Last updated: May 23, 2025 Reading time: 7 minutes
I didn’t sit down to write this because I had a polished “productivity system” to share. I wrote this because I’ve been reflecting on what it means to be misunderstood, and also what it means to finally say, “You know what? I don’t care anymore.”
The past six months have been about reclaiming how I work. ADHD is part of me. So is chronic insomnia. So is my need to work in bursts of wild energy followed by days of stillness. And the most beautiful thing? I’ve built a business that makes space for all of it. No shame. No apologies.
Running a business with ADHD is liberating, when you do it the right way, for you.
No more morning meetings
Here’s what I’ve learned: my mornings are mine.
I used to push myself to show up early, to be the “reliable one.” Truth is, I probably made it to 4 out of 5 meetings just fine. But I also live with chronic insomnia, and the effort to keep pretending I could be a morning person was draining me.
Now, I go to sleep when my body tells me to. I wake when I wake. And when I do show up — I’m fully there. More present. More alert. More able to actually connect and contribute. My work is better, and my energy is more consistent. I’ve shaped my business around what actually works for me. If you’re curious how that journey unfolded, here’s where I explain my story.
And guess what? No one even noticed I stopped booking mornings. I realized the only person judging me was me. You don’t owe anyone an explanation for building your business around your energy. Especially not in a world that rarely makes space for neurodivergent brains.
Scatter-tasking works for me
Let me introduce you to a little ADHD life-saver I call scatter-tasking. It looks like this:
I block off time. I open my laptop. I ask, “Do I feel like doing this right now?” If I hesitate even a second, I snooze the task for 24 to 72 hours. But if I’m into it, let’s go.
Maybe I start with Canva templates. Then I remember a font I wanted to download. That reminds me to update my design resources. Then I bounce to scripting a YouTube video. Suddenly I’ve knocked out 20 little things, and I feel energized and proud instead of drained and boxed in.
Scatter-tasking is momentum. It’s flow. It’s curiosity as a business strategy.
Some coaches might talk about “CEO days” once a week. For me, every day is CEO day. That’s just how I work.
I’ve stopped explaining myself
A while ago, someone close to me told me that if I didn’t show up 9 to 5 every day, I was unprofessional. That cut deep. Not because they were right, but because I had spent so long trying to prove that I was “professional enough” to people like them.
Turns out, even the people closest to you can be deeply committed to misunderstanding you. And that’s their journey, not yours.
I no longer subscribe to the myth that I need to perform professionalism. I don’t take meeting notes every time. I don’t follow a rigid schedule. I do the work, and I do it well, on my terms. If someone doesn’t vibe with that? Cool. We’re not a good fit.
What I know now
This life I’ve built, this business, it works. Because I’ve stopped fighting who I am.
Yes, I’ve burned out. Yes, I’ve been dismissed, overlooked, even resented. But I’ve also discovered that:
- My twenty-hour work week is more than enough
- Biphasic sleep is my friend (when it happens naturally)
- Gamifying chores and leaning into executive dysfunction has helped me flow
- Meditation apps like Happier are my reset button
- Even in dissociation, I allow for low-effort tasks or total rest, and I don’t shame myself for it
I’ve learned that what I need is grace, fluidity, and freedom.
Frequently asked questions about being an ADHD business owner
They absolutely can. ADHD can be a huge asset in business when you know your strengths and work with them.According to the Journal of Business Venturing, traits like risk-taking, hyperfocus, and resilience are often what help entrepreneurs succeed, and many of those traits are common among ADHD folks.
It’s as simple as this: your brain can actually be a business advantage.
Yes, you’re looking at one! If you’re not interested in ADHD business coaching, you should know that I do offer ADHD-aware strategy, marketing, and support for founders who want systems that work with their actual brains, not against them.
It’s liberating, but only once you stop trying to follow neurotypical rules.
In the beginning, I thought I had to work 9 to 5, attend every meeting, and stay super “organized” to succeed. It wasn’t sustainable. Now I’ve learned to trust my flow, lean into curiosity, and build a workweek that matches my energy instead of draining it.
Yes. I am. And maybe you can be, too.
ADHD doesn’t disqualify you from leadership. If anything, it can enhance it. You don’t need to “look like a CEO” to lead. You need vision, creativity, adaptability, and persistence — and if you have ADHD, chances are, you’ve already got all of that.
There’s no one-size-fits-all, but here’s what has worked for me:
Gamification: I turn boring tasks into little wins
Happier App: for daily meditations and grounding
Snooze-heavy inbox workflows: follow energy, not deadlines
20-hour workweek model: flow, not grind
Also, knowing when to do nothing is a skill I’ve had to learn. Rest is productive too.
I can get passionate about this. So how can I put it, professionally?
Hell. No.
What’s unprofessional is expecting everyone to perform the same way regardless of body, brain, or circumstance.
If your energy flows at night, or you work best in 90-minute sprints followed by breaks, that’s valid. That’s not a flaw. That’s your operating manual.
Then you’re the perfect person to work with me.
You don’t need to have it all together to start getting support. All you need is curiosity, openness, and the desire to make your business work your way. Just talk to me for 20 minutes and we’ll see what’s possible.
You’re in the right place.
I offer ADHD business coaching and ADHD-friendly digital marketing, creative strategy, and business support. You won’t have to explain your brain to me. I get it.
Contact me here and let’s talk.
Want help from an ADHD business coach who gets it?
Your business can thrive when it reflects you, not some template you downloaded from a productivity expert who doesn’t know how your brain works. Forget the hacks. Forget the “how-to” lists that make you feel broken.
Live it. Try it. Feel it out. Adjust. That’s how I got here.
I’m now an ADHD business coach and creative strategist who knows how to work with your actual brain, the one with brilliant ideas, energetic bursts, and totally nonlinear workflows.
If you’re a passionate, curious, beautifully chaotic entrepreneur who’s tired of forcing yourself into neurotypical systems…
👉 Contact me and let’s talk for 20 minutes. No pressure. Just vibes and real support.
Let’s build your business your way, ADHD and all.
