Living (and Leading) with ADHD and Dyslexia
If you know me, you’ll know I’m not one for making excuses.
You can have success, or you can have excuses – but you can’t have both. And trust me, I’ve had every reason you could think of to choose excuses.
Growing up with ADHD and Dyslexia wasn’t easy. In school, I was that wee laddie who “wasn’t living up to his potential”. I was the one constantly being told to sit still, focus harder, or “stop being disruptive.” But what people didn’t see, what I didn’t even fully understand back then, was that my brain was wired differently. It wasn’t wrong… it was just different.
Fast forward to today. I’m proud to say I’m the Co-Founder of The Power Within Training, a leadership development company that changes lives across the UK and beyond.
But make no mistake – the road here wasn’t a straight line. It wasn’t smooth. It definitely wasn’t simple.
And it all comes back to one thing: Motivational Intelligence (MQ).
How Motivational Intelligence Changed Everything for Me
If you’ve never heard of MQ, it’s the science behind why people do what they do, and more importantly, how you can shift your mindset to achieve more, even when the odds feel stacked against you.
MQ isn’t about being the smartest person in the room. It’s not about qualifications or IQ scores.
It’s about your ability to adapt, overcome, and grow – no matter what life throws at you.
When I discovered MQ, it was like someone had finally handed me the blueprint I didn’t even know I’d been missing. It gave me a new way of thinking; one that helped me work with my ADHD and Dyslexia instead of constantly battling against them.
Because here’s the truth most people don’t tell you:It’s not the challenges you face that define you. It’s the decisions you make about those challenges.
The Quiet Battles You Don’t Always See
Living with ADHD means my mind is like a motorway at rush hour; thoughts speeding by a million miles an hour, ideas flashing left, right, and centre.
It’s brilliant for creativity, for energy, for vision.
But it can also be exhausting. Distracting. Overwhelming.
Dyslexia adds another layer. Sometimes I struggle with spelling, reading, or processing information the “traditional” way, and it used to make me feel stupid. (If you know, you know.)
But MQ taught me to reframe all of that.
Instead of asking, “Why can’t I do it like everyone else?”, I started asking, “How can I do it my way – better?”
And that’s the key. When you have ADHD, Dyslexia, or anything that makes you feel “different,” it’s easy to slip into self-doubt.
But MQ reminds you: you are never stuck. You are never broken. You just need the right tools to unlock what’s already inside you.
Success Is Never a Solo Mission
Now, I’d be lying if I said I did all of this on my own.
One of the greatest blessings in my life, both personally and professionally, is my wife and business partner, Enas.
Where I’m the dreamer, the visionary, the one with ten ideas before breakfast… Enas is the one who keeps our feet on the ground (and makes sure we can actually afford breakfast!).
She handles the finances, the practical side of running a business, the operational details I sometimes forget to even think about.
She doesn’t just support my vision – she believes in it 100%.
And let me tell you, having someone in your corner who believes in you makes all the difference.
Together, we balance each other. I bring the fire and the crazy ideas.
She brings the focus, the structure, the strategy.
And because of that partnership, The Power Within Training has grown into something I could have only dreamed of all those years ago.
Why This Matters for You (Yes, You)
Maybe you’re reading this and thinking, “Well, that’s great for you, James, but I’m not sure MQ could help me.”
Or maybe you’re thinking about a family member, a friend, a colleague who’s struggling with ADHD, Dyslexia, or just the day-to-day overwhelm of life.
Here’s what I want you to know:
MQ isn’t just for leaders or business owners. It’s for anyone who’s willing to give themselves a fighting chance.
It’s for the kid who’s been told they’ll never amount to anything.
It’s for the adult who feels stuck in a rut, drowning in self-doubt.
It’s for every single person who’s ever thought, “Maybe I’m just not good enough.”
You are more than good enough.
You just need the mindset to unlock it.
That’s what we teach at The Power Within Training.
That’s what changed my life – and it’s what could change yours too.
If you’re ready to stop making excuses and start creating your own success story, we’re here to back you 100%.
Check out our leadership development programmes and let’s find out what you’re truly capable of – ADHD, Dyslexia, or whatever else life’s thrown your way.
Because trust me – when you bet on yourself, with the right mindset behind you, you can’t lose.
James Fleming
The Power Within Training,
The Motivational Intelligence Company
james@tpwtd.com
