The Road Less Traveled

My name is Michael Peres. I am a serial-entrepreneur who has founded and currently manages more than 5 start-ups. Yet, while most people find themselves constantly pressed for time and energy with just one job, I travel often; I work when I want, how I want; I find time to exercise; I give back to the community; I even, sometimes, work for free; and I do all of this with, and because of, ADHD.

However, this book is not a success story. Nor is it a book about ADHD, or even disability. This is the story of how I gained confidence and learned how to overcome the limitations that were imposed on me. I was able to do this by operating off the well-worn path. I rejected classroom learning—showing up in class only for the final exams. I learned early on to take care of myself—while other teenagers went out shopping at the mall with their parents’ money, I didn’t accept a single dollar from my parents past the age of 16. Instead, I operated a computer repair shop out of my house. Later, the prospect of working a 9-5 job in a cubicle just wasn’t an option for me. I credit my ADHD, and the challenges that resulted from this disability, with teaching me that in order to survive in this world, I had to engineer an innovative lifestyle for myself.

I am sharing my story with you now because I believe that you, too, can break free of your constraints and even learn to use them to your advantage. If you are unhappy with the hand life has dealt you, let this short book be the foundation that gets you into the right state of mind and back in control of your own personal, professional, and financial success.

In the following chapters, I present small glimpses into my life, along with key takeaways I learned at each stage.