why he'll never retire.

About Our Guest: John A. Brink is a Canadian entrepreneur, author, and media personality who has built multiple successful businesses including Canada's largest secondary lumber manufacturer. Diagnosed with ADHD at 62, John is passionate about removing stigma and helping others recognize ADHD as a superpower. He's published five books on business, ADHD, communication, and personal development, hosts his own podcast. At 85, John continues to compete in bodybuilding, speak at schools about WWII and resilience, and mentor the next generation of ADHD entrepreneurs.

Connect with John A. Brink:
Website: johnаbrink.com
On The Brink Podcast: Available on all major platforms
Books: Available on Amazon & Audible (Against All Odds, ADHD Unlocked, Finding Your Passion Living the Dream, Living Young Dying Old, Billion Dollar Communication Skills)

Key Takeaway: ADHD isn't something to overcome—it's a superpower to unlock. Your struggles in traditional settings don't define your potential; they're simply clues that you're wired for something bigger.


Ready to unlock YOUR ADHD superpower? Book a free coaching consultation with Coach Mande at Learn to Thrive with ADHD.com/services

#ADHD #ADHDPodcast #Neurodiversity #Entrepreneurship #ADHDSuperpowers #MentalHealth #PersonalDevelopment #LearnToThrive #CoachingPodcast

Click here for full show notes

CLICK HERE for more resources. We're on this journey together!

Transcript

Welcome to Learn to Thrive with ADHD. This is the podcast for adults with ADHD or ADHD like symptoms. I'm your host coach, Maddie John. I'm here to make your life with ADHD easier. Let's get started. So welcome back guys. Today we have a John and I'm sorry.

It's brink brink brink here.

Brink. Very good. And from I'm going to let him introduce himself. But he is an entrepreneur and author. You do Flint. I'm going to say the word wrong. Philanthropy as I how you say it as well.

Do what.

I said. I will assume that means, like you give donations. You donate money?

Oh, yeah. So I'm very involved in culture and all of those kind of things. Yes, I do.

And you have multiple businesses, but, what else should people know about you?

Probably that, One Friday, one Saturday I go to Sunday to go. I turned 85 years young, and that's all good. And so I'm. I was born in Holland, north eastern Holland, in November, the first, 1941, through the world, Second World War obviously saw far too much that we should not have seen. And, and subsequently still and I began to do a whole podcast about that, but it is pretty much understood we were in the middle of the war zone for 4 or 5 years.

And so, you know, the, we were liberated by the Canadian Army April the 12th, 1945. I'd made such an impression on me then that I knew when I grew up I would go to the land of my heroes, Canada. And I did. I came here in 1965 of us, 24.5, nearly 25 years old. And I wanted to start with nothing.

So, I had a suitcase to, three books, two sets of clothes, very little money. And then the other dream that I had, I wanted to go to, not to Canada, but also to British Columbia, which is on the West Coast, because my grandfather was a master carpenter. And mash that I say this honor and and, because trades are that should be looked at very highly and, I.

I, I was reading your book again today and I really was like, touched by that part where, you talked about your grandfather. I believe you said he died at 45.

Correct. I would not know him other than by the work that he did.

And you said that you were surrounded by his legacy because of the furniture that he had built. And that was just really beautiful. But sorry to interrupt you. Go ahead.

No, no, no, no, I like that. And my dad was also in lumber and so and my dream was to build my own lumber mill. But I want to stop is nothing. So, so that's what I did. I, could speak the language. Didn't know, so I didn't have a job. I left for Canada, and, in July of 1965, and, it was my suitcase, and I wanted to go to the West coast, British Columbia.

That's where all the trees are. And so, landed in Montreal, took the train across Canada four days. Five nights. My God, that is a long way. So in any when I landed in Vancouver, went to the Immigration Department and, didn't speak English, didn't know soul and didn't have a job. So fortunately, there was a German fella that I could speak a little bit of German, so I told him what I wanted to do.

He said, Go to Prince George. That's where building sawmills. That is in central British Columbia. And these Columbia, for the people watching us from around the world, is a big, big province. Beautiful one. And Prince George is exactly in the center, north or south, east to west. But it's about 800km or 500 miles north of Vancouver, so that's fine, I did it.

I actually, but, so did you talk to that friend? And he said, Go to Prince George. That's what I did. Came off the bus here, with my suitcase, three books, two sets of clothes. And I counted my money at least three times. I and my employees gave this to me, this black. I had exactly $25.47.

But. But I have attitude. I'm always positive. I always have been that way. If you're negative, don't even come close to me. And then, passion. But if I do a give it 125% work ethic. I work harder than anybody. Even now. I, you know, get up. You see, at 530 in the morning, I always make my bed and always think I'm late.

And so that's what I do. And then obviously, I count on my money at least three times $25.47. Yeah. And and so that's the kind of the way it started. And then started as a clean up man and then became a lumber father. And then within a year and a half, I was the superintendent of under the largest sawmills here.

And then after that gradually became, more settled in, obviously learned to speak the language and then started my first company in ten years here, bring forest products. Lt'd is still here 50 years later, and a number of other companies and, I.

When I talk about something just really quick before we. Because I'm. There is so much more I've, I've read your book. I know, I know, there is so much more that you have done. But there that that trait of you packing that suitcase and moving to another country and I, I was just, in Las Vegas with some friends and we were talking about I had just gone to from California to New York or something like that by myself and the the girl that Sarah was talking to, she said, where are you scared?

And I'm like, no, why would I feel like that's an ADHD trait for us to just be able to take risk? And, and that's, that's what you did. And so I just wanted to point out that little fact, but go ahead and continue to because I know there is so much more.

So the reason that I did really is obviously because, we were liberated by the Canadian Army April 12th, 1945, and then the dream that once I grew up to go to Canada, the other part was academically, I was not a success story. And, I failed grades three and I failed grade seven three times. And so my parents were beautiful people.

But a lot of people said to them, you said, well, what are we going to do with this guy now? And they suggested center to the mentally challenged school. They said, no, we're not going to do that. And so then hence my dad had a friend that had a furniture factory and, so and at 12.5 years old, when I failed the grade seven the third time, they sent me down there to become a furniture maker.

And he said, and, and, and kids were can be hard on each other and teachers. I love teachers, but they were not really overly, at all informed on mental diverse issues and, you know, so and, you know, and.

And you can tell, you can tell, but in your, in your story of, of your classroom experience, it wasn't an intelligence problem. It was an interest problem.

Exactly.

Correct.

Yeah. That is absolutely correct. And and then, in a lot of ways that, if they would ask me, what did the teacher talk about in the last four hours? I have no idea, because for all intents and purposes, I was not there. But I was always good in math, amazingly. And I was a good writer, but not a reader.

And and so, and obviously conclusions were drawn from that that were not well understood at the time and obviously now much better understood and still evolving as we speak, some still stigma attached to it, in a way, sometimes less so all the time, I believe. Hence my book and and your active activities and podcasting and, and all those things around it, or and taught.

Anybody that's positive about ADHD. I just so appreciate because there is so much to be positive about with it.

I call it I call that made it to me. The more I found out about it, the more I concluded it's a superpower. At least it can be. And so and that's the way I look at it. And then the other point that made a change to me and I don't I have been I'm podcasting. I do it from a studio that I have downtown, and I have a book there that I picked up here in January of 1997.

Oh yes, I remember the story.

Yeah. And the book was by Doctor Halliwell that has written 18 books, five on distraction. He is ADHD and has dyslexia. And so and when I found that book, I had no idea about it was in general, I wrote in the book and I don't have it here, but the actual book I still have, I read, wrote and a book in Dutch because it was there's some stigma attached to it that I still was some of the shamed of it, maybe mental disorder or whatever it was.

And so I wrote in there in Dutch. Now I finally know who I am, and, and I, I dated since January 1997 and and I.

The doctor that you found, the book that you found, I feel is one of the most positive champions for ADHD. He really.

Yeah. No question about that. And so and the other one I should mention as well doctor. Well I as you already indicated, I'm a podcaster. On the brink Jon a blank my podcast number three at 203 is this Doctor Halliwell.

Wonder can.

You believe. Yeah. And so and obviously he is the expert and and I lived it. And so I thought initially when I started to read the book and then started googling maybe frequency of occurrence, maybe 6 to 10%, I don't know, you know, and then the more I found out about it that I believe that the frequency of occurrence much higher than that.

The other one is that, it is for both sexes. It can be males and females, although females portray it differently than the males, likely and.

Sometimes I was. It's like the the little boy in the classroom that couldn't sit still, except I was a little girl in the classroom that couldn't sit still. And that that even at that time, I'm approaching 50 years old. And so even at that time, it wasn't that I had ADHD. Nobody understood that. It was just I was a bad kid, I was distracted.

I and I can say that because I'm 85 years old and I'm looking at you, you look great.

So thank you.

Yeah, I just want to say that. So do you think so? Coming back to the school then? Yeah. So, to doctor, Hollowell is that when we had the discussion and I suggest by Dan, I had gone, you know, the book and then googled it in, and it took me five years before I even run to my doc that delivered our two daughters.

And that was a personal friend. And he said to me, you know, so I was 57 when I picked up the book and then 62 when I went to my doc and he said, hey, John, why are you here? I said, I think I've got ADHD. Let me check it out, and I do. And so so that didn't being said.

And then skipping forward to my, Doctor Hollowell again is that I suggested to Doctor Hollowell, again, with all respect to him as the expert, but but all the researching that I had done, I came to the conclusion I suggested to Doctor Hollowell that the frequency of occurrence likely is more like 20%. And he said, no, John, over 25%.

I agree with that. And then the other part that he said was unique as well, because my experience was having been in business, having met a lot of people very, very successful in business and other individuals that were successful in their fields, I found I suggested to doctor Holly well, that I thought that probably 50% of the successful is the operative and the partners are business people are other people of different trades that are immensely successful.

50% of them, in my opinion, were ADHD. And he said to me, no, John, probably 75%. I agree with them.

That's so interesting. And you know that that number that they they get half of the percentage of people they're they're only taking not from the people that they see in the health care system. How many people don't get into the health care system because their parents, one other or the other had ADHD and maybe they didn't figure it out, and so maybe they didn't, you know, have the means to get them the help that they needed or get them diagnosed so that they're one of those numbers.

I didn't get diagnosed until I was 42. I knew when I was probably 24 that I had ADHD for sure. But I didn't get diagnosed till 42 because I didn't see any reason to. I wasn't I didn't need medication, I didn't think, and so I didn't see any reason to get it diagnosed. But how many don't have the means to get that diagnosis?

And so they're left out of that number.

Or our how many? I have still, concerns about stigma attached to being identified as doing that, you know, and and that's sizable because the other part, you're a podcaster. I'm a podcast that as well on the brink. I've done about 497 podcast and it is amazing. I the frequency of occurrence if I and all the podcasts that I do is not necessarily about ADHD.

It goes through all kinds of different things, but probably one and three I would estimate are people that really have not been public about the fact that they may be are ADHD. I did a podcast this morning. A person never talked to anybody about ADHD. She she indicated it. And then the one yesterday and the day before. I believe the same.

So that then being said is that I believe that, you know, the frequency of occurrence is likely well above 20%. 25% may well be up to one third of mental diversity issues of just different descriptions, but substantially ADHD and similar, you know, diversity issues.

And you had somebody in, in, in the book that had a very similar experience that I did where the story was, you did I that's that's not where I was hearing it. The story was that she was getting diagnosed with anxiety and depression and things like that, instead of the ADHD that she had and that that was my story, too, which was my mistake in not getting diagnosed earlier.

I could have not had all the years of anxiety and depression if I had actually taken care of the ADHD. And so there's many people like that.

And and with me, I'm just looking at my book and, and so the, the person that, you know, did the foreword in the book, I don't know if you remember who it is going to show you is Doctor Tracy Lotz, who is a medical doctor and, and, emergency surgeon and, and, you know, and a friend very, very, very well known ADHD and, and and so, you know, it is amazing how frequently it happens that, you know, it becomes more public now.

And that's the good thing. And people talking about it like you do and like I do.

Well. And just to see the positivity in it, I had somebody come on my podcast and I interviewed her and I afterwards I said, hey, if you know of anybody else I would like to come on podcast that has ADHD. It, you know, I interviewed professionals and entrepreneurs and, she goes, well, I just don't think anyone would want to talk about that.

She had such like a a it's a stigma about it that that she was willing to talk about it, but she didn't think anybody else they would all be too ashamed. And that was upsetting to me.

Yeah. And I'm not surprised about that. And that is one of the reasons that I'm very public about it. Those issues not only about ADHD, dyslexia and all the challenges along the way about that. And, and one of the other things that I do, I'm, speaker, frequently and, and obviously an actor podcaster, but the other part that I do is because I grew up during the Second World War scene far too much that I should not have seen that had a real adverse effect on our family.

And but I do, I was one of the few individuals left that was there and, and, and experienced that, no food and all of those kind of things. And so what I do every year for the last ten, 12 years, I, I do a presentation, usually at regional or BC schools, usually one in the Lower Mainland in the Vancouver region and then, two in the north.

Speaking about why the two minutes of silence and that really doesn't mean and, I did that, you know, in the last couple of weeks, during the week of the 11th hour, the, you know, so and the school that I did the presentation, I think there were close to a thousand students of all different grades.

Now, the interesting part about that mod is that I believe I'm a good presenter. And so the school was somewhat concerned about just say, well, we can't even keep 10 or 20 of them quiet. So there you got nearly 2000 kids. You could have heard a pin drop.

Yeah. So you've written you've heard many books. Is are are any of your books about that time during the war? Because you do write a lot about it, a little bit in, in the one that I read and it is very it's sad and it's inspiring and it's interesting, but like to hear about your father having to go off and your mother having to take care of you guys and having to find food to eat, and your father coming back with a bullet hole in his helmet.

I mean, just so much is is there, and that there's got to be so much more than.

Was never the same again, right? So the older but successful, the one that I touched on, it likely is against all odds. This book that I wrote, you know, as you well know, writing books is not easy. And, and so, you know, so a lot of people said to me, hey, John, you have such an interesting life.

Should write a book. And, and I try to do that for 20 years, I've gone up and down and up and down, and then I knew in my mid 70s if I didn't do it now and would never happen. So I wrote this one that you did against all odds. It's about all the ups and downs that you, me, 80 years.

Sullivan. 20 years to think about it. Two and a half years to write it. And then from there and then I kept writing it better. One about the war alone. No, I haven't, although there is lots of experience. And still, even when I do a presentation and schools are still emotionally very much part of me and, and maybe that's part of it.

And saying to the kids and the young people, light up to grade 12 and to school, you know that, you know that, you know, you have families that, we take so many things for granted in North America because we have had war and, and, and to say, why the two minutes of silence and how quickly everything can change.

So to appreciate, first and foremost that we remember the ones that paid the ultimate price. Obviously, both the Americans, Canadians and the UK landed on Normandy at great cost. And then the Americans want East and South. The Canadians want north through France, Belgium and Holland and and liberated us. And to remember those and that gave the ultimate prize, but also ones that got wounded and for other reasons, you know, the VA never the same again after this.

Brendan paid the price and that, I believe, is very, very important to understand. And then but also also during their presentation. But I do because it gives me the opportunity because as I look at these young persons, I know already that that is probably one third of them that have.

I know where you're going.

Yeah. And, you know, mental diversity issues and, and so at least they look at me potentially and I'm saying this with care and understand why is that? Although it appears like I'm a very successful businessperson because my name is on this call. It's here to John every day and convention blah, blah, blah, all of that. My name is all around here because I got companies and and so and they may wrongfully conclude that, I probably got university degrees and God knows where I got, I got all the money given to me and all of those kind of things.

You know how it is, you know, so it is important to understand, you know, so that, you know, it took me till I was 60 to figure out who am I, you know, so because why am I so different than all the others and and those things that are important to me. And but I know already.

I wouldn't touch on something with your education that I appreciated in the book. When I was really listening to it today, I was in my car and it it made me laugh. And it's, I believe what you said was, do you regret that you dropped out of school in seventh grade? Yeah, that's what it was, seventh grade.

And you said, no, I regret I didn't drop out sooner.

Exactly. I say to doing my presentations, I and people said to me, do you regret that that you, you know, failed grades seven, three times and I said, yeah, I do, probably every day. I should have left earlier. It was so and and tongue in cheek, obviously.

But but you did get a degree in on an honorary one, right. Tell us about that.

Yes. I, had the honor of become an honorary doctorate of laws of the University of Northern British Columbia, and then I was recognized provincially, for for the Order of British Columbia. So I and, and obviously, you know.

Yeah, I think that's an inspiration to people that maybe feel like they didn't do well in school or college and, and they're older now. And I know I look back at some of my college years and I was dealing with because of my undiagnosed ADHD. I was dealing with kind of mental health issues and having trouble getting to class and having trouble following through with classes.

And I look at it and, and think, I could have done better and I could have done better, had better grades, or I shouldn't have gone to three different colleges or, you know, I could have done better. And so I did have that regret. And to hear that, you know, we can we can be successful. Anyway, I have multiple businesses, not like you do, but but that takes me to an interesting thing about you.

I own a gym. That's one of my other businesses. And you are a bodybuilder. There we go. Loving young, you know, old.

And that's the picture of me. Yeah.

Yeah. And tell us about you. So you actually competed?

Yes. So let me tell you a little bit of the background there. Mandy, is that, It was in 2008, you know, when I was, already 62 years old, and, and so, I had a case of diverticulitis and for, I guess, not watching everyone watching us. I'm not a doc, obviously a medical guy. If it hurts on the right, then it can be the appendix on the left.

It could be diverticulitis. It's your colon. And then if you go to a doc and again saying, I'm not a doc. And but my understanding is they say eat more greens, blah blah blah. And then hopefully it goes away in my case and cell that that happens and ruptured and so and then it becomes critical that you go get attention.

And so that's what happened to me. I got to the hospital and they, cut 20cm out of my colon. And so and then when I recovered from there, obviously my wife is, vegetarian. And I was not abusive in terms of what I eat, but I was not as good as I could be. And she wanted me to be.

And so I knew I had to change my diet. So I became an I call it 8020 and now probably more like a 9010 vegetarian and others and, you know, so and then the other thing that I knew I had to do is go to the gym, but, before that, I was just like everybody else at the end of the year, I've said this, that, that, that and I'm going to buy a membership to this gym.

And then two weeks later, you can find out the reason why it's easy to go to the gym. And so I was one of those, and I knew I needed a trainer that worked with me because my life I'm not trying to be important is usually meetings from here do any other things. And so once I have a meeting, I do everything possible to be on time and to make a commitment.

So I started going to the gym and after I did that for about six years and, and again, you know, from nine, 2009, 2015, 16, somebody came up to us and said, hey, John, have you ever thought about competing? I said, me yeah. I said, oh, okay, why not give me a goal? So I started working hard and I really I work pretty hard.

And I got ready, you know, to set up a structure, a training structure for, bodybuilding physique and, and, you know, and bodybuilding. And so, I did that and then competed in northern British Columbia, came in second bodybuilding fit in physique, then did, provincial, did the same bridge qualify me for the nationals and the Arnold's?

And then Coldfoot came and and so and things slowed down there and the training became a little bit more a challenge because you could not go to the gym. And then now again, I'm training, at least four days a week, every day, you know, with a trainer and again, getting ready for the Arnold's. And this is a picture of me today, and I'm doing that.

What's my question? Are you going to continue competition? You will.

Deliver. I'm the oldest competitive, bodybuilding in North America.

That's amazing. My husband's going to love hearing that. I can't wait. That talent. He's going to love that I spoke to you. I don't think we've talked about how many businesses you have. You have very. You have a lot, don't you?

Yeah. So Dee and I have, actually four silos. The one silo is lumber manufacturing. The second silo is warehousing, distribution, and and, in particular. So we are probably the largest warehousing and distribution and logistics company in northern British Columbia. The third one is real estate, residential, commercial and industrial. The very active in that area. So probably one of the biggest ones in northern BC.

And then the fourth one you like, this one is media. So I'm a presenter, I am an author. And then I'm a very actor, podcaster and, do those kind of things. And then thinking about building a platform, so in the next 4 to 6 months.

And your YouTube, you said you had what was it, 1.9.

Million, one point, one, million subscribers on YouTube alone. And then it is on the other podcasts as well. But on YouTube, they gave you a plaque of some sort being recognized. And then when I'm podcasting on all the other, platforms of ours. So we estimate probably we have viewers somewhere between 2 and 2.5 million viewers, that are following us.

And then on YouTube subscribers, 1.1 million.

And I, I'm constantly trying to get into another business and another business. And my husband was really trying to slow me down all the time. But, I like to that how you talked about that in your book, where you really were just kind of making it, okay, that we have multiple interests, but that's not a problem. I'm always working with clients that are concerned because they're wanting to start another thing and starting another thing.

And if you I guess if you feel like you're not moving forward in any of those things, then maybe that's a problem and maybe you should get help or figure out what your next step is or or see if that really is important to you. But I did a really appreciate that, as so many of us, I mean, with ADHD or just interested in so many things.

And so that was that was very interesting to me that you said that I appreciated that.

Yeah. So the clinical part there, man, Mandy, is that, you know, the the objective as a business person that learned right from the time that I was 12 years old, when I started working with my hands, and I finished faculty and became a furniture maker. My learning school is very much being the practical side. And and I say, I really got an MBA in life and doing all the stuff the hard way, and that has given me immense experience.

But what I learned with ADHD, and I really always thought that in a way, is that I want to create a business that is boringly consistent in terms of what it does, the results it generates. There is only one problem with it, because if that's what I have, I become bored and I start looking at other challenges, and that's kind of what I do, you know?

So I try to my discipline system is of course, make sure it's operating correctly and deal with issues. And then at the same time look at other opportunities. And I do that all the time.

I always talk about building habits, structures and routines, and that's what I'm hearing you do in your businesses.

I like that. Yeah, absolutely. So one question that I get frequently is, Singh. Sajjan, when are you going to retire? And and saying to. So then I say to do what? You know, I love what I'm doing now. So. And then my wife would say, please don't make him retire because I don't want him around the house.

He drives me nuts because I'm my.

Husband and I. My husband and I were just talking about him because we have some investments and stuff too. And and we were just talking about, would you ever want to retire? Really? And I said, for me, I said, well, I think I'm just going to work until my brain doesn't work.

That doesn't mean I have to work hard, but I want to be doing things I love and putting things out into the world and creating things. And so, yeah, I just, I, I feel like there's a lot of us with ADHD that feel that way where it's, it's like, I would be bored and we can't be bored.

No. And then the other point that probably is saying to me, what else would you say that was important to you? To me, meaning, is that probably although diverticulitis nearly killed me, I came that close, you know, because if you get all the toxins through your body, you have about 48 hours before it's such attacking. Your health system is saying that ultimately, at the end of the day, the most important part is to be healthy and fit and understanding and understanding your body is critically important.

And, and so, and, and, you know, so that's kind of what I do. And, and so and then the other one is, going to the gym is important. And then mentally and I see so many people that are challenged by that is that podcasting is good for me. Writing is good for me. But podcasting, but it does.

Especially entail acting like what I do with you keeps my brain active in between all the different meetings that we have and all the kind of different companies, and doing those kind of things that podcasting is, challenging, in the sense that I never know what's going to happen, you know, so like this on the podcast that I do as you do is I never quite know what's going to happen.

I know one thing for sure is that, you know, the podcast, will last for an hour that I do, and I go to release it within two hours. And, and so and, and, unless that is a major bubble, I give you an example. At one point, there's probably a year, a year and a half ago so that I was introducing a guest and all of a sudden the building, not just one, but the that we have downtime started shaking was an earthquake.

And I said, oh my God, I didn't swear. So but there was an earthquake. And then we said afterwards, should we cut it off? We said, no, leave it in. Yeah. But at the podcast, you know.

When I first started doing YouTube, that is that is how I did it. I don't think I would have ever gotten my YouTube channel started had I not just said it is what it is. There's my cat scratching at the door while I'm trying to teach people about, about their ADHD. And and it is what it is.

I do edit now, because I have the ability to just throw it off to the editor and they give it back to me, and then my assistant takes care of things and and that's all wonderful. But I think you're telling a very inspiring story here about just starting and just being okay with what what what people are doing.

Like it? It doesn't have to be perfect. It just somebody is waiting for you to. They want to hear from you. They want to, you know, they want to read you that book. They want to. So like, let's just get it out there.

And the other one is it's genuine. It is, you know, that's who I am. And so, and, and to have it done and if it is over managed, then it becomes like. And I say that respectfully because anybody that, you know, makes the commitment to podcasting, you know, is already a challenge in spite of all of that.

But, it takes a challenge in a way. But and I'm glad that so many people do. But globally, there is an opportunity where issues that we have in North America are no different than that around the globe. And so the attraction it's only AD is beginning now and to and then at the same time, if you watch all the traditional, television stations like CNN, ABC, NBC, and Canada, CBS, CBC, a CTF, V and then BBC and on and on and on get less viewers all the time, because it is in a lot of ways, in my opinion, over managed.

And so and this is the opposite of that because as we are sitting here really, discussing our, you know, our lives and a genuine way and, and people listen to it and, and, and the hope is always that there is inspiration for others and, and sharing with them, in particular neurodiversity issues like ADHD, dyslexia and others, you know, that is not a negative.

It is what it is. And and what I say from my perspective and from what I've did is that to me, it can be and it is for me, a superpower as well.

And that global perspective that you're talking about, I appreciate because I have clients from all over the world Australia, Ireland, London, I think even Dubai at one point I can't even name all the countries, but it's because they watched my YouTube channel or they listened to my podcast and it resonated with them. And for some of those people where they're at, they don't have the support that they need.

No, they can't go, they can't get the medical support that they need or ADHD isn't isn't a thing in their country or not yet. Yeah, exactly. It's I mean, it's there, but nobody's talking about it. And nobody's supporting them. And so yeah, that that global reach I appreciate you talking about that because that's very true.

And then but I always say also from my experience, give back to your community, you know, be part of your community and, and and be sensitive to others that are not quite as fortunate as we are in a lot of ways. And to me, that is an important.

Yeah. Very good. This is a been a beautiful conversation. Where can people find you?

So the best way to find me is John a as an Adam or around in my case Burbank. Brian k.com okay is the best way to find me.

We'll put that.

On my books. All my books are available on Amazon. They are audibles as well. As you can understand and say, Sam is dyslexia. I did miss that. I've gone to, well, to read the books. That takes me longer than others, but I think it's important for me to do that. And that's what I did. And I don't know if you listened to my audible on ADHD when you said you were in the car and you listened to it, maybe.

Yeah.

I love I love audiobooks and I read so many books. And when I saw when I saw you had books on ADHD, I was so excited to read it. So it's it's a very good book. I was curious about something about the book, actually. I love that we ended on that because I want to talk about that.

It's done in in an interview style. How are many of your books done that way, or did you just do it with this one? How did you land on the idea of doing an interview style?

So yeah, books, writing books, that is not something that came natural to me. I though I've always been, even when I was in school, not overly successful. I was always a good writer and a good storyteller. I'm a storyteller. That's who I am. And so, so my style follow that. Right when I started and against all odds and say, can I make it interesting?

And then a style that I'm somewhat predictable to others as I go through against all odds, is the one. ADHD was the second one. The third one is ending your passion, living the dream. And that was in an important because a lot of people don't like that jobs. And I say find your passion and then living the dream was important.

And then this one giving young, dying old was important. And then the last one that I did, bestselling on, Amazon actually is billion dollar communication skills. And it's about communication skills as being all these guys, these billionaires. It's not a book How to become a billionaire, although I hope they do. And it is not saying that you should, but the question is but made them become successfully financially and that is some communication skills.

And I know you mentioned in the book that you've had to really work on your communication skills over the years.

I did.

That. I remember you talked about walking into a meeting, I believe, and just freezing and not being able to say anything. How did you how did you fix that? I don't recall.

So that particular meeting was a critical meeting from a business perspective. I did a fantastic presentation and writing, and then I had ministers and, and economic advisors and all of them sitting there. And I had the podium. I couldn't say word. I was so immensely ashamed, you know, so and and so how did I fix it?

Is that in the late 1980s, a friend invited me to Toastmasters. And Toastmasters is. You're familiar with it?

So many successful people. So really successful communicators. Talk about Toastmasters really made the difference for them.

And so they took me to a meeting of Toastmasters and probably tens of millions of people are part of it. And for people watching us, go to Google and you can find out about it saying that. So they took me to the first meeting and they said just to watch and I said, if somebody's going to ask me questions, I didn't know, okay, so then just sit and watch.

And in the middle of the meeting, somebody said, hey, John, tell us all about you. I said, I'll never go back here, but I did. And and so I could have crawled out of that meeting and, and several that after that I stayed. I knew I had to stay the course. And then I stayed there for ten years, became a distinguished toastmaster, the highest level in Toastmasters.

And that changed my life so for me, but changed my lives, the Canadians liberating Holland and me and the dream of going to Canada. The second one was landing in Vancouver was nothing. He hadn't been Joyce with a dream of building a lumber mill, and I did. And then the other one was finding, probably the first one was, actually, Toastmasters, and that changed my life.

The second one was in 1997, when I found a book about ADHD and Doctor Halliwell by then I was,

ADHD 2.0, I believe it wasn't it?

Yeah. Driven to distraction. Oh.

That one.

Yeah, exactly. And and so the combination of all of that changed my life. I then I was 62 years young already and so and I said, I'm going to live till I'm 120. So I'm still, only half way by then.

I love that that is such a great attitude. Well, I love your positivity. I love your work ethic. I love that you willing to be so genuine and and put your true self out to the world so that people can be inspired and understand themselves. And I just really appreciate this conversation.

And thanks, man. It was a pleasure. Yeah. And then check out some of my podcast.

Yes definitely. That's good. That's going to happen today.

Like I.

All right. So nice to meet with you.

Thanks man. Appreciate it. Check it out. Take care.

Bye bye. Thank you for your time today and especially your attention. If you're anything like me, you love to learn. Sometimes, though, we can know what to do, but struggle to put it into action without the right support. That's what private ADHD coaching is for. To give you the unique support and accountability you need to make the change you know is possible.

Book a free consultation with me today at Learn to Thrive with adhd.com backslash services. I look forward to meeting you.