Illusionist Elliot Zimet Reveals His Tricks to Life with ADHD

Elliot Zimet  0:00  
Exercise is a big one for me. I have not been consistent with meditation but I have done some meditation, some yoga, I feel so much better every time I do that at because it relaxes me, you know my mind is happening quicker than everything else often. So I think you need to try and just have a like a healthy lifestyle with food and exercise. I want to get to journaling. I still haven't started that. But I know that's a big one. That's a huge release. Try to think what I do in my day to data. I mean I exercise consistently and consistency is is everything especially like with people with ADHD.

Brooke Schnittman  0:45  
Welcome to successful with ADHD, I'm Brooke Schnittman and if you have ADHD and are feeling overwhelmed, chaotic and negative self beliefs, you're in the right place. The successful with ADHD podcast shares my guests journeys of overcoming challenges offering their tips and strategies for success to empower you to take control of your life and thrive with ADHD. Let's get started. 

Hi, everybody, this is Brooke Schnittman from coaching with Brooke, I'm doing a new series where I interview successful people with ADHD. We want to show that people with ADHD it's all about the negativity we can be successful. We want to highlight that. So today we have a special guest. His name is Elliott cement, his illusionist, celebrity illusionist, and today we're going to learn more about his story where to learn how he overcame a lot of his ADHD symptoms. And what are his secret tricks that make him successful? It's so nice to have you here, Elliot. So why don't you just introduce who

Elliot Zimet  1:50  
you are. I'm from New York, born and raised. And I am an illusionist, so a little different, which is what we like having ADHD we like different. Are we all?

Brooke Schnittman  2:00  
Absolutely. So tell me like what does an allegiance can be

Elliot Zimet  2:05  
impossible possible? Pretty much we create fantasy for people. And we take people out of their worries and problems and misery just momentarily and bring them to a little bit of a euphoric experience.

Brooke Schnittman  2:17  
So tell me a little bit about your journey with ADHD and your diagnosis your childhood,

Elliot Zimet  2:23  
I decided my entire life. I struggled through school, not only with ADHD, also learning disabilities, which I didn't know I had when I was younger. But homework was impossible for me. I barely made it through school by the skin of my teeth. It was extremely difficult. I remember taking Ritalin as a kid a therapist suggested for me, I took that for a little bit. I didn't like the side effects. So that was many years ago, I figured I could just wing through life for this ADHD journey for the rest of my life. You know, until recently, just several months ago, I started doing research on YouTube, on ADHD. And I'm like, I had no idea there was 10s of 1000s Millions of people with the same exact symptoms that I have with just the day to day struggles really?

Brooke Schnittman  3:11  
Isn't that amazing? That knowing like just the awareness. So you had ADHD you were diagnosed younger and life not like everybody you took Ritalin didn't like your side effects, or you're just winging it, but you didn't realize how much you didn't know you didn't know about ADHD until you like called Being

Elliot Zimet  3:30  
aware of me having it has changed my entire life for the better, because then you know how to navigate with this force, which again, as we all know, there's pros and cons to it. It's the greatest curse ever. Yeah, helped a lot. Yeah, obviously, speaking to you. And then you're like, Hey, you can't you break it down very simplistically, which I like him. I need. Yeah,

Brooke Schnittman  3:55  
Elliot was essentially a keynote. I'm just gonna call you the keynote at the event planner Expo in New York City. He did a huge performance alongside Mel Robbins, Jesse Itzler, Marielle Armstrong, Jason Pfeiffer. Then she was looking for volunteers in the audience. And of course, I rose my hands and he bets me. And he did some crazy tricks that everyone in the audience oh my god, how to do it. Did he have like a sign? Like, what did you see back there? You just blew away the audience. And obviously, that instant connection that so many of us ADHD errs have, we hit it off? We talked for a while I

Elliot Zimet  4:42  
asked him after the show, I saw him a bad agent. And I said, Hey, what do you do for work? You're like, I'm an ADHD life coach. And that was it. The rest is history. Pretty much could I really felt like a credible energy with you and with great connection and I was like, how does what does that mean on at work? Whatever it is. I need you it. Let's figure this out.

Brooke Schnittman  5:01  
Let's figure it out. Exactly. Didn't know much about what we do specifically, but we're gonna get on a call and figure it out together.

Elliot Zimet  5:10  
Like everyone else has been a journey and a struggle and baby steps. I knew if I had the right coaching, and someone I connected with, because with any kind of coach or therapist, you have to have a connection. Yeah, the possibilities were infinite. If I had the right tools.

Brooke Schnittman  5:24  
Yeah. So let's talk more about you though. So you are really successful. And you did not share even half of where you're at right now in your career, even before ADHD. So like ADHD coaching, we'll talk about that that helps you navigate the day to day, but you been in front of like, huge. Yeah, so the library

Elliot Zimet  5:45  
just ran back to my story. I couldn't even finish high school. I got my GED, high school, it was just homework. Again, homework was impossible for me, just school in general. But I knew from a young age, I wanted to do magic. So talk about people with ADHD. If we enjoy something, we have hyper focus on it. Right. So that was the only thing in life right hyper focus on I loved to learn magic. I'm a people person I love to perform. So right out of high school, I toured with Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus for a year that was Milan people edition. It was my dream as a kid I loved the circus. I went to Rio the garden 1000s of people edition. I was the only one to make it that year, they hired me on the blue unit tour in the country. And then they asked me not only to be a clown in the show, but to host the police show. So is that a microphone welcoming people down to the arena floor before the show started, whoever bought a ticket, you are a clown. Keep going I only knew I wanted to do that for a year because I knew magic was my passion at that point in my life. Circus was a dream when I was a kid, but I knew magic. So I did that for years and unbelievable experience first time on my own and forming ever since I was a semifinalist on America's Got Talent, the first season. So there was an American Idol for Variety Performance, I'd be perfect. So I auditioned and made it as a semi finalists on there, done a lot of crazy tours and television shows and celebrity houses and I performed it like P Diddy saw him in the Hampton, like just all this craziness throughout the journey. You know, it's all it's all stepping stones like everything else. And part of the journey.

Brooke Schnittman  7:27  
You had mentioned something that was really important for the community. It's like you've made your hobby, your career, your life, because you are so hyper focused on the illusion that you took that and you were able to make it more than it's a hobby,

Elliot Zimet  7:44  
but I had the drive and the passion for this art for entertainment. Like that's the one thing I did have. So all the other ADHD setbacks and learning disabilities. I knew like I knew internally I can make it you know, some people want to do things in life, but like they don't have the drive they don't have that like I knew I had to like inside of the internally that I give it that attention.

Brooke Schnittman  8:10  
So you were basically redefining the rules because when you and I grew out that rah rah and pretty much said okay, be best do that, you know, be a doctor, be a lawyer be a teacher.

Elliot Zimet  8:25  
Literally my mother was like, yeah, she was like get a job with insurance. But I've always been the black sheep rebel rebel did went to the to, to my own horn my whole life. So personality, like most cannibal are paranoid pleasers. Thank God that was like, I never had that. So I was like, we have one life to live, I'm going to do whatever it takes to make myself happy. And I did that, like I did that.

Brooke Schnittman  8:52  
Yeah. So you following your passion and you being unique and being that black sheep. So you call it you got to level happiness, Elva bullet success. And you've just built yourself up to level where someone who's just starting at your age wouldn't even know where to start.

Elliot Zimet  9:12  
It takes years to get to be able to take a passion and make it a career. I mean, it took us a long time of just like getting by and saying, God, the more you do it, the better you get, essentially, doors start opening up.

Brooke Schnittman  9:29  
So you did not take Ritalin. I'm not saying because of that, but you were able to hyper focus on what you enjoyed, which was Volusion and made it a career. And with all of that, what are some besides the hyper focus and the passion which is so important, what else would you add to your success today as a father, as you know, as in religion, it

Elliot Zimet  9:53  
will also want to add to it, you just have to want it and go after it and physically do The things and it's just, it's baby steps. It's the little changes here and there to better yourself. He making the same mistakes over and over. But you got to realize after a while like that is not helping. I'm learning every day as a father. It's funny like the pages I used to follow on Instagram. Were one time now I'm like, following a lot of mommy pages to learn how to do little things differently with my LG. It's, it's it's a journey.

Brooke Schnittman  10:22  
It's a man journey. He didn't have a daddy,

Elliot Zimet  10:25  
I follow some daddy pages too, but I loved it. I love the mommy pages. Look, there's no magic wand. Now you wait either. And things just happen. You got to work for it.

Brooke Schnittman  10:33  
You make your end. But tell me a little bit on how you felt like you overcame your phallus.

Elliot Zimet  10:40  
Just by paying attention to them and realizing this is not working, and doing research on what I could do to better my life essentially better my career, better communication, that's a huge one not. So inside of my own head. You have to do the research or the work or hire somebody. Like certain aspects. I'm not lazy at all and certain aspects. I know I'm not going to do that workout. Let me hire somebody. And I'm fortunate enough to be able to do that. Now to help me Quicken this journey up.

Brooke Schnittman  11:12  
You want to be faster. You do the research and a lot of ADHD nerds are really good researchers. However, we struggle with analysis paralysis. So how did you make that executive decision to move forward and make the decision prior code or you know commit to whatever it is that you commit to? Do you struggle with

Elliot Zimet  11:34  
Nathalia person? Probably more than most analysis paralysis for so long. I overthink everything. I get stuck. I start I don't say I have it all like whatever. People are like, Yeah, you don't have this. I have it. Like it's not even a question. I know. I'm at the point in my life where it's just it's affected me for so long. I'm like something needs to change. We're going to give it a shot. ADHD coach, I never even heard about it. But I know it's affecting me immensely. And maybe you could help me through this journey.

Brooke Schnittman  12:07  
Yeah, so you had that pain, you had the readiness level, because you needed to overcome that challenge, that at a certain

Elliot Zimet  12:13  
point in your life, you got to look, you're not always ready at different stages, and just have to try it because you got nothing to lose. Like, guess what, what am I gonna lose money if it doesn't work out, the money will come back? Great. I've lost money a lot. I've made a lot of money. And so what what am I gonna lose some five? Great, I've lost a lot of time, like brand and nothing to lose. He could only benefit me. If I get one thing I'm winning. That's all I'm give me give me one tool. That's my mentality.

Brooke Schnittman  12:40  
Yeah, well, you definitely have a growth mindset. I like that piece. That aspect of you looking at this journey as that if I get one pool, if I make an improvement, I've gotten, you know, paid back in my time and money because, you know, if you just keep trying the same thing over and over again, you know, it's a definition of insanity. So here you go. You're trying something new, and you know, yes, moving you forward faster. That's awesome. How do you feel like what is the real like, key to you getting to where you are right now?

Elliot Zimet  13:14  
Wanting my lobbyists? Best slides. There's another minute, there's no specific answer, I understand your question. What's the key? It's baby steps is the key. People spend so much time myself included in our own heads. And let me tell you, that is exhaustion and waste of energy. I'm a huge believer in r&d, like trial and error research and development, just trying things because we know in life, nothing good comes easy. We don't put the work and nothing. So like I have to get the work into this ADHD because it's affected me for so long. And I haven't put the work in. Because that you know, it's scary to put the work in. So I'm like, let me stop being a little punk. And try something and if it doesn't work, we navigate we try something else. So just trying in life, like just trying and not being afraid of the process.

Brooke Schnittman  14:04  
It's like, yeah, like donate or just trying to put yourself out there in life. Like

Elliot Zimet  14:09  
things don't just happen. We know like Instagrams illusion, right? Like, nothing just happens. It's all hard work. I'm such a huge advocate of heart absolute. I know nothing else. I know what likes when I work hard, but things calm the universe opens doors for me. And when I don't work hard, and I get inside my own head and I'm lazy and and I'm dislike analysis paralysis, guess what? The universe doesn't open any doors and just stay paralyzed?

Brooke Schnittman  14:34  
Yeah. So you don't feel bad for yourself. You just eat moving forward. You keep trying. And you keep putting, you know, your nose in front of you. At a certain point. You gotta be like, that's not working. It's not working. Let's go like stop feeling bad for myself and just do something different. And not everyone has that mentality or that mindset, complete mindset.

Elliot Zimet  14:57  
I know a lot of people People who are not as positive as I am, and I've spoken with this DNA. And when people don't have a positive mindset, man, they've really struggled like, as bad as you and I have it. If you don't have a positive mindset, you really just get stuck. He can move forward like that. So I think the attitude of the mind self love that is huge. You if you work on that and try to have that grow and master that you could do anything?

Brooke Schnittman  15:26  
Absolutely. So tell me like, you obviously have an amazing mindset you keep going, but you do other little things that help you with your mindset. Do you want to share that? I know you will eat work out pretty. Right?

Elliot Zimet  15:41  
Exercise is a big one for me. I have not been consistent with meditation, but I have done some meditation, some yoga, I feel so much better every time I do that at because it relaxes me, you know, my mind has happened quicker than everything else often. So I think you need to try and December like a healthy lifestyle with food and exercise. I want to get to journaling. I still haven't started that. But I know that's a big one. That's a huge release. I try to think what I do in my day to data. I mean, I exercise consistently and consistency is is everything especially like what people eat each day. Sure. So

Brooke Schnittman  16:23  
often we're in consistently inconsistent but if you love something like a lesion or working out because working now makes you feel stronger, or it makes you feel happy. So like you see that end result you've had that passion for it, then you can be more consistent. Like you are like you have been sick, United COVID Recently, you got a bug that jocks had. And I know like you couldn't work out but and immediately without better

Elliot Zimet  16:50  
you know that well nothing tables are most ADH people. Yeah, sure. Of course. Yeah. So yeah. I get tired of feeling like crap. Like I get you'd like mentally exhausted me. So I get in my head. This is going to be so tough to get back into I haven't worked down now. It's three weeks. Now after you don't work out in four days. Get back into it. No problem. Three, four weeks, you're starting from scratch again. I don't overthink. I struggled for a few days and I just tried to get into a rhythm hit you get a rhythm with anything in life. You're good. It's getting that consistency. Thank God I don't have any kind of clinical depression. But I know like workout exercise helps people with depression, anxiety. It's a low dose SF derive when you're sweating and you're burning out all that stress and you can't overthink when you're working out it's too tough. Absolutely.

Brooke Schnittman  17:38  
Yeah. So Elliot if people want to find you see perform see what you've done.

Elliot Zimet  17:45  
My initials Elliot Zimet easy magic.net Definitely my Instagram I perform all over the place I do shows of all kinds to from everything from sleight of hand magic to me crazy illusion stuff with humans and animals and I get inside people's heads it's

Brooke Schnittman  18:03  
it's crazy. I've never seen a legion like yours. I'm talking to the community here you have to see more of what Elliot says it

Elliot Zimet  18:10  
is saying no, there's nothing with for me anyway. There's nothing like experiencing Magic Live. I feel like it's an in person art. You have to feel the energy. It's much easier. I make a dude here to put like to get inside people's heads in person. There's nothing like that connection. And so me being in the moment is everything and

Brooke Schnittman  18:31  
everything. Okay, so once again, pal everyone who you are where they can find you at

Elliot Zimet  18:37  
LV Summit. I post traumatic stuff. I'm gonna continue to post some magic stuff. I am Elliot Zimet. I am an illusionist and magician mentalist. I do it all I combined it all. And the reason why I call myself an illusionist, I heard David Copperfield once a illusionist get paid 20%. More so Commissar for lunch? Yeah, I'm a father, and a full six year old boy named Jack's. He's the love of my life. And he's helped me grow as a performer and a human with communication and being present in all of life. It all goes hand in hand.

Brooke Schnittman  19:09  
Yeah, he definitely added another huge element to your life and purpose by just see how you are with him.

Elliot Zimet  19:18  
Ya know, what a privilege it is to be a parent. And that's what it is. It's just it's a privilege is a blessing and not take that for granted. Yeah, whatsoever.

Brooke Schnittman  19:25  
Yeah. Great. Any last closing thoughts?

Elliot Zimet  19:29  
I mean, for me, the most important thing honestly was you just were such a kind hearted genuine person. We had a connection. So that for me was everything. So once I felt that connection, as a whole company, she was like, I have all these coaches. I was like, no, no, I want you to be my coach because I've connected with you. And once I have a connection with somebody, that's it for me like that's, that's everything. Isn't that

Brooke Schnittman  19:53  
the truth or ADHD or relationships are really our love language. I mean, that communication going straight to the owner or going straight to the person. It's so hard to connect with a company unless you had that with

Elliot Zimet  20:09  
frontline without a doubt people ask me like how I have so many connections in my career and like I, I love people and I like to get to know people on a personal basis. I don't know. It's either have no you don't with somebody, you know, I just felt an immediate connection with you. Even onstage like it's just the FBI. It's it's there. It's not Yeah,

Brooke Schnittman  20:31  
thank you. Thanks for listening to this episode of successful with ADHD. I hope it helps you on your journey. And if you need any additional support for you or a loved one with ADHD, feel free to reach out to us at coaching with brooke.com and all social media platforms at coaching with Brooke and remember, it's Brooke with Annie. Thanks again for listening. See you next time.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai