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If you’re someone with ADHD trying to run a business, start a business, or you have a collection of half-started ideas gathering digital dust, this post is for you. (and this community is for you)
I’m not going to sugarcoat the challenges we face as neurodivergent entrepreneurs. These ugly truths are based on my own experience and the patterns I see repeatedly in ADHD business owners I coach.
But here’s the thing: when you know what you’re up against, you can plan for it. You can work with your brain instead of against it and often outperform neurotypical entrepreneurs.
Ugly Truth #1: The Idea Explosion Problem
The Reality: Our brains generate ideas at warp speed, and we try to pursue them all simultaneously.
I can spot an ADHD entrepreneur when someone tells me they’re running two businesses while launching three more on the side.
Why This Kills Success:
- We divide attention across multiple ventures
- Nothing gets enough focus to become viable
- We burn out and erode our self-trust
- We never complete project loops (which give us dopamine)
The cycle: Brief excitement → scattered effort → nothing gets finished → more dopamine depletion → need for new ideas.
Ugly Truth #2: The Interest Expiration Date
The Reality: If you’re not emotionally connected to your business beyond initial excitement, you’ll eventually get bored and want to burn it down.
This happened to me with my protein pancake company. Great idea, good market response, but two years in, I was completely checked out of the bodybuilding world.
The Problem: Business ownership isn’t inherently exciting. If you’re not genuinely connected to your audience and mission, the day-to-day work becomes torture. It can also be super lonely, which is why I love having a community of like-minded folks to talk to.
Ugly Truth #3: Executive Function Reality Check
The Reality: Our struggles with prioritization and impulse control lead to wildly unrealistic expectations.
We see “7-figure launch” posts and think, “That could be me next month!”
What We Miss:
- Years of preparation behind that success
- The team, resources, and experience involved
- Actual time and effort required
When unrealistic expectations don’t materialize, we make it personal instead of recognizing our expectations weren’t aligned with reality.
Ugly Truth #4: Structure Is Non-Negotiable
The Reality: Despite craving freedom, without structure, we flail around and get nowhere.
What ADHD Brains Need:
- Time urgency to create momentum
- External accountability systems
- Clear structure for what, when, and how
Without Structure:
- Procrastiplanning (endless planning without action)
- Procrastilearning (consuming instead of implementing)
- Procrastiperfecting (tweaking logos forever)
- Zero meaningful progress
Ugly Truth #5: Disorganization Will Sabotage You
The Reality: Poor organization of time, systems, and resources constantly sets you back.
The ADHD Problem:
- Create something important
- Put it somewhere “safe”
- Forget where that place is
- Waste time searching or recreate from scratch
You end up wasting precious energy on the wrong things because you can’t access what you’ve already created.
Why ADHDers Can Be Exceptional Entrepreneurs
Our Superpowers:
- Creativity: We see patterns others miss
- Problem-solving: We find unique solutions
- Hyperfocus: When engaged, we’re incredibly efficient
- Innovation: We think outside conventional frameworks
There’s a reason we’re 400 times more likely to start businesses than neurotypicals.
The Success Formula
1. Choose the Right Idea Pick something you’ve been interested in for months, not weeks. Make sure it has room for growth so you don’t get bored.
2. Commit to ONE Business Resist the urge to hedge your bets. Give one idea your full attention.
3. Create Structure Build systems for accountability and consistent action. This is exactly what we focus on in the ADHD Business Hub membership—creating sustainable systems that work with your brain.
4. Get Organized Invest in tools that help you track progress and prevent constant reinvention. Members of the ADHD Business Hub get access to templates and systems designed specifically for neurodivergent entrepreneurs.
5. Embrace Learning Treat failures as data, not personal shortcomings.
Ask Yourself These Questions
Before you start or continue:
- Are you picking a business with long-term potential that aligns with lasting interests?
- Are you willing to learn new skills and treat setbacks as learning opportunities?
- Can you commit to focusing on ONE business until it’s established?
Moving Forward
If you answered yes to those questions, you absolutely have what it takes to be a successful ADHD entrepreneur.
The key is acknowledging these ugly truths, planning for them, and building systems that support your unique brain.
If you’re ready to stop spinning your wheels and start building sustainable business systems that work with ADHD, consider joining the ADHD Business Hub where we tackle these exact challenges together.
Remember: The same qualities that make traditional employment challenging—our need for variety, autonomy, and creative problem-solving—are exactly what can make us exceptional business owners
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