From Apollo Missions to Personal Growth: Don Sellers on Owning Your Awkward

In this episode of the Own Your Awkward Podcast, Andy Vargo sits down with longtime mentor, Air Force veteran, and accomplished Toastmaster Don Sellers. Don shares the powerful story of navigating life with undiagnosed ADHD and a hearing processing disorder while building an extraordinary career, including work connected to the Apollo missions and commanding a squadron of 350 people. Through humor, humility, and his guiding philosophy of “steady as she goes,” Don reveals how understanding your limitations can actually become one of your greatest strengths.

When “Awkward” Becomes a Superpower

Everyone has moments that feel awkward. Mishearing something in a conversation. Missing a detail others seem to catch instantly. Feeling like your brain works just a little differently than everyone else’s.

For Don Sellers, those moments weren’t occasional. They were constant.

For most of his life, Don didn’t realize that his communication struggles were connected to ADHD and a hearing processing disorder. Instead, he simply adapted. He learned to observe people closely. He relied heavily on reading and written information. And he developed an instinct for understanding the intent behind conversations, even when the words themselves weren’t clear.

Looking back, Don now recognizes that those adaptations shaped many of the strengths that defined his career.

Sometimes the very things that make us feel awkward end up sharpening our most valuable skills.

From College Debt to the United States Air Force

Don’s journey into the military began for a practical reason: college debt.

While attending school, he worked two jobs to support himself. Even with that effort, the financial pressure was significant. Joining the Air Force became a way to stabilize his situation while building a career.

What started as a practical choice turned into a remarkable professional path.

During his time in the Air Force, Don worked in highly technical environments, including roles connected to the Apollo missions during the era of America’s early space exploration efforts. Later, he would go on to command a squadron of 350 personnel.

It’s an impressive trajectory for anyone. It’s even more remarkable considering the communication challenges he was navigating along the way.

Thriving with Hearing and Communication Challenges

Don describes his hearing processing issues in a way that many people with similar challenges will immediately recognize.

He can hear sounds clearly, but the words themselves often arrive scrambled or incomplete.

In quiet environments, he can usually follow along. In busy rooms or loud gatherings, understanding speech becomes extremely difficult.

Imagine sitting in a room where everyone else is having a conversation, but the words blend together into noise.

For many people, that kind of limitation could feel overwhelming. Don took a different approach.

He developed systems.

When attending meetings, he often requested written outlines or copies of speeches. Written material helped fill the gaps that verbal communication sometimes left behind. He also became an exceptional observer of body language and facial expressions, reading emotional cues that others often miss.

Instead of fighting against his limitations, he learned to work with them.

Discovering ADHD at Age 60

One of the most surprising moments in Don’s journey came later in life.

At age 60, he read the book Driven to Distraction, which explores ADHD in adults. As he read, something clicked.

The descriptions matched his own experiences almost perfectly.

For decades, he had simply assumed that his brain worked the same way as everyone else’s. The discovery wasn’t discouraging. Instead, it was liberating.

Suddenly, his life made sense in a new way.

Instead of viewing his brain as flawed, he began to see it as simply wired differently. That shift in perspective changed how he thought about himself and how he explained his experiences to others.

Understanding your brain can be incredibly empowering.

The Power of Knowledge

Throughout the conversation, one theme appears again and again: Don’s love of learning.

Reading became one of his greatest tools.

Books provided clarity where conversations sometimes didn’t. They allowed him to process information at his own pace and dive deeper into subjects that interested him.

This commitment to learning helped him succeed in areas many people would consider challenging.

At one point, Don intentionally focused on studying physics, even though it was one of his weakest aptitude areas. Instead of avoiding it, he chose to face it head on.

His goal wasn’t simply academic success.

He wanted to prove to himself that he could do it.

That mindset reflects a powerful approach to personal growth: sometimes the most rewarding progress comes from leaning into the areas where we feel least confident.

“Steady as She Goes”

If there’s one phrase that captures Don Sellers’ philosophy, it’s this:

“Steady as she goes.”

The phrase originally comes from navigation, guiding ships to maintain a steady course even through uncertain waters. Don adopted it as his personal approach to life.

When challenges arise, he doesn’t panic.

Instead, he slows down. He gathers information. He looks for knowledge that can guide the next step forward.

Then he keeps moving.

This steady approach allowed him to navigate situations where communication wasn’t easy. It helped him lead teams, manage complex responsibilities, and build a fulfilling life despite obstacles.

The lesson is simple but powerful.

You don’t have to solve everything instantly. Sometimes progress simply means staying calm, learning what you can, and continuing forward.

Owning Your Awkward

At the heart of this conversation is a theme that perfectly aligns with the spirit of the Own Your Awkward Podcast.

Awkward moments aren’t something to hide from.

They’re signals.

They point to the areas where we’re learning, adapting, and growing.

For Don Sellers, acknowledging his limitations was the key to navigating them successfully. Once he stopped pretending everything was easy, he could develop strategies that worked for him.

That honesty opened the door to resilience, leadership, and meaningful personal growth.

And it’s a reminder that our differences, quirks, and challenges often shape the very strengths that make us unique.

Sometimes owning the awkward is exactly what allows us to move forward.

Steady as she goes.