Discovering ADHD After 30 Years: Blake Oliver’s Journey and How It Has Shaped His Career

Picture this: you’re sitting down with your family for a relaxed dinner when, out of nowhere, your mother casually reveals a piece of your history that changes everything—”Oh, by the way, you’ve had ADHD since you were 10.” That’s exactly what happened to Blake Oliver.

After 30 years, the founder of Earmark and a successful CPA discovered that the key to many of his life’s challenges and victories had been hidden in plain sight.

Diagnosed with ADHD as a child but unaware of it until adulthood, Blake’s journey is one of resilience, creativity, and adapting to a neurodivergent way of thinking that has shaped both his personal life and his career in public accounting.

Financial Cents recently spoke with him about how living with ADHD fuels his creativity and ability to see things differently.

Childhood Diagnosis: A Surprising Discovery

Blake’s journey with ADHD began when he was just 10 years old, but he wouldn’t find out about it until over 30 years later. Reflecting on his childhood, Blake recalls,

Blake’s parents were concerned about his struggles and sought help from a child psychologist. Blake didn’t fully understand why he was visiting the psychologist at the time, remembering her as “a nice lady who I talked to for an hour or two.” After some sessions, she diagnosed Blake with ADHD. However, Blake didn’t know it at the time. For years, Blake lived unaware of the diagnosis that could have helped him understand his challenges.

The revelation came much later, during a casual dinner with his parents. Blake had been watching videos on TikTok about ADHD, and the content seemed all too familiar.

“I was saying, you know, I’ve been watching many TikTok videos about ADHD, and this sounds familiar to me,” He says. To his surprise, his mother responded, “Oh, well, yeah, you have ADHD.” Stunned, Blake asked, “What? How is that? What’s going on?” His mother calmly reminded him of the visits to the psychologist when he was younger, explaining that they had chosen not to share the diagnosis with him at the time. “We felt like it was better if we didn’t tell you because, you know, you’d get through it.”

In hindsight, Blake understands his parents’ decision. At the time of his diagnosis—30 years ago—there was less awareness and acceptance of ADHD, especially regarding medication. “My parents were very against medication; there was less acceptance of it, and the medications weren’t that great,” Blake explains. Ritalin was the most well-known option then, but it was not something his parents wanted to pursue. Instead, they chose to manage his ADHD by changing his school environment.

This decision proved pivotal for Blake. After testing, the psychologist recommended that he switch to an educational program, the Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program, where other high-performing students surrounded him. The program’s fast pace helped keep him engaged. “I wasn’t getting any medications for ADHD or anything like that, but I was happy,” He says. The change of environment was enough to stimulate his mind and help him thrive, even without the knowledge of his diagnosis.

Although he didn’t know it then, the systems Blake began building as a child to stay organized and manage his schoolwork—like keeping a planner to write down assignments—were his way of coping with the challenges of ADHD. These early coping mechanisms would play a significant role in his career success later in life.

Managing ADHD as an Adult in Public Accounting

As Blake transitioned into adulthood, his journey with ADHD continued to influence his life, especially as he stepped into the demanding world of accounting. Accounting is a profession that requires intense focus, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple tasks at once—challenges that can be particularly daunting for someone with ADHD. Without realizing it, Blake had already developed systems to help manage these difficulties, which would become essential in his career.

“Even from second grade, I had a planner and would write down every assignment. If I didn’t do that, I’d lose track of it. I’d forget things,” Blake says, reflecting on his early coping mechanisms. Those same techniques became even more critical as he entered the professional world. ADHD made it difficult for him to hold onto tasks in his head, a skill essential for managing client deliverables and deadlines.

When Blake launched his accounting firm, the need for organizational systems became even more urgent. Managing multiple clients and staying on top of deadlines without a solid system was impossible for him.

Blake quickly realized that trying to keep everything in his head was a recipe for disaster, especially with ADHD, where forgetting things is a constant challenge. “Tracking that in your head, it’s impossible,” he admits. To compensate, Blake created an intricate system of checklists, calendar reminders, and workflow documentation to ensure nothing slipped through the cracks. “My system was checklist, calendar reminders, and writing everything down.” He made it a point to document every process he handled, which eventually helped him manage his tasks and delegate work as his practice grew.

This structured approach didn’t just help Blake survive in the accounting world; it helped him thrive. The systems he developed out of necessity became the foundation for scaling his business and ensuring success. “In a way, my disability forced me to create these systems that everyone needs to create if they want to be a business owner and not simply an employee of their firm,” he reflects.

However, Blake also realized that ADHD made certain aspects of traditional accounting environments unbearable. “I struggled to fit into a traditional accounting firm. Commuting to the office and sitting there for eight hours or more daily was hard for me.” The rigidity of a typical 9-to-5 job structure clashed with his need for flexibility. ADHD made it difficult for him to focus on long stretches, often the norm in traditional firms. “I don’t like being in one place. I like to move around,” he says.

This realization pushed him to make changes that would allow him to thrive. Eventually, he started his firm, where he could create an environment that worked with his ADHD rather than against it. His focus on systems and flexibility became the backbone of his career success.

Productivity Techniques: The Pomodoro Method and Hyperfocus

One of the greatest advantages of ADHD, Blake says, is the ability to hyperfocus when the conditions are right. While ADHD often causes difficulty with sustained attention, many individuals with ADHD also experience periods of intense focus. For him, the key was learning how to harness this ability in his daily life.

Blake credits the Pomodoro Technique for helping him structure his workday into manageable, productive chunks. “I would do 25 minutes of studying or working, then take a five to ten-minute break,” Blake says. This approach allowed him to be hyperproductive in short bursts, making his workday not just efficient but also more enjoyable.

This technique also gave Blake the flexibility he needed to maintain a balanced life. Instead of burning out from long hours of less productive work, Blake could finish early, pick up his son from school, and enjoy more free time, all while still excelling professionally.

Embracing Creativity Fuelled by ADHD

One of the most remarkable aspects of Blake Oliver’s experience with ADHD is how it has fueled his creativity, especially in his entrepreneurial ventures and content creation. While ADHD is often associated with difficulty focusing, it also gave Blake the powerful ability to think outside the box, generate new ideas, and embrace innovation—traits that have been invaluable to him.

For Blake, creativity doesn’t follow a traditional path. “Sometimes my best ideas for the show come out when I’m not at my desk but when I’m out for a walk or swimming,” he says. This connection between physical movement and mental clarity is common among individuals with ADHD, who often find their minds sharpen when their bodies are in motion. “It’s really important for me to get those kinds of like mental juices flowing by moving physically,” Blake explains. Whether brainstorming new topics for his weekly podcast or solving business problems, he relies on activities like walking or swimming to stimulate his best ideas.

This need for movement is something Blake has embraced fully, even integrating it into his work life. “When I take phone calls, I’ll go on a walk… especially team phone calls where I don’t have to be on camera,” he says. Far from distracting him, the physical activity helps him focus and engage better with his tasks. His team understands his working style and supports his need for flexibility, a critical element in harnessing his ADHD-driven creativity. “My team understands this. They know I’m focusing when moving,” Blake explains.

Blake’s creativity doesn’t just stop with his work habits; it also extends into how he approaches problem-solving. His ability to think dynamically and outside the box has helped him tackle challenges from unique angles. For example, while many in the accounting industry focus on time-tracking and strict workflows, Blake prefers to focus on results. This mindset shift allowed him to innovate within his practice and create a workplace that rewards creativity and efficiency rather than just the hours logged.

Building Inclusive Workplaces for Neurodivergent Individuals

Through his journey with ADHD, Blake Oliver has become an advocate for creating more inclusive work environments, especially for neurodivergent individuals like himself. His experiences have made him acutely aware of how traditional workplace structures often fail to support those with ADHD and other neurodivergent conditions. Blake believes that rethinking how workplaces operate—particularly in fields like accounting—can unlock the potential of many talented but overlooked individuals.

Blake’s first recommendation for making workplaces more inclusive is to allow flexibility, especially in remote or hybrid work. “You cannot expect somebody with ADD or ADHD to sit in a cube at a desk for 8, 10, 12 hours a day and be happy,” Blake explains. For many neurodivergent individuals, being confined to a rigid office environment can be stifling and counterproductive. Blake struggled immensely with this during his brief stint working at a traditional accounting firm.

Another fundamental shift Blake advocates for is moving away from time-based metrics to measure performance. “For me, the best environment is a results-oriented environment, not an inputs one,” Blake emphasizes. He finds that traditional time-based metrics—like requiring employees to track the number of hours spent on a task—can be demotivating, especially for those with ADHD. Instead, he believes that measuring employees based on their output and the results they achieve is a more effective and inclusive approach.

Conclusion: Turning Challenges into Strengths

Blake Oliver’s journey with ADHD is a powerful example of how what some might see as a weakness can become a strength. By building systems to manage his symptoms, embracing his creativity, and advocating for inclusivity in the workplace, Blake has turned his ADHD into a superpower that drives his success.

Another fundamental shift Blake advocates for is moving away from time-based metrics to measure performance. “For me, the best environment is a results-oriented environment, not an inputs one,” Blake emphasizes. He finds that traditional time-based metrics—like requiring employees to track the number of hours spent on a task—can be demotivating, especially for those with ADHD. Instead, he believes that measuring employees based on their output and the results they achieve is a more effective and inclusive approach.

Conclusion: Turning Challenges into Strengths

Blake Oliver’s journey with ADHD is a powerful example of how what some might see as a weakness can become a strength. By building systems to manage his symptoms, embracing his creativity, and advocating for inclusivity in the workplace, Blake has turned his ADHD into a superpower that drives his success.

For others living with ADHD, Blake’s advice is simple: embrace it. “Design systems for yourself that allow you to get the most out of it while experiencing the fewest disadvantages.” His story reminds us that success doesn’t come from fitting into someone else’s mold—it comes from understanding and harnessing our unique strengths.