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Guess what time it is.

2:43 am.

Not 2:40.

Not 2:45.

Exactly 2:43 am.

And my ADHD brain has officially clocked in for its shift.

Because apparently the brain that refuses to function at 3:00 pm during a normal meeting suddenly becomes a Fortune 500 strategy consultant at 2:43 in the morning.

I woke up for absolutely no reason.

None.

No thunder.

No noise.

No dog barking.

Just my brain saying, “Oh good, you’re awake. We have a LOT to discuss.”

First thought:

Did I answer that email?

Second thought:

What email?

Third thought:

Oh right…the one from three days ago that I think I answered but now I’m not sure.

Fourth thought:

What if I accidentally replied all.

Now we’re fully awake.

Then the brain shifts gears.

What if Persevere started a women’s leadership network?

What would we call it?

Women Who Persevere?

Coffee & Chaos?

Should it be a membership?

Should I start it at a beach coffee shop?

Wait…I don’t know anyone in Pensacola.

Okay that’s fine.

We’ll just recruit strangers.

Then suddenly the brain goes:

Did I pay that bill?

Which bill?

I don’t know.

But there’s probably one.

Better check.

But wait.

If I grab my phone I’ll wake up too much.

So I just lay there…thinking about bills I can’t even remember.

Then the brain really gets going.

What if…

What if…

What if…

At this point my brain has built three companies, written two grants, reorganized the Department of Corrections workforce strategy in five states, and solved unemployment.

What if Banyan Labs did a startup accelerator?

It is now 2:51 am.

Then comes the random thought phase.

Why does dog hair stick to couches?

Why is the English language ridiculous?

Bare.

Bear.

Care.

Chair.

Who invented this.

Then suddenly…

Wait.

What if I start exercising.

That thought lasted about six seconds.

My brain immediately moved on.

Now it’s 2:58 am and my brain decides to replay every awkward moment from the past 20 years.

That one thing I said in a meeting in 2020.

Why did I say that.

Why did I say it like that.

Why did I exist that day.

Fantastic.

Now I’m exhausted…and still awake.

And here’s the most impressive part.

My brain will do this until about 3:30 am.

Then at exactly 7:00 am when the alarm goes off…

My brain will say:

“Absolutely not.”

And that is the daily business model of ADHD.

Completely useless from 9 to 5.

But fully operational at 2:43 am.

Seriously.