Today we’d like to introduce you to Andy Sims.
Hi Andy, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
“Suddenly my life made sense”, is something you hear all the time from adults with a late ADHD diagnosis, and it was true for me as well.
It was around sixth grade that things just started to get harder for me. It was my first year in middle school, and suddenly, keeping track of all my different classes, dealing with new social challenges, and feeling lost or unable to focus at times, slowly brought a new existence. This followed me into High School, where I was the captain of the football team, one of the stars of the musicals, had a part-time job, held positions in student government, and was friends with everyone. However, I could barely pay attention in classes, and suddenly, my previously cruising to A’s and B’s with little effort, led to me struggling to get C’s and B’s, and being placed in a remedial science class. Math wasn’t clicking anymore, and even with some good teachers, I just couldn’t focus long enough or find the motivation to work through assignments that I previously enjoyed.
Hearing people say, “You need to work harder”, or “Why aren’t you doing the work, you’re smart enough”, led to a deep wound in the way of a poor self-image. Why couldn’t I do the work? What was wrong with me?
I remember having a math tutor come to my house to help me better understand algebra, and although my homework would get done, I never understood it with any depth.
I barely graduated high school, and although I was chosen to speak at Graduation because I had written a fun speech, I thought I only had two options in life, play football or be an actor. I didn’t have the grades to go to a four-year university like my older brother, who easily glided through school. I went to Butte Community College in Chico because they had a big-time football program. Chico also happened to be one of the best party schools in the country.
I loved football, but I also was not so in love that I couldn’t live without it. And after 2-3 weeks of getting pushed around by teammates who would go on to some of the top college football programs in the country, I decided I’d rather just focus on school, or maybe just the fun.
After a year and a half of doing very little school work or finding the motivation to attend classes, I decided I needed to “get my crap together”. So I signed up to join the Marine Corps to find discipline. In the Marines, I won awards for leadership, finished second in my class during the six months at the Diesel mechanics school at Camp Johnson in North Carolina, even though I had no desire to be a mechanic.
After I did my 10 months of training in the Marines, I came home and went back to school. Sadly, it was back to the same story, motivation would be great for the first couple of months, but by the end of the semester, I would be scrambling to salvage grades in at least some of my classes. Knowing football was not the path, acting became the forefront of my journey. I was lucky enough to get the chance to star as one of the leads in San Jose State University’s first-ever feature film. With truckloads of external encouragement, I decided to leave school a bit early and head to LA to fulfill my destiny of becoming the next Chris Farley or Will Ferrell. Saturday Night Live was always the dream, and after performing to sold-out crowds in a sketch comedy show at the HBO Comedy Festival in Aspen, Colorado, it felt close. And then it wasn’t.
Someone in our leadership said no to the four networks vying to turn our stage show into a television show. Even though my first commercial of many was airing, a Coors Light commercial in 2003, which played in the Super Bowl, I was emotionally done with an industry that allowed me little control over my path. I did come back to the industry over a decade later in 2016 during a three-year stint of living in Portland, Oregon. I felt like the dream was coming true. I was booking jobs on a regular basis. My time in Portland was highlighted by a very small but fun role on the Netflix series, ‘Everything Sucks’. I played the high school basketball coach, and although we only had one season, it felt great to be part of an amazing cast.
After moving back to Los Angeles to continue my acting, I signed with a big agency, and it seemed the universe was opening every door I encountered. And then it was crickets. Not many auditions, some callbacks, but over a year, I hadn’t booked a single acting job. In a therapy session, I described how acting was fun, but the process was painful and didn’t fill my bucket. In fact, every time I received an audition notice, the anxiety rush and questioning of my path were often overwhelming. My brilliant therapist asked me what may have been the most important question of my life, “Who are you trying to please?” Two days later, I auditioned for a commercial where a man was Googling, “How do I go about a career change?” The universe had spoken, and I was listening.
A week later, in January of 2020, a friend of mine was sharing the details of his daughter’s struggles in first grade. The kinds of things he shared sounded normal to me for a 6-year-old kid. Then he said, “No, not the things I just mentioned, those aren’t typical of that age, and they think it’s ADHD.”
An hour later, as I finished my third online ADHD screener test, I remember trying not to cry too hard as I was lying next to my 4-year-old son, who was napping. I didn’t want to wake him up, but his dad’s life had just changed. “Suddenly my life made sense.”
By the time of my ADHD Diagnosis, I had worked at over 30 plus jobs in my life. 9 different restaurants, 3 hotels, TV producer, actor, high school football coach, special education paraprofessional, warehouse worker, travel agent, at Apple Inc., and had been a stay-at-home dad for 6 years.
Looking back all those decades ago in high school, having worked hard to be the captain of the football team, a lead in the musicals, working a job, holding student government positions, and literally winning the Mr. Hustle Award, I wasn’t lazy. The guy doing all of that didn’t need to work harder. No one was there to help him understand that he didn’t fit into a template like a lot of his peers. He needed to understand that his brain is driven by interest and purpose. And although he may never understand or be able to retain math concepts past beginning algebra, his unique gifts allow him to be a thoughtful leader, incredibly creative actor, wonderful father, compassionate and effective ADHD coach and mentor, and a constant cheerleader for the underdog.
Since my diagnosis, I have made it my mission to help those like myself. Whether they’re in school or adults at any age, they don’t need to fall victim to society’s harmful blueprint. Instead, I have found that a life focused on positive gifts and strengths allows those of us with ADHD to more peacefully navigate a world not built for us.
After my diagnosis, I went back to finish my Bachelor’s in Film, completed a Master’s in Special Education from Cal Poly SLO, taught in the classroom for a few years, completed an Accredited ADHD Coaching program, and have become an ICF Certified ADHD and Life Coach. With all the training and education I’ve packed in over these last 6 years, it is still my lived experience that is my greatest tool.
Two years ago, I opened the doors to my own ADHD Support Practice, ADHD Allies. I have supported well over 100 clients from ages 6 up to 81. Like me, my college student clients often struggle to find meaning in the general education courses that are of little interest or to stay on track with schoolwork.
Because of my diagnosis and sharing my story, at least 15 friends and family members have been diagnosed and are now living a more aware and confident lifestyle.
ADHD Awareness is still in its infancy, and it’s a big part of my mission to spread awareness however I can. I have given presentations to Cal Poly Faculty, mental health organizations, and youth sports organizations. The best part is, I get to work with the most amazing souls every day. I truly love and enjoy my brothers and sisters with ADHD.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Starting a business with no experience has been a steep learning curve. It’s much like being a cook, but with no recipe and learning how to orchestrate the timing of each ingredient. Marketing my services has been the biggest challenge as I’ve worked to constantly revise and simplify my message.
If I didn’t understand that question correctly, below are some general ADHD challenges.
-Feeling less than because I wasn’t understanding things academically.
-Not understanding why I couldn’t do some simple things, but happily take on more complex tasks.
-Battled an eating disorder my whole life (300x times more likely for those with ADHD)
-Battle Anxiety & Depression, the two most common co-existing conditions with ADHD
-Being a deeply feeling soul, like most with ADHD, the emotional roller coaster can be hard
-Financial loss of constantly moving from one career to another
-In my 40-plus jobs, I was never fired from a single job. Never asked to leave and in a lot of cases, they tried to inspire me to stay.
-The shame of showing up late, constantly being under-prepared,
-Feeling shame when comparing myself to my own brother or other family members or friends.
And more
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I work with people who want to start a new chapter with their ADHD. Whether that’s a college student navigating independence away from the structure of home or an adult with a new diagnoses who needs to rebuild how they work with their brain, not against it.
We often feel lost or ashamed as we struggle to adapt to environments that are not built for us. Those with ADHD are continually given the message they’re less than by others, societal expectations, & our own inner dialogue. We help to facilitate the understanding of one’s very personal & unique ADHD makeup & the impacts of their environments & relationships.
-Presentations Provided
Disability Commencement Speaker | Cal Poly Faculty | Transitions Mental Health Staff | YMCA Youth Sports Coaches |
-Individual & Group Coaching
Support the healing & empowerment of individuals with ADHD.
-Support Groups & Workshops
Cultivate a larger community of Allies through education, acceptance, and solidarity.
What sets you apart from others?
My lived experience, education and training are unique in that I’ve walked so many different paths, and have then become highly educated in the area of ADHD, as well as supporting those with disabilities in general.
What are you most proud of, brand-wise?
I am proud that I have become a beacon of positivity and compassion for those in the ADHD community. For the 2025 San Luis Obispo Christmas Parade, I created a float that had wrapped presents representing the “Gifts of ADHD”. Some of those gifts included;
Creativity and Innovation
Sense of Humor
Intuition
Entrepreneurial Spirit
Adaptability
Problem-Solving
Incredible Empathy
Risk-Taking
Curiosity and Passion for Learning
What do you want our readers to know about your brand, offerings, services, etc?
My support is focused on individualized support. Those of us with ADHD all have our own unique makeup or version of ADHD and potential co-existing conditions. I am constantly working to stay up on the most current research and data concerning ADHD. Our challenges and successes vary depending upon the level of our soul-care, environments, conditions, and relationships. Together, clients and I work on an honest perspective on those elements, in our efforts to walk a more peaceful journey.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
Those of us with ADHD don’t like to ask for help, and in fact, it can be very hard for us to ask for help for a myriad of reasons. But it’s that step of asking for help that can help change their lives, especially when it’s with someone who has been there and provides compassion without judgment.
Pricing:
- I offer a free discovery session, 25 minutes.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.adhdallies.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adhdallies/
