In this heartfelt and inspiring episode of It’s Time for Success: The Business Insights Podcast, host Sharon DeKoning interviews her son, Ashton DeKoning, in a vulnerable conversation about overcoming adversity and embracing the unique strengths of ADHD. Ashton opens up about the challenges of growing up as an outcast, dealing with bullying, and feeling different from his peers—yet how those experiences helped shape the loyal, empathetic, and determined man he is today.

From his early fascination with magic tricks to becoming a top-performing salesperson at Jump.ca, Ashton shares how hyperfocus—often misunderstood—became his superpower. He discusses the role of mentorship, perseverance, and family in his journey, and how fatherhood is teaching him patience in new ways. This episode is full of real talk and hope for anyone who’s ever felt like they didn’t fit in—and for parents, teachers, and employers supporting those who are wired a little differently.

Key themes include ADHD and hyperfocus, school and social struggles, the importance of loyalty and self-discovery, and how “different” doesn’t mean “less capable”—it often means uniquely brilliant.

About Ashton DeKoning

Ashton DeKoning is a devoted husband, proud father, and top-performing wireless sales professional at Jump.ca. Diagnosed with ADHD, Ashton has transformed what some view as a limitation into his greatest strength. A passionate magician and technology enthusiast, he is known for his hyper focus, resilience, and loyalty—qualities that have made him a standout in both his personal and professional life.

Through years of navigating challenges in school, employment, and self-identity, Ashton has developed a deep empathy for others who feel like they don’t fit the mold. Today, he uses his lived experience to inspire others, proving that with the right support and mindset, neurodiversity can be a path to extraordinary success.

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Contact Sharon DeKoning | It's Time Promotions:

• Website: itpromo.ca
• LinkedIn: Sharon DeKoning
• Facebook: It’s Time Promotions
• Google: It’s Time Promotions

Contact Ashton DeKoning | Jump:

• Twitch: ACG423
• Jump.ca

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Transcript

Sharon 00:17
Today's episode is incredibly special. I'm joined by my son, Ashton, someone who's taught me more about resilience, loyalty, and focus than anyone I've ever met. From being a kid who struggled with ADHD, school, and friendships to becoming a devoted father, husband and a top salesperson at his company, Ashton's journey is one I think many of you will relate to, whether you're raising someone like him or whether you are someone like him. Thank you, Ashton, for joining me today.
Ashton 00:45
Thank you for having me. Yeah, hi.
Sharon 00:49
Okay, Ashton, we're going to talk about this. You're now how old?
Ashton 00:51
Thirty two.
Sharon 00:56
Thirty two years old?

Ashton 00:58
Yeah, crazy.

Sharon 1:00
Yeah, you're growing up. Okay, so we're going to go back into the days of school, and back then was a little bit different. I think, looking back, I think you're a little bit more fortunate, because there's, you know, nowadays there's even more bullying than what you went through. I think it's very easily accessible for everybody. With that being said, you went through a lot of shit, so I went through the ringer. That's true. We're going to talk about this a little bit more so people can comprehend and get through to where you are here. So let's talk a little bit about school, and what was like growing up for you?
Ashton 01:27
Yeah, school was rough from basically the starting of about grade 10, I was the outcast. I didn't have friends. I really kind of just did my own thing. I found out pretty quick that the people that did start talking to me throughout the beginning few years just wanted some from me. If that was the new game that was out, they wanted me to get my items from them, or just wanted to get closer to my older sister, talk to my sister because she was the popular one in our family, things like that. I found out pretty quick. I learned how to learn how to make a name for myself and not just kind of be used, right?
Sharon 02:06
And that did happen a lot, for sure. Yeah, so when, when did you? So you said in the earlier years you started to know that you were a little bit different than than your schoolmates. Yeah, even if we could backlog like we tried everything, hey, to put you in. We tried to put you in sports, to get you to blend in. We tried everything possible just to try to get you to make connections with your schoolmates. And it was a struggle right from the get go, it was hard to get you to be included in different events, for sure. So do you remember getting bullied or feeling left out like, what?
Ashton 02:38
Oh, yeah, that. I don't think those memories or feelings will ever go away. I've definitely been through the verbal to the physical to just being shunned, where no one would talk to me at all, and it's almost no one talking to you at all, is almost the hardest part of it. It's been a lot of people not only coming at me, but finding ways to use, like, my older sister. Like, how did you turn out so bad when she's so amazing and kind of, then all of a sudden, you go home and you, you know, I go home and I can watch my sister and go, What did happen to me? Why am I so different in the… around here than everyone else? Like, it's it definitely kind of hits different when people use other things around you as examples.
Sharon 03:27
One thing… I remember, you had a couple friends back in Manitoba. They were the twins. I can't remember their names.
Ashton 03:33
Chris and Colin.

Sharon 03:35
Chris and Colin.

Ashton 03:33
I knew you were going to bring them up, yeah.
Sharon 03:36
Yeah, so I find that looking back, like, when you did latch on to somebody like that. You were the most devoted.

Ashton 03:38
They were my best friends.

Sharon 03:40
Yeah, devoted like I feel. And that's again, people think that what you have is a liability. But if you could latch on to, if those people can have somebody like you as a devoted friend, like they're above and beyond anything like I think they're they. It's so great to see that. Through the years, it was really hard raising you, Ashton. But, with all that being said over the years, I've also learned that having ADHD, having you with ADHD, I've got to see it as a superpower. You do. I think of ADHD as a superpower. And you've, you've shown people that. So when you focus on something, there's no stopping you. And do you know the situation I'm going to be talking about right away? Do you know what I'm going to talk about? The first time I seen this devotion and this laser focus, I always said you have, like, blinders on, on, like, a racehorse, you have blinders. Once you focus, there's no stopping you. So let's talk a little bit about that, because what you have learned with ADHD and being super focused, let's tal...