From Coffee to Collaboration: How a Chance Meeting Sparked One of My First Client Relationships ☕🎧

When I first started Ideal Video Strategies back in 2018, I was brand new to networking and still figuring out how to grow my business. One morning, I was having coffee at Café 641 in Hudson, Massachusetts, chatting with someone in my network about video editing and starting a new business.

A gentleman sitting nearby overheard our conversation and introduced himself. His name was Brendan Mahan, an ADHD coach and podcast host. He mentioned that he produced a weekly show called ADHD Essentials and was looking for someone to help edit his episodes.

We got to talking, and before long, I began editing one podcast a week for Brendan, a partnership and collaboration that lasted for the first couple of years of my business. It became one of my most consistent early projects and a great foundation for building my skills, processes, and client relationships.

Each week, I’d listen to Brendan interview guests; teachers, parents, specialists, and coaches, all sharing insight about ADHD, anxiety, and cognitive challenges. I learned so much through those conversations, not just about editing podcasts, but about the human side of focus, motivation, and understanding how people think.

Today, Brendan continues to produce ADHD Essentials and is in the process of writing a book expanding on his well-known model, The Wall of Awful, a framework used by ADHD specialists around the world to help explain the emotional barriers that come with ADHD.

If you or someone you know is living with ADHD, I highly recommend giving his podcast a listen. It’s full of practical advice, empathy, and a touch of humor that makes every episode worth your time.

👉 You can check out his podcast here: ADHD Essentials

Disclaimer: We did not create this video, but it's a good explanation of the Wall of Awful!