Second in Command: The Chief Behind the Chief with Cameron Herold

Ep. 473 - Unlock the ADD Advantage: Supercharge Your Entrepreneurial Journey

May 8, 2025

The host shares a personal journey, highlighting how attention deficit disorder (ADD) shaped his path in education and business. He reframes ADD as a potential superpower rather than a flaw, emphasizing the unique strengths it can bring to entrepreneurship. Discussing strategies for success, he focuses on leveraging short bursts of intense focus and the importance of prioritization and delegation. Empowering those with ADD, the conversation encourages embracing one's unique traits to flourish in the workplace and beyond.

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ANECDOTE

Cameron's ADD School Struggle

Cameron Herold shares how he struggled with traditional schooling due to ADD distractions and the impact of an open classroom with many stimuli.
He calls his focus bursts "HD ADD," meaning intense focus for short periods but needing frequent breaks.

INSIGHT

ADD as Entrepreneurial Superpower

ADD allows entrepreneurs to notice many opportunities and problems due to their broad awareness.
Delegating seen issues and tasks is key to managing this overwhelming input.

ANECDOTE

School Undermined Cameron's Confidence

Cameron was hurt by school telling him he lacked effort, though he was trying hard.
This feedback lowered his confidence and desire to study, worsening his school performance.

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In today's episode of the Second in Command podcast, Cameron shares a deeply personal reflection on how his experiences with attention deficit disorder (ADD) shaped his educational journey and entrepreneurial success.

You'll hear how traditional schooling and societal expectations of focus negatively impacted his self-esteem, even as he was trying his best. Despite being told he wasn’t trying hard enough, Cameron realized that his struggles with concentration were not a personal flaw but part of a unique way of thinking that would later serve him well as a business leader.

Drawing from his own experiences, Cameron presents a new perspective on ADD, reframing it not as a disorder but as a potential superpower, especially for entrepreneurs. He explains how his inability to stay focused for long periods of time, while challenging in certain environments, allowed him to notice opportunities and weaknesses others might miss. By embracing this trait, he learned to prioritize and delegate tasks effectively, which contributed to his success in building businesses.

This episode offers a message of empowerment, urging those with ADD to acknowledge their strengths and harness them in their careers.

If you've enjoyed this episode of the Second in Command podcast, be sure to leave a review and subscribe today!

Enjoy!

In This Episode You'll Learn:

His ability to focus in short, intense periods, which he calls "high definition ADD" (HD ADD). (2:40)
Cameron's negative experiences with the education system, which told him he wasn't trying hard enough when he was actually trying very hard. (5:04)
The importance of changing environments to keep his mind stimulated and avoid boredom. (6:07)
Why the medical and teaching communities have failed to recognize the potential benefits of ADD. (10:00)
And much more...

Resources:

Connect with Cameron: Website | LinkedIn

Get Cameron’s latest book – "Second in Command: Unleash the Power of Your COO"

Get Cameron’s online course – Invest In Your Leaders