The Mosaic of a Career: How My ADHD (and Countless Pivots) Became My Superpower

If you had told me at 25 that by 50 I’d have worn this many professional hats, I probably would’ve laughed—and then panicked. Back then, I thought success meant climbing a single, well-defined ladder. You pick a path, put your head down, show up, work hard and keep climbing until you “make it.”

But here I am, half a lifetime later, with a résumé that looks more like an abstract painting than a straight line.

Personal Trainer. Pharma Rep. Event Planner. Director of Sales. Entrepreneur. Coach. Author. And yes, a few “miscellaneous” titles sprinkled in for good measure.

For years, I carried quiet shame about that. I worried that my career looked “scattered,” that people would think I couldn’t focus, or worse—that I didn’t know what I wanted.

Now I see it for what it truly is: a mosaic.

Each tile—every twist, detour, and unexpected pivot—has added colour, texture, and meaning to the bigger picture of who I’ve become and what I can now offer others.

ADHD and the Myth of the Straight Path

I wasn’t officially diagnosed with ADHD until my 40s. But looking back, it explains so much about my restless curiosity and my need for novelty and challenge. I used to think something was wrong with me because I couldn’t just “pick a lane.” I would get bored easily and then need to switch things up.

What I didn’t realize was that my brain was wired for connection, creativity, and pattern-making. ADHD isn’t just distraction—it’s also a unique ability to see how seemingly unrelated experiences fit together.

ADHD helps reveal patterns and meaning where others see fragmentation.

And that’s exactly what a mosaic is—a collection of fragments that, when arranged intentionally, tell a much richer story than a single, smooth tile ever could.

The Beauty of the Detour

I can pinpoint moments in my career that felt like derailments at the time.

• The job I left because I was bored after six months.
• The business I started that never made a profit.
• The role I took on a whim that “didn’t fit” but introduced me to lifelong friends and mentors.

Each one added something essential—skills, insight, self-awareness—that I couldn’t have gained otherwise.

“Sometimes what looks like a detour is actually the most direct route to yourself. Finding yourself and listening to your inner wisdom, is the key to happiness.”

The detours are where the clarity hides. They teach you what energizes you, what drains you, what you can’t not do and what ultimately lights you up and allows you to reach your potential.

From Pieces to Pattern

It wasn’t until I started coaching that I saw how my so-called scattered past had equipped me perfectly for this work.

• My time in sales taught me how to develop relationships quickly and be persuasive.
• My years in event planning honed my project management skills and ability to work under pressure.
• Entrepreneurship gave me resilience and strategic thinking.
• Writing the book grounded me in purpose.

All those “unrelated” jobs suddenly lined up like tiles clicking into place.

Not one chapter. Not one pivot. Nothing was wasted.

This is the magic moment I want for everyone reading this—the realization that nothing was wasted.

Redefining Success

Success, for me, no longer looks like a ladder—it looks like a mosaic wall. It’s wide and colourful and full of imperfections. It tells a story of curiosity, courage, and evolution.

If you’re in a season of uncertainty right now—considering a career change, or grieving one that didn’t work out—please hear this: you are not starting over. You are building upon.

Every experience is a tile. And someday, you’ll step back and see how beautifully it all fits together.

A Hopeful Nudge

If your gut is whispering that it’s time for a change, listen.
If your curiosity is tugging you toward something new, follow it.
If the world tells you to “pick one thing” and stay there; smile and keep exploring anyway.

Because when you trust your instincts and honour your unique wiring—even with all its zigzags—you don’t end up lost. You end up authentic.

And authenticity, I’ve learned, is the most fulfilling form of success there is.

Here’s to your mosaic—may it be wild, colourful, and utterly your own.