The ADHD Entrepreneur
By David Giwerc, MCC
"The United States is in the midst of an entrepreneurial renaissance. People are literally waking up to the idea that they can work for themselves and make a lot of money doing it. And, while there are as many types of entrepreneurs as there are businesses, most entrepreneurs share some common traits. They tend to be visionaries. People who go into business for themselves tend to be risk takers. After almost a decade of coaching entrepreneurs, it has also been my observation that a majority of all entrepreneurs have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or AD/HD.
They may not be taking medication and many of them haven't even been diagnosed, but anyone who knows AD/HD would recognize the signs. The chart below compares AD/HD with Entrepreneurship. As they use to say on those old TV shows, only the names have been changed.
ADHD Distracted - Seems to always have something new to think about.
Entrepreneur - Constantly has new ideas for how to improve the business
ADHD - Starts several projects at the same time, may not complete any of them.
Entrepreneur - Flexible. Approaches problems from several different angles, always ready to change direction if that is what is needed
ADHD - Distorted sense of time. For example, will spend hours playing a video game without realizing how much time has passed.
Entrepreneur - Immerses him or herself in the job and often does not realize how much time has passed
ADHD - Visual thinkers
Entrepreneur - Visionaries who paint a picture for others
ADHD - Hands-on learners
Entrepreneur - Hands-on managers
ADHD - Hyperactive
Entrepreneur - Always on the go
Once you understand what AD/HD looks like, you could easily conclude that virtually all successful entrepreneurs have AD/HD. Experts on AD/HD believe that Benjamin Franklin had AD/HD. Coincidentally, Franklin is also thought to be the first American entrepreneur. There is evidence that Thomas Edison had AD/HD, as did Henry Ford, Walt Disney and both of the Wright Brothers. You don't have to go as far back as Edison and Ford to find examples of successful AD/HD entrepreneurs. David Neeleman, CEO of JetBlue, has publicly acknowledged his AD/HD. Neeleman has chosen not to take medication for AD/HD and has instead learned how to use his "unique brain wiring" to his advantage, now that he better understands it."
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OVERCOME PROCRASTINATION
GET ORGANIZED
GAIN CONTROL AND ACCOUNTABILITY
MANAGE YOUR TIME BETTER (do more with less effort)
DETERMINE CAREER DIRECTION & PLAN
SET PRIORITIES
MAKE A LIFE PLAN and FOLLOW THROUGH
BUILD A NEW BUSINESS or GROW AN EXISTING BUSINESS
SUCCEED IN and OUT OF THE WORKPLACE
GAIN CONFIDENCE
GET ON TRACK and ACHIEVE YOUR DREAMS!
