When Your Story Doesn’t Add Up (yet)
Ever stare at your resume and think, “What is this?”
Not with shame—just honest confusion. Like looking at a playlist made by three different people. Only… they’re all you.
Welcome to nonlinear careers. Especially common for ADHD brains. Especially hard to explain when the world still rewards neat little narratives.
Let’s fix that.
The myth of the logical path
We’re sold this idea:
— Pick a path.
— Must stick with it.
— Progress in straight lines.
— Retire with a pension and a smile.
But what if your brain doesn’t do straight lines?
ADHD careers often run on curiosity, urgency, burnout, reinvention, and sudden inspiration.
Not 10-year plans.
So we jump. We pivot.
We deep-dive. We start over.
Then judge ourselves for not looking “cohesive.”
But here’s the truth:
— You’re not off-track. You’re multi-tracked.
That doesn’t make your story less valid.
It makes it richer.
Why telling your story feels so hard
If you’ve ever opened a blank document to write a bio, pitch, or summary—and your brain instantly bailed? You’re far from broken.
What’s happening is this:
— Your career doesn’t fit the script.
So when you try to explain it, your mind overloads.
Too many roles. Too many threads.
Too many “and then I...” moments.
— Do I own the job gap—or skip it?
— Do I mention the short contract I left?
— Do I explain the pivot—Edu to GTM to Ops?
It’s like trying to edit a movie before you know what genre it is.
But here’s the shift:
You don’t need to justify every twist.
You just need to show the throughline.
The thread is your superpower
Your story isn’t about every job you’ve ever had.
It’s about what connected them.
How to uncover your throughline
Start with these prompts:
1) What kept showing up?
Not the job title—the function.
Solving chaos? Supporting people? Building systems?
2) Why did you leave—and what did you learn?
There’s wisdom in your exits.
3) What lit you up—even briefly?
Don’t dismiss the parts that felt small.
That’s usually where the spark is hiding.
4) What kind of work do you want to be known for now?
Let that be the anchor that connects the rest.
You’re not a puzzle to solve. You’re a story unfolding.
The goal isn’t to make your path look perfect.
It’s to make it feel true.
The twist?
Your “messy” path might be your best asset.
The job market doesn’t need more perfect applicants.
— It needs adaptable ones.
— Curious ones.
— Real ones.
❓ What if your pivot wasn’t a detour—but a data point?
❓ What if your gap wasn’t a red flag—but a recalibration?
You don’t need to sound like everyone else to get hired.
You need to sound like yourself—on purpose.
What story have you been skipping?
