Is planning becoming a distraction?

William Cerdelli spent years building productivity systems, tweaking workflows, and optimizing how he worked, only to realize that sometimes the excitement of building the system was greater than actually doing the work. In this episode, we explore ADHD self-awareness, productivity traps, hyperfocus, energy management, startup building, and the lessons William learned while creating Stu, a physical AI desk companion designed to help people with executive dysfunction stay on track.

William Cerdelli is the co-founder of Hey Stu, an AI-powered desk companion designed to help people with ADHD manage executive dysfunction, focus, and productivity. Originally from Italy, William transitioned from a career in data science to full-time startup building after seeing strong demand for Stu, which sold out its first production run and quickly attracted hundreds of pre-orders.

Episode Highlights

00:09:07 — When planning becomes more exciting than doing
William describes a pattern many ADHD people recognize: spending hours designing productivity systems instead of completing the actual work. Learning to recognize when optimization becomes avoidance helped him become more intentional with his time.

00:10:00 — Managing the hyperfocus and burnout cycle
Some days William feels capable of working 15 hours straight, but that intensity often comes with a cost the following day. Developing awareness around energy management became just as important as managing tasks.

00:11:30 — Why ADHD thinking can be a founder advantage
William explains how rapid context-switching, non-linear thinking, and years of exploring random hobbies became valuable strengths when building a startup. The same traits that can look like distraction often create unexpected connections and creative solutions.

00:14:30 — Building Stu to reduce executive dysfunction
After speaking with members of the ADHD community, William saw an opportunity to create something different from traditional productivity apps. Stu was designed as a physical desk companion that helps users organize tasks, capture thoughts, and stay focused without adding more screen time.

00:18:00 — Selling 100 prototypes before they existed
What started as a simple experiment quickly turned into a real business. William shares the chaotic story of manually producing and delivering the first 100 Stu devices using 3D printers and a small team working around the clock.

00:32:00 — The productivity skill most people overlook
Instead of filling every spare moment with more inputs, William argues that doing nothing can be surprisingly valuable. Taking walks, staring at the water, and allowing the brain to rest became an important part of maintaining focus and creativity.

Connect with William:
Website: https://www.heystu.io/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-cerdelli/

Connect with Jeremy:

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/nageljeremy

Email: jeremy@focusbear.io

More from Focus Bear:

Website: https://focusbear.io

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/focus-bear/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@focusbearapp

Twitter: https://twitter.com/focusbear1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/focus_bear/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/focusbearapp/

Podcast: https://podcast.focusbear.io

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@focusbear

Ever realize your ‘normal’ isn’t everyone else’s normal?

After being diagnosed with ADHD in college, Pip Scott-Allen later discovered he was autistic too. Looking back, a lot of the things he thought were “just quirks” suddenly started making sense, from only drinking out of red cups to avoiding certain clothing textures and carefully balancing food while eating. In this episode, Pip shares what it’s like unpacking a late autism diagnosis after years of masking through leadership and team-building work, and how understanding his sensory needs and communication style has changed the way he approaches work, relationships, and self-acceptance.

Guest Bio

Pip Scott-Allen is a leadership facilitator, speaker, and founder of Premier Team Building Australia. With a background in outdoor education, tourism, and leadership development, Pip helps organizations improve communication, culture, and collaboration through hands-on workshops and team experiences.

Episode Highlights

00:04:08 — Realizing his “quirks” were sensory needs
Pip shares the everyday habits his wife noticed long before his autism diagnosis, from refusing to wear full-length pants to carefully balancing food while eating. What he assumed was just personality or preference turned out to be sensory and autistic traits.

00:06:30 — The red cup rule and other “normal” behaviors
For years, Pip would only drink from red cups and use certain cutlery because other options felt wrong in his hands. The conversation explores how many autistic people assume their internal rules are universal until someone points out otherwise.

00:09:20 — Understanding why masking became exhausting
Before diagnosis, Pip assumed constant exhaustion was just part of life. Looking back, he realized how much energy went into forcing himself through uncomfortable sensory and social situations every day.

00:17:11 — Becoming more honest about sensory triggers
After his diagnosis, Pip stopped forcing himself to tolerate foods and situations that made him deeply uncomfortable. Being more open about textures, safe foods, and sensory needs gave him more energy and reduced self-judgment.

00:27:00 — Why autistic communication is often misunderstood
Pip explains how many neurodivergent people communicate through direct curiosity, while neurotypical people often interpret hidden meanings or emotional undertones. A simple question like “Why are you tying your shoes like that?” can unintentionally sound critical even when it’s genuine curiosity.

00:34:08 — Advice for leaders supporting neurodivergent teams
Pip encourages leaders to listen carefully to what people actually say rather than assuming intent. He also explains why flexibility, clear communication, and understanding sensory needs help neurodivergent employees perform at their best.

Connect with Pip:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pip-scott-allen-facilitator-of-awesome-8458a069/

Email: pip@premierteambuilding.com.au

Website: https://premierteambuilding.com.au/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PremierTeamBuildingAus/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/premier_team_building/

Connect with Jeremy:

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/nageljeremy

Email: jeremy@focusbear.io

More from Focus Bear:

Website: https://focusbear.io

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/focus-bear/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@focusbearapp

Twitter: https://twitter.com/focusbear1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/focus_bear/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/focusbearapp/

Podcast: https://podcast.focusbear.io

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@focusbear

“It’s like being a car on a side street trying to enter a highway… and you just can’t get in.”

Elaine Lee shares what it’s like struggling to enter conversations, missing social cues, and feeling out of sync in both work and relationships. After being diagnosed with ADHD, autism, and dyslexia later in life, she began to understand why communication had always felt so difficult.
In this episode, we explore misreading emotions, defaulting to problem-solving instead of connection, and how misunderstanding intent can damage relationships. Elaine also shares how she’s building Evro, a tool designed to help people better understand communication patterns.
If you’ve ever felt like you couldn’t “read the room” or struggled to jump into conversations, this episode will feel very familiar.

Elaine Lee is a product strategist and CEO of Evro, a communication-focused AI tool designed to help people better understand conversations and social dynamics. She has over 15 years of experience across fintech, health tech, and AI platforms.

Episode Highlights

00:05:00 — Struggling to read social cues at work
Elaine explains how not being able to detect boredom, disengagement, or passive-aggressive behavior made navigating meetings difficult. This impacted her effectiveness as a leader and made sensitive situations harder to manage.

00:06:30 — Why joining conversations feels impossible
She describes group conversations as trying to merge onto a busy highway without a gap. By the time she finds space to speak, the topic has already moved on, leading to frustration in both social and professional settings.

00:08:30 — Missing emotional cues in real time
In a tense meeting, a colleague became visibly upset and raised their voice, but Elaine didn’t recognize it in the moment. She continued trying to solve the problem logically, only realizing later what had happened.

00:13:00 — Reframing relationships after diagnosis
After her diagnosis, Elaine began to understand that communication struggles weren’t due to lack of care or effort. This helped her and her partner meet in the middle and reduce long-standing misunderstandings.

00:15:30 — Reinterpreting her childhood with compassion
Looking back at her mother’s behavior through an autism lens shifted her perspective. What once felt like absence or lack of love became something she could understand with more empathy.

00:22:00 — Building Evro to bridge communication gaps
Elaine explains how Evro analyzes conversations to highlight patterns people might miss. The goal is to reduce misinterpretation and help people communicate more effectively across different styles.

Connect with Elaine:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elaine-lee-a0716918/
Website: https://www.evro.ai/

Connect with Jeremy:
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/nageljeremy
Email: jeremy@focusbear.io

More from Focus Bear:
Website: https://focusbear.io
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/focus-bear/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@focusbearapp
Twitter: https://twitter.com/focusbear1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/focus_bear/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/focusbearapp/
Podcast: https://podcast.focusbear.io