Creative Paths and Non-Linear Thinking
Brandon Myles, a 49-year-old film director and creative agency owner based in Singapore, was diagnosed with ADHD in 2024. Though childhood and academic years were filled with challenges, he discovered his strengths in imagination, storytelling, and curiosity. Today, Brandon embraces ADHD as part of his creative identity, drawing from his lived experience to inspire his daughter, who also has ADHD, and to encourage others to see their differences as gifts.
Quotes
“I try to approach each day with compassion, balancing two sides of me: the part that wants to accomplish tasks and the part that craves adventure. If life is only about productivity, it feels stifling. So, I make room for fun and play, blending in productivity in ways that feel fulfilling.”
“There is power in carving out a space where your creative voice can thrive, connect deeply with others, and show that being wired differently can be a strength, not a weakness.”
Early Challenges
I’m 49 now, originally from the United States, and I’ve lived in Singapore for the past 17 years. In March 2024, I was officially diagnosed with ADHD at a counselling centre.
Before the diagnosis, my life felt chaotic. Over the past few years, it seemed like my ADHD had intensified, though I’d faced challenges with it since childhood. Growing up, my mother struggled to understand why I couldn’t focus in class. With little awareness of ADHD at the time, I constantly got poor grades. I simply didn’t have the executive functioning skills that might have helped me succeed in school—and those difficulties carried into university.
Back then, ADHD wasn’t something teachers or parents recognised, so I just assumed I was lazy or incapable. It was frustrating because I knew I was curious and imaginative, but those strengths didn’t translate into academic success. That sense of not fitting in was something I carried into adulthood.
Discovering ADHD
Over time, I suspected I might have ADHD because so many things I read about it resonated with me. Receiving an official diagnosis was enlightening. I finally had a language to understand myself better. It also made me more patient—not only with myself but with my daughter, who also has ADHD.
This awareness has helped me embrace ADHD’s gifts: imagination, emotional depth, storytelling, and hyperfocus. These traits are crucial to my work as a creator, allowing me to explore ideas in ways that might not come naturally to others.
Creativity and Curiosity
I’ve always been curious, adventurous, and fascinated by different cultures. That curiosity pushed me to leave the USA more than 20 years ago. Moving abroad gave me perspective, variety, and inspiration, all of which fuel my work in film and storytelling.
My ADHD strengths—imagination, play, collaboration, and non-linear thinking—shape everything I do as a filmmaker and agency owner. Where others see obstacles, I often see connections. My mind thrives on variety and experimentation. It might look messy to outsiders, but it’s how new ideas and stories take shape.
Filmmaking fits me because it requires juggling many moving pieces—visuals, sounds, emotions, timing—and weaving them into a narrative. My hyperfocus allows me to immerse myself completely in a project, while my curiosity keeps me experimenting with new techniques and styles.
Strategies for Balance
Managing ADHD is an ongoing dialogue with myself. I try to approach each day with compassion, balancing two sides of me: the part that wants to accomplish tasks and the part that craves adventure. If life is only about productivity, it feels stifling. So, I make room for fun and play, blending in productivity in ways that feel fulfilling.
When I fall into project management roles, I find it draining because that doesn’t come naturally to me. Instead, I work best when I embrace my artistic identity and create spaces where imagination and storytelling take centre stage. That’s when I feel most alive and aligned.
Lessons Learned
If I could advise my younger self, I’d say: embrace self-acceptance earlier. Pursue a career that truly fits who you are instead of chasing external expectations. Many people take a linear path through life, but my strengths lie in non-linear thinking, curiosity, and play. Those qualities are not flaws—they’re essential to who I am.
ADHD is a gift, a unique part of who you are. You aren’t meant to be like everyone else—you’re built differently, with purpose. Embrace that difference to create things that resonate with others, especially within the ADHD community. There is power in carving out a space where your creative voice can thrive, connect deeply with others, and show that being wired differently can be a strength, not a weakness.
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