Harnessing the Hypomanic Advantage: Leadership Insights from Todd Hagopian

In this episode, host Josh Elledge speaks with Todd Hagopian, Executive Director of the Stagnation Intelligence Agency and author of The Unfair Advantage: Weaponizing the Hypomanic Toolbox. Todd shares his remarkable journey—from spending 15 years undiagnosed with bipolar disorder to engineering a systematic way to harness the productive power of hypomania without the chaos. This conversation explores how neurodiverse traits can be transformed into high-performance leadership tools, offering powerful strategies for productivity, innovation, prioritization, and sustainable success.

How Neurodiverse Leadership Becomes a Strategic Superpower

Todd Hagopian explains how the high energy, creativity, and intensity associated with hypomania can be intentionally structured into repeatable systems. Instead of treating hypomanic tendencies as weaknesses, he shows how leaders can channel them into strengths through tools such as grandiose goal-setting, which pushes individuals and teams to stretch beyond conventional limits. He emphasizes that ambition—when properly focused—creates momentum, inspires others, and unlocks levels of performance that incremental planning simply cannot achieve.

Another major insight Todd shares is the 80/20 Matrix, a ruthless prioritization method that identifies the 4% of activities generating 64% of results. By doubling down on the most profitable customer-product combinations and eliminating or outsourcing low-value work, leaders remove complexity—the biggest enemy of profitability. This same philosophy underpins the Carolyn Method, where results are amplified not through more activity, but through sharper focus on the vital few actions that truly move the needle.

Todd also discusses orthodoxy smashing, the practice of systematically challenging industry assumptions to uncover breakthrough opportunities. Paired with essential personal practices such as sleep discipline, medication management (when relevant), and eliminating alcohol, Todd shows that sustainable leadership requires both innovation and self-care. His message is clear: anyone—neurodiverse or not—can apply these systems to multiply productivity, improve decision-making, and build resilient success.

About Todd Hagopian

Todd Hagopian is the Executive Director of the Stagnation Intelligence Agency, a leadership strategist, and the author of The Unfair Advantage: Weaponizing the Hypomanic Toolbox. He helps leaders harness structured productivity systems to maximize performance, prioritize effectively, and innovate with intention. Connect with Todd on LinkedIn or explore his work at Stagnation Assassin.

About Stagnation Assassin

Stagnation Assassin (toddhagopian.com) provides leadership development frameworks based on Todd’s hypomanic toolbox methodology. Through consulting, training, and productivity systems, Todd helps organizations simplify operations, enhance strategic focus, and unlock breakthrough innovation. His programs support neurodiverse and neurotypical leaders alike in building sustainable, high-performance habits.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Key Episode Highlights

How hypomanic traits can be transformed into leadership strengths
The power of grandiose goal-setting to unlock extraordinary results
The 80/20 Matrix for eliminating complexity and maximizing profit
The Carolyn Method: multiplying results through focus, not activity
Orthodoxy smashing as a method for breakthrough innovation
The importance of sleep, medication management, and boundaries
How neurodiverse leaders can systematize their strengths
Why sustainable performance requires intentional self-care

Conclusion

Todd Hagopian’s approach reframes neurodiversity as a strategic advantage, offering leaders a structured way to channel intensity, ambition, and creativity into sustainable high performance. His tools—rooted in clarity, prioritization, focus, and innovation—show that extraordinary productivity comes not from doing more, but from doing the right things with intention. Whether you are neurodiverse or neurotypical, Todd’s insights provide a powerful roadmap for leading boldly, simplifying your path to success, and achieving more than you ever thought possible.

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