Managing Your Small Business
With Executive Function Challenges
How do you manage your small business with ADHD?
Since I opened my business, and am very open about my ADHD and the executive function challenges I have, I get this question a LOT. Let me be super clear – it’s not easy, I use accommodations, and I have some GREAT support in my life. But it’s definitely challenging.
I’ll tell you a secret. Before I became an ADHD Coach, and opened this business – I never in a million years dreamed I would be a business owner. It simply did not cross my mind that I could be capable of something that required so much. A lifetime of report cards filled with “not living up to her potential”, I was convinced the only thing I was capable of doing was being a mom…..and I wasn’t quite convinced I was very good at that either!
That’s a big part of why I do what I do today. I don’t want any child to not have big dreams because they don’t know that they CAN.
How Executive Function Challenges Can Show Up
Every person with ADHD and/or Executive Function Challenges is going to experience those challenges differently. There are multiple executive functions, and people will excel at them or be challenged by them in different levels at different times. Here are some ways they may show up when running your business.
- Working Memory – this is what you use to remember a phone number you need to dial, or a recipe you need to follow. It can show up for me by forgetting ideas immediately if I don’t write them down, or by missing appointments or agreements I’ve made if it’s not in my planner.
- Impulse Control – this can show up in being easily distracted, making impulse purchases, and inhibiting persistence.
- Emotional Regulation – this shows up when we have strong reactions to perceived rejection. It shows up when we don’t know how to communicate frustration or anger. For me it mostly shows up because my productivity can be lessened if I’m dysregulated.
- Planning and Prioritizing – For me this can be trying to plan what I need for a meeting, prioritizing what projects to work on first, narrowing a niche or an offer, even deciding what topics to talk about.
- Task Initiation – this one’s the worst for me! Just getting started doing something. I find it difficult to just pick something to START and just start it.
- Cognitive Flexibility – this shows up in many folks with all or nothing or black or white thinking. Being unable or unwilling to see things in a different way or to “go with the flow.” I find I’m more flexible when I’m emotionally regulated.
- Attention and Focus – Being able to focus or hold attention on a project, sometimes even a client, can be a struggle for me. Paying attention to the details can be difficult.
- Organization – This can show up for people in physical paperwork, products, etc. It can also show up for people in their digital files – not having a good system makes it difficult to stay on top of things. It can even include unorganized thinking!
- Time Blindness – This may be the one I struggle with the most. I have NO sense of time, and many people with ADHD or other executive function challenges also struggle with this. It means that if you ask me when something happened, it was 10 minutes ago or 10 years ago. Somewhere in that time frame. It also shows up for me in that I often think something will take 15 minutes when it will take 45.
Tips for Managing Your Small Business With Executive Function Challenges
Embrace YOUR Pace
Owning your own business is no joke. It’s a lot of work. And everyone on the planet wants to tell you what you *should* be doing when. Which program, which service, what platform, etc. To tell you what you need before you start. Here’s the truth – go at YOUR pace. Most of the “advice” out there is by neurotypical people *and* only works in very specific cases. Take things YOUR way. If you want to be open at odd hours – do it. If you want to focus on your website and not something else – do it. Do things that bring you joy and embrace your pace.
You NEED Support
This can come in lots of different forms. I’m lucky enough to have amazing support at home, with people who are interested in listening when I need to talk something out or I’m excited about work. There are also co-working groups, interest based groups, small business organizations, and more. I’m in groups for coaches, for adhd coaches, for women solopreneurs, and more. You need a cheerleader, at least one!
Calendars, Alarms, and Timers
If you struggle with time management, specifically time blindness – invest in several timers, planners, and calendars. I have a scheduling program that puts client appointments directly onto my calendar. I have that set up to remind me of appointments a day before, 2 hours before, and 15 minutes before. I have an electronic calendar and two white board calendars. I use a separate calendar for planning social media and blogs. If it’s not written down it’s not real!
Whiteboards, Post Its, Color Coding
I have awful working memory. Seriously. So I often have whiteboards near by that I can jot things down on – then when I have a moment I can move the idea from the whiteboard to where it goes. I have one that is a “parking lot” for ideas. I have one for “today;s priorities” – and I have one that has “next steps” for several projects. I also use color coded magnets on my whiteboard calendar to let me know at a glance what type of appointment I have. (Blue – a class; purple – a client, orange – meeting, etc)
Outsourcing and Coaching
When it’s accessible, outsource the things you hate doing. I have an accountant. When I can afford it I may have a web person. I have leaned on other women solopreneurs to trade some tasks with. And lastly, get a coach to help you! A coach can be your accountability partner, they can help you plan and prioritize, and more.
If you are interested in working together, I’d love to hear from you – set up a free, no obligation Discovery Call!
Thank you, as always, for spending your time with me today. I hope that you are enjoying the start of September. Remember – you are amazing!
Don’t Delay Joy
Kat Sweeney, MCLC