How to Master Task Initiation and Quit Paying the ADHD Tax Forever
Living with ADHD as a solopreneur often comes with what’s called the “ADHD Tax”—those hidden costs in time, money, and energy caused by missed deadlines, late fees, or overlooked opportunities. For years, I thought these mistakes reflected personal failings, but what I’ve learned is that they’re tied to how the ADHD brain approaches task initiation. Instead of fighting against it, I discovered how to design systems that work with my wiring, allowing me to show up with more clarity, creativity, and confidence.
Through intentional rituals, cues, and calendar blocking, task initiation stopped being a roadblock and became a launchpad for meaningful progress. Scheduling well-being blocks and recovery runways not only preserved my energy but also created natural transition points that made starting tasks far less overwhelming. By reframing ADHD task initiation as a neurological challenge instead of a flaw, I built strategies that support my strengths while honoring the ebb and flow of focus.
This shift hasn’t just saved me from paying the ADHD Tax—it’s given me a framework for sustainable entrepreneurship and self-compassion. And I’ve learned that connection is just as important as systems; being part of a community of ADHD entrepreneurs offers solidarity, encouragement, and collective wisdom. With the right tools and mindset, task initiation doesn’t have to drain your energy or your wallet—it can become the foundation for a thriving business built on your unique strengths.
Healthy Startups: Beyond Profit, Mental Health Matters
Entrepreneurship often glorifies hustle, profit, and relentless growth—but Mina Raver’s story shines a light on a different path. As a trailblazing female entrepreneur and innovator, she has transformed personal adversity into a mission to redefine productivity, authenticity, and mental health in the startup world. Her journey demonstrates that success is not only about scaling quickly or satisfying investors, but also about creating sustainable systems that honor our well-being—especially for neurodivergent minds navigating executive functioning challenges.
Through her work, including the creation of adaptive tools like the Better CEO app, Mina is pushing for inclusivity in industries that often overlook the unique needs of neurodivergent individuals. Her perspective challenges the status quo, offering an alternative vision where resilience, authenticity, and balance drive innovation. Mina’s philosophy reminds us that the health of a founder is just as vital as the success of their business—and perhaps the most important foundation for long-term impact.
ADHD Leaders: Powerful Strategies for Women in Charge
Leadership can feel overwhelming for women entrepreneurs with ADHD, but stories like Kirsten Beukes’ prove that balance and impact are possible when we lean into our strengths. As the owner of a thriving group occupational therapy practice in South Africa, Kirsten has learned to navigate the challenges of being both practitioner and business leader, while also honoring the realities of ADHD. Her journey highlights the tension many ADHD leaders face—managing the demands of daily operations while still making time for big-picture strategy.
Through trial and insight, Kirsten discovered the importance of setting boundaries, adjusting expectations for her team, and creating intentional “owner days” for strategic focus. Her story is a powerful reminder that ADHD leadership is not about fitting into traditional molds, but about channeling creativity, empathy, and resilience into building organizations that reflect both personal values and team well-being. For women in business, especially those navigating ADHD, this narrative offers strategies, encouragement, and proof that our unique wiring can be an asset when we embrace it fully.
ADHD Traits For Business: Strategic Listening & Systems Thinking
Entrepreneurship with ADHD often means navigating challenges while uncovering unique strengths that can transform the way we do business. In this episode, Iris Goldfeder shares how she leverages her ADHD traits as entrepreneurial superpowers. From hyperfocus and systems thinking to strategic listening and authenticity, Iris demonstrates how neurodivergent strengths can fuel creativity, innovation, and stronger client relationships.
One of her most powerful insights lies in the concept of client fit—choosing to work only with clients who align with her values and business vision. By embracing authenticity, even if it means walking away from misaligned opportunities, she’s built a practice rooted in integrity and sustainability. Iris’s approach reminds us that success isn’t just about hard skills or scaling faster—it’s about cultivating courage, empathy, and emotional intelligence to create partnerships that thrive. For neurodivergent entrepreneurs, these qualities aren’t just helpful; they’re essential tools for building meaningful, lasting businesses.
Inbox Organization Strategies for an ADHD Brain
For ADHD solopreneurs and small business owners, the inbox can quickly become a trap—a place where urgency and novelty hijack focus and derail productivity. Emails feel important, but in reality, they’re often just other people’s priorities. With ADHD, the brain craves stimulation, making constant email checking a hard-to-break cycle that drains energy and executive functioning.
In this post, I share simple, ADHD-friendly inbox organization strategies that shift your relationship with email from reactive to intentional. From scheduling specific check-in times, to using folders, templates, and autoresponders, these strategies help you set boundaries, protect deep work time, and reduce task-switching fatigue. The goal isn’t just inbox zero—it’s reclaiming your time, focus, and confidence as a business owner. Because when you stop letting emails run your day, you finally create the space to focus on what matters most.
Why Leading a Revolution With Your Business Might Be Easier Than You Think
Leading a revolution with your business isn’t about grand gestures—it’s about aligning your work with purpose, passion, and impact. Whether you’re carving out a niche, challenging outdated narratives, or redefining industry norms, small but intentional steps can create lasting change. By embracing your genius zone, narrowing your focus, and building authentic connections, your business becomes more than just a service—it becomes a movement. Ready to claim your space and lead with clarity? Listen to my latest ADHD-ish Podcast episode with Rochelle Moulton and start your revolution today!
Why Disappointment Hits Harder When You’re Self-Employed with ADHD
For self-employed entrepreneurs with ADHD, disappointment can hit harder than expected. Our brains amplify emotions, struggle with time perception, and get lost in hyperfocus, making setbacks feel overwhelming. But by implementing business systems, energy management strategies, and a "Minimum Viable Day" plan, we can prevent and recover from disappointment faster. The key isn’t avoiding failure—it’s learning how to bounce back and keep moving forward. Want practical strategies? Grab my free worksheet on disappointment prevention and ADHD-friendly business systems!
Why Following Your Curiosity Might Be the Best Business Move You Make
Traditional advice tells us to niche down and stay in our lane, but what if curiosity is actually our biggest business asset? Brittany’s entrepreneurial journey—from massage therapist to SEO strategist—proves that following curiosity can lead to unexpected opportunities. Instead of resisting change, she leaned into her evolving interests, allowing them to shape her business in ways she never anticipated. Her story is a reminder that success doesn’t have to be linear. By embracing curiosity, female entrepreneurs can build businesses that are both fulfilling and uniquely their own.
Beyond Impulsivity and Overthinking: Master Balanced Decision-Making with ADHD
For entrepreneurs with ADHD, decision-making can feel like swinging between two extremes—acting on impulse or overanalyzing to the point of exhaustion. I’ve experienced both, and over time, I developed a traffic light system to help balance these tendencies. Green light decisions? Trust your gut and act fast. Yellow light decisions? Set clear boundaries and a time limit. Red light decisions? Take your time but avoid getting stuck in analysis paralysis. By tracking decisions and seeing them as experiments rather than definitive successes or failures, we can build confidence, make smarter choices, and keep moving forward in business.
Waiting for Motivation? Here’s Why It’s Sabotaging Your Success
If you're waiting for motivation to strike before taking action, you might be stuck in a self-sabotaging cycle. In my conversation with Risa Williams, psychotherapist and productivity expert, we explored how procrastination sneaks into our lives—whether through "halfway drift" or the illusion that we need to feel motivated before we begin. Risa's "task intensity meter" offers a fresh approach to managing energy and avoiding burnout, challenging the toxic hustle culture that keeps so many entrepreneurs overwhelmed. By breaking tasks into small, manageable steps and celebrating progress, we can cultivate sustainable success without sacrificing well-being.
How ADHD Can Be Your Secret Weapon in Business
ADHD isn’t just about challenges—it comes with powerful strengths that can be game-changers in business. From heightened emotional intelligence to intuitive problem-solving, ADHD entrepreneurs often excel in areas that others struggle with. Whether it’s the ability to spot patterns before they emerge, break down complex ideas into digestible concepts, or stay cool under pressure, these gifts can set you apart in your field. By recognizing and harnessing these strengths, you can transform the way you work, connect, and innovate. It’s time to stop seeing ADHD as a limitation and start embracing it as your business superpower.
Designing for the Edges: How Inclusivity Can Revolutionize Your Business
Inclusivity isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a business imperative. In my conversation with Meg Brunson, we explored the power of “designing for the edges,” a principle that prioritizes accessibility for those who need it most while benefiting a broader audience. Meg shared her journey from Facebook ads to a more holistic and ethical marketing approach, emphasizing the importance of aligning business practices with personal values.
We discussed practical strategies for making digital content more accessible, like using Camel Case in hashtags, ensuring large and accurate captions, and leveraging color contrast checkers. Meg also touched on the ethical challenges of marketing, including the importance of transparency and the delicate balance of expanding accessibility without unintentionally misleading audiences.
Her entrepreneurial journey—shaped by her experiences living in an RV, working with the deaf community, and navigating business with ADHD—offered powerful insights into the intersection of inclusivity and business success. For female entrepreneurs, Meg’s approach is a reminder that true impact comes from creating spaces where everyone can engage fully.
Crafting Your Unique Legacy in a Saturated Coaching Industry
Anne Levine’s remarkable journey from therapist to coach is a masterclass in resilience and reinvention. Like many female entrepreneurs, Anne faced the challenge of defining a new professional identity while navigating the habits of her past roles. Her experience underscores the importance of leveraging past successes as stepping stones, not shackles, and aligning your work with your unique strengths.
Through our work together, Anne refined her "inner compass," gained clarity on her goals, and developed strategies to create lasting change for her clients. Her story is a powerful reminder for solopreneurs: authenticity and self-definition are the keys to building a legacy that resonates and endures in a saturated coaching industry.
How to Craft a Career Around Your ADHD Traits
Navigating the workforce with ADHD can be challenging, but it doesn’t have to be limiting. Through "job crafting," you can align your career with your unique strengths and create a fulfilling work life. By focusing on tasks that play to your ADHD-driven creativity, hyperfocus, and adaptability, while establishing supportive structures for areas of struggle, you can thrive professionally. This compassionate and strengths-based approach not only empowers individuals but also enhances workplace productivity and creativity. Discover how to craft a career that supports your ADHD traits and allows you to shine authentically.
88% of Resolutions Fail: Here's the ADHD-Friendly Approach to Break the Cycle
Traditional resolutions often fail because they rely on rigid methods that don't align with the ADHD brain. Instead, consider ADHD-friendly alternatives like theming your year or incorporating gentle nudges. Theming offers flexibility and meaningful direction, while nudges act as supportive reminders to maintain balance and prevent burnout. These adaptable strategies prioritize progress over perfection, helping you live a life that feels authentic and aligned. Whether it's through embracing a yearly theme or setting up small reminders, 2025 can be a year of intentional living and sustainable growth.
Goblin Tools: 8 Secret Weapons for Overcoming ADHD Task Avoidance
Struggling with ADHD task avoidance can feel like an uphill battle, especially when tasks seem too complex to start or too overwhelming to finish. Enter Goblin.Tools—a suite of innovative solutions developed by Bram de Buyser, specifically designed for neurodivergent individuals. These tools make managing daily challenges simpler and more approachable. Whether it’s breaking down intimidating tasks with Magic To-Do, crafting the perfect tone for your messages with Formalizer, or gaining clarity on decisions using the Consultant tool, Goblin.Tools provides practical, user-friendly solutions. With these tools, you can transform chaos into clarity and reclaim control over your time and energy, making your entrepreneurial journey smoother and more productive.
Tackle Your Time Blindness and Stop Overcommitting with These Strategies
Fridays have taken on a new significance for me since embracing 'Future Self Fridays.' This weekly ritual involves a brief check-in with myself to review commitments, assess my energy requirements, and delegate or delete tasks that exceed my capacity. This practice ensures that I'm not just managing my present workload but also setting myself up for future success. If you've noticed that all of the strategies I have mentioned so far involve assessing my energetic capacity, this is one of the ways I reduce my risk for burnout
This holiday season, let’s focus on thriving, not just surviving.
Surviving Holiday Chaos: Essential Burnout Prevention Tips for Neurodivergent Women
The holidays are a whirlwind, but for neurodivergent female entrepreneurs, they can quickly spiral into a recipe for burnout. With mounting expectations and endless to-do lists, it's easy to forget the basics—like staying hydrated or taking a moment to rest. As Paula Liub, burnout coach for sensitive and neurodivergent women, reminds us: our well-being isn't optional—it's essential. From simplifying gift shopping to creating space for downtime, Paula's insights are a gentle reminder that saying “yes” to everything shouldn’t mean saying “no” to ourselves.
This holiday season, let’s focus on thriving, not just surviving.
Revenge Bedtime Procrastination vs. Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome: Which One Is Keeping You Up?
Sleep issues have always been a part of my life as an entrepreneur with ADHD, but discovering Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome (DSPS) was a game-changer. Unlike revenge bedtime procrastination—where you stay up late for personal "me time"—DSPS is a clinical condition that shifts your internal clock, making it nearly impossible to fall asleep before the early hours of the morning. If you've tried blackout curtains, melatonin, or countless sleep hacks with little success, your sleep struggles might not be about willpower—they could be about biology. Understanding the difference between these patterns and seeking targeted solutions like light therapy and strategic melatonin use can be life-changing. If this resonates with you, you’re not alone. Learning to work with your body, not against it, is key to thriving both personally and professionally.
From Hiding to Thriving: Ruth Rathblott’s Insights on Transformative Leadership
Ruth Rathblott introduces the concept of "strategic hiding," a nuanced approach to balancing authenticity and professional expectations. By understanding when and how to reveal personal aspects, we can navigate workplace dynamics without sacrificing our mental well-being. This thoughtful perspective aligns with the evolving leadership landscape, where vulnerability and trust have become essential. Female entrepreneurs, in particular, can create inclusive and thriving environments by fostering openness and self-awareness while embracing their unique leadership styles.