The Unscheduled CEO

Jake Knapp on Creativity, ADHD and Feeling Overwhelmed

13 snips
Oct 7, 2025
Jake Knapp, an author and designer renowned for co-creating the Design Sprint, dives into creativity and ADHD. He shares personal insights on feeling overwhelmed and the complexities of balancing life’s demands. Discussions include the effects of medication on creative processes, and how boredom can be more challenging than stress. They explore the balance between creative passion and practical work, emphasizing ongoing uncertainty in artistic pursuits. Their conversation encourages a thoughtful approach to overcoming barriers while remaining true to creative integrity.
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ANECDOTE

Scattered With Too Many Balls

  • Jake describes juggling too many projects and feeling scattered when stakes are low.
  • He shares his doctor's ADHD screening and the dilemma of medicating versus reducing commitments.
ANECDOTE

Diagnosis And Waiting Mode

  • Jonathan recounts his ADHD diagnosis process and testing with doctors and family.
  • He explains time-blindness and 'waiting mode' that leads to unproductive pauses before meetings.
ADVICE

Use Medication As A Diagnostic Tool

  • Try ADHD medication as an experiment to see how your brain performs with clearer focus.
  • Use medication as a tool to learn which habits and tasks it helps you maintain rather than a permanent identity change.
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