I explore a common ADHD paradox I see in myself and the high-performing leaders I support: we’re great at solving problems, partly because we create so many of them. I share a story about dropping a glass bottle of popcorn kernels, and how my 4-year-old’s immediate “that’s your fault” became a teachable moment about checking if someone is okay rather than blaming. I unpack how rushing, dysregulation, clumsiness, poor spatial awareness, and unconsciously creating urgency can lead to daily “micro-crises,” and how shame and self-attack create a loop that increases mistakes. I emphasize the difference between responsibility and self-blame, and how pausing and nervous system regulation reduce chaos without losing our crisis brilliance. I also announce my first small residential ADHD women’s retreat in Sweden, June 12–14, limited to six people.

• The difference between equality and equity
• Why clarity around feedback and expectations matters deeply
• How rejection sensitivity can distort workplace communication
• Why ADHD is an explanation, not an excuse
• The shame–overwork–burnout cycle many high achievers fall into
• How psychological safety improves performance for everyone

• What EBSA actually means (and why it’s not about defiance or manipulation)
• The difference between “won’t” and “can’t”
• Early signs to look out for (tummy aches, shutdown, irritability, “fizzing” bodies)
• Why children often seem fine at weekends or in holidays
• Burnout in children — and why “push through” can backfire
• The emotional toll on parents (work pressure, guilt, exhaustion)
• Why making home “less fun” is not the answer
• The tension between attendance targets and emotional safety
• How to respond in the early stages to prevent escalation
• The spectrum of EBSA — from subject-specific avoidance to full shutdown
• Practical ways to seek support (schools, councils, local offers)
• Why education is not one single narrow path