In this episode of Cultivate CNY, host Alex Canavan sits down with Dr. John Torrens, award-winning professor at Syracuse University's Whitman School of Management, three-time Inc. 5000 entrepreneur, and co-founder of Sprout Therapy Group.
John shares his journey from speech-language pathologist to scaling a company to hundreds of employees, getting diagnosed with ADHD in his 40s, and transforming it into a competitive advantage. He discusses why medication didn't work for him and how he manages ADHD through sleep optimization, movement, and HeartMath coherence techniques instead.
The conversation explores being "comfortable in chaos," why ADHD entrepreneurs gravitate toward self-employment, and why prioritizing mental, physical, and spiritual health builds better businesses. John opens up about his morning routines, 30+ year journaling practice, and how gratitude drives better decision-making.
💡 A conversation about turning your wiring into your superpower—and building a life worth living while you build your business.
💬 Topics we cover:
- Why ADHD traits drive entrepreneurial success
- Managing ADHD without medication through sleep, diet, and movement
- Leading without creating chaos (goodbye, shiny object syndrome)
- HeartMath and heart rate variability for peak performance
- Building peer relationships as a founder
- Journaling, gratitude, and annual intentions
- Why "this too will pass" applies to struggles and success
Connect with John
Check out The Total Entrepreneur
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