To Explain Myself (a bit)

By Patrick Driessen

“I’m not crazy, I’m an airplane!” - Unknown

Not to defend myself, but to explain myself so more people will get a better understanding of who I am, I’d like to share the following with you. Why? Because quite often people misunderstand or misjudge me based on what they see or hear about my behaviour and character.

I always like to make the impossible possible and go the extra mile in everything I do. I like to do things smarter, faster and better. I can not just do one or two things at the same time; I need to have at least 5-10 projects/activities on my mind, otherwise I get dissatisfied with myself.

But if I’m doing 5 to 10 different things at the same time, other people around me will often try to force me to focus on just one thing; because they think ‘otherwise nothing can be accomplished’. If I'm working hard and am having big fun 20 hours a day, they often try to slow me down; because otherwise 'it is not normal and very unhealthy'. If I'm actively dancing like I'm in heaven, a lot of people think: 'he must have taken XTC....'. The truth is: I don't do drugs;, I can do with little sleep and I can multi-focus; the enormous level of energy and drive I have enable me to do so.

Please let me explain some things in more detail, because there are many other people like me, who often need to defend themselves if they act hyper-active without using drugs. We are not perse ADHD and if we are, it does not have to mean anything negative. I personally see it as something very positive! It's a gift!

These are some of the characteristics most of my friends, team members and family members will recognise and are now a bit used to:

• Cannot sit still
• Hyper-active
  
• Tends to get a nervous and unsatisfied feeling if not enough actions have been taken in a day
• Always positive and opportunistic
• Loves leading people
  
• Genuinely interested to understand and help other people
• Can do with 3 – 5 healthy hours of sleep
• Rapid fire mind
• Eager to learn & explore beyond boundaries
  
• Dyslectic
• Highly creative
• Ability to hyper-focus
• Dreaming day & night
  
• Brain constantly produces new ideas
• Good at brainstorming
• Thrives on innovation
  
• Intuitive
• Visionary
• Great in a crisis (since it is often a very familiar environment)
• Addicted to multi-tasking
• Able to see and quickly take advantage of business opportunities.

So what’s causing all of this? Well something natural inside my brain and inside my body. It’s a gift; it makes me rich as it allows me to use my energy and skills to help other people and to make lots of things happen! It’s not the use of drugs or drinking Red Bull! It’s me, myself and I!

What’s the affect of my behaviour on other people? Some people get very nervous; some get suspicious and fortunately most enjoy the fruitful benefits of it!

What drives me and gives me lots of energy? The love and affection of other people, inventing new things, helping other people succeed, leading people, teaching people, mentoring people, making things happen, and organising many things for other people.

So if you see me or someone like me in action and think ‘that person is not normal’ or ‘he/she must be on drugs’, then please try to see the positive side and enjoy their energy and out of the box thinking!

"Don't stop me now, I'm having such a good time!" - Freddie Mercury (Queen)

Make this a Happy & Fruitful day......unless you’ve made other plans!

Thanks, warm regards & success,



Patrick


PS: For a view on how team members, clients and business partners perceive working together with me, please check the endorsements on my LinkedIn profile.