Greatness with ADHD: What Ed Mylett Gets Right (and What ADHD Minds Need Instead)
Ever feel like greatness is for other people?
Like you’re watching Steph Curry drain 3s, Adele crush Vegas, and Ed Mylett tell you you’re “one rep away”… and all you can think is:
“Cool. But I can’t even answer my emails.”
Welcome to the ADHD high achiever paradox:
We want to win. We can perform.
But our brains aren’t wired for consistency. We sprint, crash, overthink, restart… and repeat.
In this fiery video from Ed Mylett, he breaks down how top performers like Steph Curry and Adele separate themselves from everyone else.
And honestly? It’s a killer message.
But if you’ve got ADHD?
You need a translation.
Because “just do more reps” hits different when executive dysfunction keeps unplugging your brain.
Let’s break it down.
💥 Quick Summary: What Ed’s Really Saying
Reps > talent. The best in the world simply practice more
Deadlines trigger intensity and momentum
Greatness happens before anyone sees you
Even masters still audit, adjust, and improve
You don’t need a new life — just one decision, one new rep
If you’ve ever chased big goals (or beat yourself up for not sticking with them), this is solid stuff.
But what does this look like for ADHD adults who are trying to become high achievers… while wrestling their own brain every damn day?
Let’s translate.
🧠 ADHD Advice for High Achievers (Without the Shame)
“Do More Reps”
Ed says: Greatness is built on repetition. Curry’s taken 2.8 million practice shots.
Why ADHD brains struggle:
Repetition without novelty = boredom = brain shutdown
Tracking progress? Ha.
Consistency feels impossible when our energy comes in waves
Try this instead:
Shrink the rep. 5 minutes counts. One draft counts. One email.
Make it visual. Wall calendars, stickers, or dopamine journals help you see momentum.
Add novelty. Change the location, tool, or method.
“Deadlines Create Urgency”
Ed says: Deadlines make your subconscious kick in. Without them, you stall.
Why ADHD brains struggle:
We know fake deadlines are fake
Real ones feel terrifying and trigger shutdown
Time blindness kills pacing
Try this instead:
Use countdown timers. 25 minutes is a deadline.
Make it social. Tell someone what you’re doing and when.
Use silly, playful deadlines. “Finish by the end of this playlist.”
“Audit Yourself After Every Rep”
Ed says: Review your performance constantly. Ask: what did I miss?
Why ADHD brains struggle:
We’re allergic to post-mortems — too many shame triggers
Perfectionism + rejection sensitivity = brutal self-talk
Reflecting feels like reliving failure
Try this instead:
Ditch “audit” and do a quick “what worked / what got weird” check-in
Use voice notes or post-task voice memos
Talk it out with someone — even imaginary YouTube subscribers
🎯 The ADHD-Friendly Path to Mastery
Ed breaks down the three stages of mastery:
Awkward – You suck.
Mechanical – You’re learning, but stiff.
Natural – It flows.
But even natural has levels:
The high school prodigy.
The college standout.
The pro.
And then… Steph Curry.
The ADHD truth?
We don’t suck because we’re incapable.
We struggle because the system isn’t built for how we spark.
So we have to build our own systems.
And if you’re looking for ADHD advice for high achievers that doesn’t come with hustle culture burnout baked in?
It starts with this:
One experiment
One rep
One deadline
One win (that you actually celebrate)
That’s how you build momentum.
🧭 What to Try This Week (Tiny Wins Edition)
Shrink the rep → Write for 5 minutes. One push-up. One call.
Add a silly deadline → “Before my coffee gets cold”
Reflect with curiosity → “What felt smooth? What dragged?”
Track it visually → One sticker = one win
Small reps add up. Especially when you repeat them your way.
🧠 TL;DR
You don’t need a morning routine worthy of a Navy SEAL.
You need a repeatable rhythm that respects your weird wiring.
Because ADHD advice for high achievers has to factor in time blindness, novelty cravings, and motivation inconsistency.
You don’t need to be Steph Curry.
You just need to take one shot today — and maybe another tomorrow.
💌 If This Hit Home…
Subscribe to The Dopamine Drop — my free monthly newsletter for ADHD minds who are tired of the hustle-shame spiral and just want momentum without burnout.
👉 You’ll get practical, punchy, ADHD-friendly strategies that don’t assume you’ve already got your shit together.
And if you liked this one, you’ll probably love my last ADHD translation for a Tony Robbins video on success habits.
Same vibes. Less pressure. More hope.