Episode 51: Giles Dickenson-Jones

Welcome to episode #51 We’re thrilled to be joined by Giles Dickenson-Jones today. Giles is an independent consultant specializing in public policy (economics), international development, and data science. Giles was diagnosed with ADHD in his early teens and was shuttled off to one of the few schools he hadn't already been kicked out of: a boarding school in rural NSW. Giles leverages his ADHD by combining his interdisciplinary range, creativity, and expertise in data analytics to help clients tackle tough public policy problems.Welcome to the show Giles!QuestionsCan you tell us about your experience with neurodiversity? When did you realize that you weren’t neurotypical? What challenges did you face? What is it like now?Grew up in rural NSWDiagnosed with ADHD amidst being shuffled across schools.Initially confusedInitially thought it meant he wasn’t getting enough attention.Coping strategies didn’t stickInterpreted it as lacking in something as an explanation of why he was different.How he sees it now:Knows he was differentWas working ahead to fit inStrong sense of justice, hyperfocused on thatActing outGetting approval from othersSo eager to fit inSomehow not be theCool kidDorky kidAlmost got into a Montessori-style schoolBut mother wanted tougher disciplineHow neuro divergence led to the current line of workAnalytical framework hooked himEconomics sticks its nose into everythingRange, EpsteinHow has your neurodivergence affected your financial life?Special interest in finance including personal finances - complicated Excel model + savings modelHow has it affected your relationships?Enjoys socialising but won’t organise itWork often gets in the way.Blind to the need of tending to relationships.Interested in peopleLikes the diversity and variety of Lunchclub What "work" projects are you concentrating on?Independent economic consultantProgram evaluation of social policies, e.g. how to help more students graduateHow can we make the policy stronger (without incurring additional costs)?Board member of local NFPPolicy Analysis Lab Online course teaching policy analysts how to use data scienceHow to work with messy dataHow to clean it upHow about the rest of the time? What do you enjoy doing in your off time?Quit drinking in 2015Found it difficult to continueReplaced it with art classesCOMMERCIAL BREAKWhat does your morning routine look like and how has it evolved over time?Set up day similar to 9 to 5 jobGet up at 6 amGo to the gym (do boxing)Review to-do listWhat do you do to optimize productivity during your working hours?Normally external deadlines push him to hyperfocusSofter deadlines are harder (e.g. finishing the online course)Go to the library for focusTurn on hyperfocusKeep desk distraction-freeSimple structures/routinesMomentum method - get started with easy tasksMake tasks really small (break down responding to an email into - read email, write email, hit send).Reduce friction for good habitsHiring freelancers - keeps him accountableSimilar to body doubling.What is one habit you'd like to remove from your life (either a bad habit or one that takes up too much time)?Watching videos while having meals (lowers boredom threshold)How do you switch off at night?In theoryGet to sleep by ten.Loose during the holidaysPracticallyKeeps the 6 AM boxing classFunFitnessDiscipline, consequences for staying up lateWhat resources (books, philosophies, apps, sensory toys) do you find most helpful for dealing with your brain?Apps:OneNote for organizing notesExcel for To Do listsChat GPTFocus Coach: ADHD Coach GPTAskly Pocket for reading later (on Kobo)Read aloud (proofreading own work, reading websites)EtsyBooks:“Deep Work” Cal NewportRange by David Epstein“How to have a good day”Where can people connect with you or find your work?Etsy store - Turkey cardsLinkedInWebsite - gilesdj.com?Do you have any final words or asks for our audience?The emperor has no clothes: the person you are putting on the pedestal has foibles and got where they are through a combination of hard work and good luck. You can get there too.Joey’s creativity course