PROOF - Unwrapping The Gift of ADD Works
I am happy to share with you an inspirational interview with a gentleman who embodies the term ‘unwrapping the gift of ADD’. Jay Mandarino is living PROOF that people can unwrap the gift of ADD and Dyslexia. He was in a very difficult situation - where he was failing at school, and couldn’t read - and now he is successful on so many different levels.
Jay and I met at a Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario conference, and immediately respected one another. I asked Jay if he would be willing to be interviewed for the lead up to Unwrapping the Gift of ADD, and he graciously agreed.
In this 32 minute audio interview – you’ll discover:
* How Jay couldn’t read in elementary school, and how his teachers wanted to send him to a halfway house
* How Jay was told that he couldn’t amount to anything more than a gas attendant
* WhyJay got so down that he became suicidal on two different occassions
* Jay now runs 13 companies and his companies earn $24 million per year
* …about success on many levels – not just financial
*How Jay inspires high school students, and provides hope and support to so many through his volunteer work
** Listen to this interview carefully, because you’ll hear specific steps that YOU can do too – to unwrap the gift of ADD.
The amazing part of Jay’s story is that he and his parents DID NOT have a roadmap to follow to ‘unwrap the gift’ - yet they did it so well.
In the coming weeks, Dr. Hallowell and I will be launching the ‘Unwrapping The Gift of ADD’ series, and we’ll be sharing specific and actionable steps that people can take to unwrap the gift of ADD.
And for anyone who thinks that this can’t be done… Just listen to this interview.
It will inspire and move you.
To listen, just click on the ‘plus sign’.
Enjoy this interview, and after you listen – please share your comments below.
Dr. Kenny
p.s. we are now just 1 week away from the website going live for the ‘Unwrapping The Gift of ADD’ program. To be sure to get the opportunity to take part in this revolutionary and never-before-done event, enter your name and email above to be on our VIP notification list (if you’ve already signed up, or received our free report Find The Genius in ADD, there is no need to sign up again).
Technorati Tags: ADD, ADHD, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Attention Deficit Disorder, Gift of ADD, Gift of ADHD
I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the interview. The one statement I agreed mostly with was the medication approach. Many schools in particular are not willing to look at non-medication approaches, yet at the same time chose to trash ADHD and medication as an excuse. Incongruent approaches are hindering positive treatments.
I work daily with ADHD and or LD students as I own a testing and tutoring Center for students K-12 as well as teaching in an open enrollment community college which is riddled with such students.
I know one thing…If someone told me today that could take my ADHD away, I wouldn’t let them. I would tremendously like to work and learn from you.
Mary Beth Scott, M.Ed., MS
Hermitage Learning Center
3441 Lebanon Road, Suite 119
Hermitage, TN 37076
tutoryou@comast.net
615-874-1400
This has brought tears to my eyes as well. This man seems to have this connection within himself and a natural connection to kids he has a wonderful gift and I hope he goes on doing what he is doing JAY KEEP IT UP. This is your purpose in life… you have come in touch with why you are on this earth… We stuggle with our ADD 12 year old son. With stories like this it gives me the will and the energy to keep up the unconditional love that he needs because it really has been hard. I am glad I found this Website.
I have suffered from ADD, all my life, while I can’t say I am a financial success, I have in many ways improved my life. In the way you have described, it is, like unwrapping a gift.
My first reaction, before I was even done reading about your study, was that of complete agreement. I may not be a genius, but I have moments of sheer brilliance.
I wonder, if your study could also be link to diet and exercise, in a way that would peak or stimulate the moments of sheer brilliants or (Genius).
I know other people also, that have ADD, I know that many of them feel, at times less that significant than others with out the disorder. I wonder if this was to be put out their in the news, media, and such. If some of them would feel better about their lives.
I wonder if there are programs designed to help boost our self image as well as lock into that genius that is inside of us. Please let me know If you know of any. I’d love to find out more.
Tracy Bleers
I have ADHD, was diagnosed when my Kindergarten-age son was diagnosed, 10 years ago. Starting meds made me feel as though I had come out of a fog. I went to College for the first time at age 40, and now have a career in an area that I’ve wanted to work in since I was very young. I still, though, feel “less than” at times, despite the fact that I graduated from college summa cum laude, I just feel that I don’t get it with people at times. This applíes especially to other women; in particular those without ADHD, who do not understand it. I wonder what you recommend for getting along in employment situations with those who cannot appreciate the ADHD creativity, because they are more interested in linear rule-following.
Thanks so much; I would love to know more, and share with other women with ADHD.
I too have enjoyed the interview tremendously. As a special education teacher, I have tremendous respect for the diabled in general. However, As a parent of an ADD son, sister to a physically handicapped brother and a neice to a mentally retarted uncle, I can tell you that setting expectations for the disabled to help themselves is very important. Teaching strategies and setting goals for their own success is a key to setting them on the road to self confidence. I am wondering if you have an opinion/ comments about parents possibly disabling their children further by using the disability as an excuse therefore eliminating the child’s self confidence. I look forward to hearing your suggestions.
Thank you to all of you for you great comments and for sharing your impressions and your story.
Nahed - I am always very cautious about using ADD/ADHD as an excuse vs. an explanation.
I describe this in my blog - in a post here (go part way down the post):
http://www.addadhdblog.com/is-it-adhd-or-a-behavior-problem/
Dr. Kenny
What an amazing story.
When we human beings become complacent, we are introduced to people who inspire us.
Because, what is normal?
Look at some of the geniuses of the past such as Beethoven and Mozart; are there not similarities in their behaviour and that asserted for an AD-HD person?
Wonderful that you focus on the genius in these people.
Cheers,
Gloria
My ADD was diagnosed 11yrs ago when I was extremely anxious about an exam I was to take 6months hence. I didn’t know how or where to start to review.
I am now 62yo and still read terribly slowly. I always thought my getting through medical school and residency was by luck. Despite being told at the time of dx that many professionals had ADD I still felt it was “the diagnosis of the 90’s” and was too embarrassed to admit having it. However medication and counseling helped enormously. I am able to have more time when I take my recertification exams so that I can fully read and answer questions without being overwhelmed by time anxieties. I love the work I do and even tho’ “not good enough” resonates from the back of my mind, the comments I hear from patients and coworkers reassure me that I am meeting their needs.We all need positive input, some more than others. Thank you Jay for sharing your story and encouraging the uniqueness of folks with ADD.
The interview was very inspirational. I would like to share it with a person who is deaf. Would it be possible to get a transcript of the interview? Thanks.
I would just like to say that I found this very intriguing I am a 30 year old male with a.d.h.d. and I am currently am taking vyvanse and it is a drug that is finally working for me but my consular is somewhat in disagreement with it, I myself am still trying to find my talents for a job because I have been on disability for 5 years and just currently got taking off of it but am trying to get it back I also have 3 and a half years of college with no degree. So my question is 1. I am trying to make sure that I will receive this update you are getting ready to send to everyone about on 4-15-08 I think it was, but my 2nd. question was if you had any materials you could mail me to help me out in the matter of finding my talents and how I could be a great asset in society. Thank you, and I look forward to hearing from you and I cant wait till the new publishing comes out for it. Thanks,, Brian
Hi Brian,
I’m glad you found this helpful.
To be sure to gain access to this event, make sure to enter your name and email in the form above (or if you are already getting our emails, no need to do it again).
The website will go live on Wednesday April 16th at 12 pm Eastern time.
We hope you’ll join us.
You will get access to the material that way - i.e. by participating in our event (i.e. we can’t send you materials now).
All the best,
Dr. Kenny
<<was also a bit teary with the hearing of another going thru similar thoughts and feelings in the early stages. I am a supporter of 2 Bi-polar relatives as well have 2 children with ADD and ADHD. I can relate to both sides of the story, both from a parental view and a supporters view, of the hassles you go thru just to get one concept. and try and get them to link. For even the most basic of daily living , life is not easy for some, and thus the need for rigid structure, but I am happy to say as my philosophy was with my first born, all I wanted for her was to be happy in whatever she did. She now is successfully working in a rigid routined job she loves and is engaged to a boy who is also of the same need and so both have a great understanding of each other in their needs and expectations, but is grt to see them both able to bounce off one another and be able to keep stability with the various attributes they have, her gift is her empathy, his is his work ethic. Both good strong and successful elements for a grt life. I wish them the best and I am allowing my sons love of footy and dance to allow his gift of movement to flow. They are happy in themselves, and that to me is the greatest success, as they see it in their mother.
What an inspirational story!
Please do talk more about how parents can support their children! Both at home and in school.
I was especially interested in the part about learning skills on how to cope with distractibility and inattentiveness (making lists, managing time, etc.) I doubt many schools teach this, and instead just believe that if a child takes medication, everything will be all right. How do we make our schools more ADHD-friendly?