Inside the episode
A series of charming apologies
A business partner once told Daniel Chaput de Saintonge that his life was made up of a series of charming apologies. Daniel laughed, because it was true.
He started Knock Knock Studios at 33, after lots of stop-starts, including a stint as a chauffeur and a year working on Silent Witness. Fifteen years on, it is still going strong.
The radio show that explained it all
At 32, Daniel heard Rory Bremner talk about ADHD on the radio and thought, that's me. The diagnosis explained a lot about his life so far.
But it was not a magic fix. Even once you understand your brain, there is still a long slog. You still get stuck. The difference is you have better tools.
Why so many founders think differently
Daniel and Claire both believe many founders have brains that work a little differently. Not fitting into a normal job often pushes people into running their own business.
If you love change, build it into your work. Daniel found advertising's fast turnaround suited him, and now his studio keeps every week different.
A tool, not an excuse
There is a fine line between understanding yourself and using a label as a reason to stop trying. Daniel keeps his diagnosis firmly in the tool box.
His biggest lesson? He wishes he had asked for help sooner. His life changed when he let people in, shared more and listened more.
