You Don’t Have to Scale to Succeed—Here’s How to Create a Business That Actually Fits Your Life

Why Building a “Smaller” Business Might Be the Smartest Move for ADHD Entrepreneurs

Intentionally choosing to remain a solo entrepreneur is not a consolation prize—it’s a radical act of self-alignment.

As the host of the ADHD-ish Podcast, I’ve had the privilege of sitting across from some of the most insightful minds in the world of neurodivergent entrepreneurship. In a recent episode, I welcomed Maggie Patterson, whose expertise and lived experience bring a refreshing, much-needed voice to the conversation about what it means to be a neurodivergent female entrepreneur. Her perspective challenges the noisy narrative that insists on scaling, hustling, and conforming to standards that just don’t make sense for so many of us.

Maggie’s journey resonates with anyone who has ever felt out of step with the relentless drumbeat of “bigger is always better.” Too often, cultural messaging insists that if you’re not building a team, launching a course, or pursuing a seven-figure business, you’re selling yourself short. The truth, as Maggie so articulately puts it, is that intentionally choosing to remain a solo entrepreneur is not a consolation prize—it’s a radical act of self-alignment, especially for those whose brains thrive on novelty, creativity, and independence.

In our conversation, Maggie spoke openly about her own evolution as a business owner. She explained that, for so many neurodivergent female entrepreneurs, being a team of one is often the best way to manage the emotional and energetic demands of both business and life. Instead of stretching to fit into a model that isn’t designed for us, we can give ourselves permission to throw out the script and write a new one. The pressure to fit the “laptop lifestyle” narrative or adhere to highly commercialized versions of success is often rooted in outdated expectations—ones created for, and perpetuated by, those with vastly different resources, neurotypes, and responsibilities.

What struck me about Maggie’s approach is her deep understanding of how easily we, as neurodivergent female entrepreneurs, can be seduced by the promise of a magic bullet—the course, the mastermind, the next big program that will finally make things click. So much of this allure comes from an entrepreneurial culture that glamorizes the hustle, yet fails to account for our unique challenges and strengths. 

Maggie points out that most business advice is designed by and for a narrow set of people, and we rarely hear about the sensory, emotional, or chronic-illness dimensions that can profoundly impact our daily experience. Her honesty is a breath of fresh air for anyone who has spent time feeling like they’re on the outside looking in.

For Maggie, strategies that honor who we are begin with rigorous self-awareness. She advocates for an ongoing, almost radical assessment of our true capacity, factoring in not just time or money, but also sensory bandwidth, emotional reserves, and stage of life. Whether you’re a mother with young children or dealing with a chronic condition, these variables must be integrated into the very foundation of your business model. In her view, a business that is intentionally boring—that is, simple, sustainable, and a little bit unglamorous—is often the highest form of self-care for a neurodivergent business owner. When we release our businesses from the pressure to be our everything—to provide novelty, mastery, income, and community all at once—we create space to thrive in other areas of our lives, too.

This perspective is a revelation for many. Maggie’s insistence on cultivating support outside of business—through community, friendships, therapy, or even something as practical as hiring a housecleaner—reminds us that business development is inseparable from personal well-being. Too many of us have internalized the idea that struggle is simply part of the entrepreneurial journey, when in fact, building in supports that ease our path is both wise and necessary.

Maggie also challenges the fetishization of “scaling.” She’s clear that most of us started our businesses to step out of convention, not to recreate another version of corporate stress. Becoming a leader, managing a team, or launching scalable products is not for everyone, despite what the latest business guru may claim. The majority of businesses in North America are solo ventures, and their owners are motivated by autonomy and flexibility, not by the drive to build an empire. Learning to say, “This isn’t for me anymore,” as Maggie encourages, is perhaps one of the most underrated entrepreneurial skills of all.

I couldn’t agree more. Again and again, I see my clients and colleagues burdened with guilt for not living up to imaginary standards. They’re told that a “real” business means more visibility, more revenue, more complexity. But what if the real revolution is in designing businesses that work for our actual lives, not the lives others want to market to us? Maggie’s perspective is a powerful validation for any neurodivergent female entrepreneur who is tired of apologizing for being different.

If you’re curious to learn more from Maggie, I urge you to check out her book, “Staying Solo,” which is written as an actionable guide to be dog-eared, scribbled in, and returned to as your business and life evolve. Whether she’s dispensing practical advice or dropping truth bombs about the “brologarchs” shaping our expectations, Maggie offers the practical, compassionate wisdom that so many of us wish we’d had when we began.

At the heart of our conversation is a simple, liberating idea: Your business only needs to work for you. There is no one right way—certainly not one prescribed by those who don’t share your reality. If you are a neurodivergent female entrepreneur, know that you are not alone in your desire for meaningful, manageable work. The ADHD-ish Podcast will continue to hold space for these vital conversations because, together, we’re reshaping what it means to be successful on our own terms.

Staying Solo® is your guide to building a smarter—not bigger—business. Maggie Patterson reveals how solo service owners can thrive with focused services, ethical pricing, aligned clients, and far less drama. Ready to create a business that truly works for you? Get your copy now.

If you'd like to hear the full episode on the ADHD-ish Podcast, you can do that here.