Photo by Tausha Dickinson.
Last week, I stood in the center of a room filled with leaders at the cityCURRENT breakfast, and for a split second, I wasn't just a 53-year-old executive coach. I was back in 1978, a seven-year-old boy in a forest-green turtleneck, about to "timber" onto the stage and change the trajectory of my life.
Delivering "The Root Down" was more than a keynote; it was a homecoming to my first love, public speaking, fused with a mission that has become my life’s work: serving professionals from entrepreneurs and executives to adults who feel stuck.
The Rise of the "Wise Squirrel"
People often ask me how I balance high-energy improvisation and humor with the heavy realities of ADHD. I’ve embraced my label of the Wise Squirrel. Since my diagnosis a few years ago, I’ve learned to pair my "squirrel-like" performance energy with "wisdom" earned through a growth mindset, mindful reflection, and a long career.
It’s a performance with a purpose. When I tell a room of professionals that untreated ADHD can reduce life expectancy by up to 13 years, the humor stops, and the "Wise Squirrel" takes the wheel.
Pillar 1: The Unseen Struggle of "Knowing"
The most significant unseen struggle I address in my coaching and workshops is the fundamental importance of Knowing Yourself. For decades, I thought I was just a "bad kid". I didn't realize I was a specific kind of tree trying to grow in the wrong soil.
You cannot move to Pillar 2 (Respect Yourself) if you haven't identified your true neurotype, strengths, and superpowers. In my sessions, I help late-diagnosed adults rewrite their internal "report cards"—moving away from the labels of "disruptive" or "annoying" and toward their actual identities.
Pillar 2: From Mindless to Mindful
Once a leader knows their "roots," we focus on Respecting Yourself. We live in an era of "audacious algorithms" and "digital vitriol" designed to keep us in a state of fear and distrust.
By utilizing tactical tools like Box Breathing or cognitive reappraisal, I help individuals move from being "mindless" to "mindful".
Overcoming Stress: Slowing down the breath allows us to reframe negative self-talk.
Leading with Empathy: When we are mindful, we approach work relationships with patience rather than impulsivity.
The "Oxygen Mask" Rule: You cannot treat others well if you fail to love and respect yourself first.
Pillar 3: Building a Healthy Forest
The finale of the framework is Connecting Yourself. I help my clients and audiences tap into the "Power of Proximity" to feel handshakes and high-fives once again.
In my workshops, we use the metaphor of the "Woodwide Web" to understand how diverse teams protect themselves by working together. I help Wise Squirrels and neurotypical adults alike pause, question the clickbait, and shift their focus back to the things that matter most immediately:
Stakeholders: Colleagues, management, and customers.
Community: Family, friends, and the people we serve.
The Self: Maintaining the roots that sustain the entire crown.
The Final Acorn
Thank you to my friends at cityCURRENT for inviting me to deliver this important presentation.
As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn". Whether it's through a keynote, a specialized workshop, or 1-on-1 executive coaching, my goal is to help you plant yours.
We are stronger and wiser together when we ROOT DOWN.
