Welcome back to ADHD-ish! In this episode, my guest Ian Wilson, a creative agency owner of over 16 years, is what I call a natural-born entrepreneur.

From hustling for his first job at age eleven to building a unique partnership with his neurodivergent business partner Eric, Ian sheds light on why traditional approaches to team building rarely work for people whose brains are wired a bit differently.

We’ll hear how Ian and Eric’s complementary neurotypes—ADHD and autism - have enabled them to build a successful agency grounded in autonomy, mastery, and ownership.

Ian shares lessons learned on building a team of “hurricane chasers,” hiring for attitude over experience, and why the bold move of unapologetically charging what you’re worth doesn’t just benefit the business—it creates a thriving company culture.

Whether you’re a founder who is churning and burning team members or a solopreneur anticipating that first hire, this episode is packed with practical advice, refreshing honesty, and plenty of laughs about what happens when you fully embrace the ADHD-ish way of doing business.

Three key takeaways:

Self-awareness and self-acceptance matter more than “best practices.” Knowing what you’re brilliant at—and what you hate—makes it so much easier to build a business (and find team members) that complement your strengths and support your growth.
Hire for traits, not just skills. Ian’s team isn’t made up of “perfect resumes” but of entrepreneurial thinkers who enjoy solving problems and don’t need to be micromanaged. Find the ones who vibe with your approach and love challenging themselves to figure things out.
Be bold about your value. Ian & Eric tell prospects: “We’re probably the most expensive quote you’ll get—and here’s why.” Setting unapologetic boundaries not only draws the right clients but also creates a culture of excellence and transparency.

Mic Drop Moment:

Ian & Eric deliberately hire people who crave these three things, no matter their resume. Their neurodivergent advantage? Investing in traits, not credentials.

Autonomy: Freedom to do things your way.
Mastery: The drive to get better and own your craft.
Ownership: Feeling like your contributions actually matter.

About today’s guest, Ian Wilson:

Ian is the Co-Founder and Creative Director of buildcreate, a full-service B2B marketing agency for manufacturing, technology, engineering, and industrial clients in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Home-schooled and entrepreneurial from childhood, Ian discovered his ADHD as an adult. He and his business partner, Eric Lynch, who is autistic, have discovered that their secret sauce as neurodivergent leaders is to hire smart people and let them work to their strengths.

Connect with Ian:

LinkedIn- Company Website - Email

Your ADHD-ish host, Diann Wingert

Diann Wingert brings decades of experience as a psychotherapist and serial business owner and is now a sought-after coach to entrepreneurs with ADHD traits.

Diann is a fierce advocate for self-acceptance and meaningful growth at the intersection of neurodivergence and entrepreneurship. She is the creator of the ADHD-ish Method and host of the top-rated ADHD-ish podcast.

Mentioned during this episode:

Ep # 303: Which Company Culture is Your ADHD Brain Building?

Links:

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