See that tiny glowing dot in the image above?

That’s my iPhone—currently living its best life at Vancouver International Airport.

For the record, I live just outside Toronto.

Arghhhh. I lost my iPhone. Again.

Add it to the collection of wallets, sunglasses, driver’s licenses, credit cards and anything else not physically attached to me by ligament, zipper or a winter mitten string. Honestly, I always envied those kids—the ones whose mittens were connected by a chord running through their coat sleeves like a seatbelt. Their grandmas protected them from the numb fingers struggle.

Here’s the truth: I lose things because of my ADHD.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a form of neurodivergence that is both a blessing and a curse.

Yes, it means I misplace objects at Olympic levels.
It also means I’m innovative, creative, energetic, empathetic and capable of hyperfocus that rivals world-class athletes.

Both things are true.

I’m not alone. There are so many leaders—brilliant, driven, high-achieving leaders—who struggle with the same dark side of embarrassment, self-judgment and frustration that comes with ADHD wiring.

So, before we go any further, let me say this clearly:

You’re not alone, and you’re not broken.

In fact, research says your brain is wired in ways that make you a uniquely powerful leader.

Why ADHD Leaders Lose Everything

(According to SCIENCE—not Annoyed Colleagues, Parents, Spouses or Teachers)

Neuroscience research from Harvard, MIT and the University of Cambridge paints a clear picture of the ADHD brain. Yes, we lose stuff—but not because we’re sloppy or careless. There are real, measurable reasons.

1. A Ferrari Engine with Bicycle Brakes

Our brains move fast—really fast.
We think in leaps, not steps.

While other people’s thoughts follow a predictable linear path, ours are jumping through ideas like rapid-fire TikTok swipes.

Result: We set the phone down while thinking about finding our Nexus card then launch into our best strategic security line positioning and completely forget we ever had a phone in our hand.

2. The Goldfish Memory Buffer

Working memory is like the ‘buffer’ on our Cerebrum, our brain’s planning center. Our buffer is just big enough to hold one thought at a time. If a new thought swims by (Like a notification on my phone telling me that boarding is about to begin on my tight connection), the previous one (“I set my phone down on the kiosk to unzip my backpack for my Nexus card.”) gets bumped right out of the bowl.

If we’re not actively holding it, repeating it or staring at it, it’s gone.

3. Hyperfocus… Just Not on the Object We’re Holding

When our brain locks in on something—game over. You can be holding your phone but thinking about how to get to Gate C48—and boom—the phone ends up abandoned in a security bin like a forgotten sandwich.

The Spiral of Shame (A Familiar Dance)

There I was in Vancouver Airport, staring at the Find My iPhone dot on my wife’s phone screen, getting mad at myself. The negative script starts playing:

“What’s wrong with me?”
“I should know better.”
“How many times will it take before I learn?”

Here’s the leadership truth no one teaches:

Shame has never improved anyone’s organizational skills—ever.

Not in the history of humanity.

What shame does do is drain energy, shrink confidence and convince leaders they’re not good enough.

Grace, however? Grace is rocket fuel.

Grace: The Leadership Skill Nobody Teaches

Extending grace to yourself is harder than navigating a last-minute gate change.

For leaders with ADHD, it’s even harder.

We grew up hearing:
“Try harder.”
“Pay attention.”
“Stop being careless.”

Our confidence shrunk, but grace says something radically different:

You’re not careless. You care deeply.
Your brain simply runs a different operating system—one with extraordinary capabilities.

Grace isn’t an excuse. It’s an invitation to shift from blame → to ownership → to action.

That shift changes everything.

Your ADHD Isn’t a Liability—It’s a Leadership Superpower

When we’re furious at ourselves for losing our phone for the 14th time, we forget something fundamental:

ADHD traits are directly linked to top leadership strengths.

Research from the University of Cambridge shows that adults with ADHD often excel in:

1. Creativity & Innovation

ADHD leaders see patterns others miss. We don’t think outside the box—half the time we never acknowledged the box existed.

2. High-Risk, High-Reward Decision Making

We are drawn to possibility. It’s why entrepreneurs have ADHD at nearly five times the average population rate.

3. Energy & Resilience

We bounce back quickly. We lose phones, keys, entire presentations—but somehow still deliver brilliance when the pressure hits.

4. Hyperfocus Superpowers

When we care, we go all in. This is the same neurological pathway that fuels elite performance.

5. Empathy & Emotional Intelligence

Living with self-doubt builds compassion. We understand struggle. We create belonging. Your team doesn’t follow you because you’re organized. They follow you because you are real.

Here are a few things I’ve tried that help me lose things just a little less often:

1. Have Two of Everything

One drivers’ license stays home. One stays in my wallet.
It’s redundancy engineering. NASA does it. Why can’t we?

2. Automate Everything You Can

AirTags. Tile tags. Find My iPhone. Cloud backups. Autofill.

The more you automate, the less you shame spiral.

There’s a good chance I’ll recover my phone because I use these tools and don’t waste time brooding. Lost and Found at YVR, don’t let me down (PLEASE). I can literally see the phone sitting right there on my app.

3. Let Your Travel Buddy Help You

Instead of snapping at them for reminding you … again.
(Full transparency—I’m still working on this one.)

I’ve gotten better at asking for and receiving help. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Progress builds momentum. Momentum builds confidence.

Confidence transforms everything.

Losing things doesn’t make you weak. Giving up would. Don’t give up or quit putting yourself forward. ADHD leaders persist harder than most people will ever understand. We fail forward. We try again. We laugh at ourselves while building programs, teams, companies, and communities that matter.

So, the next time your phone is sitting contentedly in an airport while you’re halfway across the country, remember this:

You are not defined by what you misplace.
You are defined by what you repeatedly find—your strength, your grit, your humor and your ability to rise again.

That, my friends, is growth, and isn’t that what leadership is really all about?