A couple of months ago I attended a global business conference in LA called Mega Partnering VII (The World’s #1 Wealth Networking Conference).

Six years ago, J.T. Foxx, the brainchild of this incredible breakthrough business idea started out with nothing more than a rusted out Ford pick-up truck, $974, one cheap suit and ADD (ADHD). (Attention deficit disorder (ADD) which is sometimes known as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a disorder that occurs in early childhood during which responses are inhibited. The child has poor attention as well as impulsivity and hyperactivity.)

According to the Attention Deficit Disorder Association approximately 7% of children and 5% of adults have ADD/ADHD.

Now J.T. is a successful and highly sought after motivational speaker, real estate investor and brilliant entrepreneur. He proudly announces that he is ADD and uses it every chance he gets to explain why he can’t sit still; can’t focus and is constantly fidgeting. Even when interviewing some of his renowned guests like Donna Karan, Arnold Schwarzenegger and numerous others, J.T. Foxx acted and looked like a child that couldn’t wait to get out of class. Donna even asked him what he was doing when he took the remote away from her during her presentation.

J.T. Foxx is in great company. He shares his ADD (ADHD) qualities with the likes of Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, President Kennedy, Michael Jordan, Walt Disney, David Neeleman (Founder, CEO of Jet Blue) Richard Branson (founder of Virgin Airlines), and Michael Phelps (the most decorated Olympian of all time), to mention some very talented, successful and accomplished people.

Can you imagine a focus group or brain storming session with Albert Einstein? It would be a very interesting and creative to say the least.

According to Shane Perrault, PHD, “Entrepreneurs with ADHD can harness their creativity to increase profitability.” (As reported in Psychology Today, Sept 16,2009).

J.T. Foxx has figured out how to use his disorder to make millions! To see him in action is quite magical. He is creative, innovative, disruptive, thinks way outside the box, is a maverick and plays by his own rules, is intuitive and resilient. All amazing trademarks of successful people with ADD.

 What was also fun to watch during the 5-day conference was that various speakers admitted to having ADD – whether they had it or not. It seemed to be “the in thing” for explaining hiccups in their presentations.

Perhaps that’s something I should consider when things don’t go as planned in business and in life!

Do you know any insanely successful people? Do they have ADD? How do they use this special disorder to get ahead? I’d love to hear your comments regarding successful people and ADD. Please post your comments below.