The ADD Entrepreneur

Posted on April 18, 2016

Finding the right focus is top priority in the world of online entrepreneurship. We all know those people who constantly bounce from one pyramid scheme to another–one day they’re selling health supplements, and the next they’re selling cosmetics. I think people often fall into this common trap of trying one thing and moving onto the next because they aren’t able to truly focus on what they’re doing and quickly give up when they don’t nail it the first time.

People succeed when they are focused. People see results when they are focused. People make a difference when they are focused.

When I say focus, I’m not referring to picking only one thing and not doing anything else. Entrepreneurship is a multifaceted lifestyle. Successful entrepreneurs always have several different projects on the go, but they’re focused in the sense that they do only what they’re good at. They know what works for them, what makes them feel fulfilled, and what makes them money. Successful entrepreneurs know better than to waste their focus on things that don’t help them achieve their goals. They know where they are now and where they want to be in the future, and they focus on projects and tasks that propel them toward the future they desire.

Let’s be real for a minute. Simply telling yourself to “just focus” isn’t enough to actually do something effectively and maintain the same results every time. It takes hard work, and it often takes time to find your groove.

As someone who struggles with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), focus isn’t a strong suit for me. Having ADD means my brain has a chemical imbalance that inhibits my ability to focus easily.

HelpGuide.org says

Adults with ADD/ADHD often have difficulty staying focused and attending to daily, mundane tasks. For example, you may be easily distracted by irrelevant sights and sounds, quickly bounce from one activity to another, or become bored quickly.”

So many people claim to have ADD these days without an actual diagnosis, and yet it’s entirely possible that they are right. The world we live in is moving fast and it doesn’t seem natural for us humans to be as adaptive and flexible as the technology we use.

There’s another side of ADD that people, myself included, often forget. It’s called hyperfocus.

“Hyperfocus is actually a coping mechanism for distraction—a way of tuning out the chaos. It can be so strong that you become oblivious to everything going on around you. For example, you may be so engrossed in a book, a TV show, or your computer that you completely lose track of time and neglect the things you’re supposed to be doing. Hyperfocus can be an asset when channeled into productive activities, but it can also lead to work and relationship problems if left unchecked.” – HelpGuide.org

Like me, I’m almost certain you’ve fallen victim to hyperfocus. Have you ever set your sights on something you wanted to badly that you neglected everything else just to try to make it happen? This was more of a struggle for me growing up, but I still find myself obsessing over certain ideas, and it’s something I’ve learned to manage as an adult.

Hyperfocus isn’t always a bad thing, though. Being hyperfocused on goals can be great as long as they’re the right goals.

How do you know if your goals are the right ones, though? Personally, sometimes it’s hard for me to determine whether I want something so badly because I think it’s the best thing for me, or if it’s just because I’m unhappy with my current situation and am desperate to see ANY change at all. Decision making and goal setting requires keen self-awareness. We all have tendencies that prevent us from doing what’s best for us, and it’s important to know what yours are.

In order to determine if you’re on the right track, you should evaluate your goals and decide which ones are worth focusing on, which ones are worth hyperfocusing on, and which ones need to be left behind.

Here are 8 key principles to help you evaluate your goals:

Determine your position

Where are you right now and what do you want to change? You have to know where you are now to know where you want to go. Determine what you want to change and actively pursue it. You have to decide to be different if you want you see a difference. If I want to be debt-free by 2017, I have to go above and beyond and pay more than just the minimum on my credit cards every month.
Define your purpose

The more clear, concise, and compelling your purpose is, the more motivating it will be for you. You’re never going to reach a vague goal. Here are some examples of vague goals:
- “I want to be a successful blogger.”
- “I want to inspire people.”
Vague goals like those makes you think “so what?”. Many bloggers and online entrepreneurs feel that way as well. What makes your goal or purpose different than someone else’s? Be specific:
- “I want to quit my corporate job and make a living as a full time blogger.”
- “I want to work with new female entrepreneurs and help them succeed in their first year of business.”
Here’s a completely unrelated example. Which of the following two goals do you think is more effective?
- “I want to quit smoking.”
- “I want to quit smoking by July.”
Most people who smoke say they want to quit smoking. That’s not necessarily a goal. It’s just a desire.

By being specific about it, you’re taking it from desire to goal by giving yourself a timeline that you have to work toward in order to achieve it.
Describe the profit

What is the reward and why do you want it? When you figure that out, you’ll be closer to figuring out how to reach it.
I want have my own business and be my own boss because I don’t want to do work I hate with people I’d really rather not work with. I don’t want to feel drained everyday. I want to be happy and love what I do 100% of the time. I want to call the shots and make the money I know I deserve to make so I can stop living paycheck to paycheck. I want to spend my mornings in devotions and spend my evenings on myself. I want to be able to travel to see my family for more than just two weeks out of the year, and I want to surround myself with like-minded people. I want to do what I know I was put on this earth to do and thrive.

Knowing what I want and why I want it allows me to see the big picture. My goal of having my own business affects every other aspect of my life that’s important to me, which leads me to think it’s a goal worth focusing on.
Diagnose the problems

What is preventing you from reaching your goal or feeling like you’re living your purpose?

It’s easy to get discouraged by a problem that doesn’t seem to go away. There’s always going to be something that isn’t in your favor, and that’s ok. You’re not the only one who feels that way. Growing up with ADD and several other mental illnesses, I was often told I just wasn’t meant to be a leader. How am I supposed to run a successful business if I never did well in school or took a business class? How am I supposed to be able to afford my medication if I don’t have a job with benefits?

These may be problems or obstacles that others aren’t willing to deal with, but I’ve decided to face them head on because I know I’m not limited to only what I’ve achieved or not achieved in the past.
Design a plan

How do you intend to get where you want to go? How long will it take? The longer you do something, the harder it is to change, so start now! What works for me isn’t necessarily going to work for you, so don’t assume you can do what I did and get the same results. Design a plan specific to you and your situation. It might take you longer than it took me, but it’s better to stick to a solid plan than to overexert yourself and take on more than you can chew just to try to reach the top. Whatever “ladder to success” you’re climbing, make sure it’s leaning against the right wall.
Discipline your personality

Don’t be fooled by uneducated enthusiasm. It’s so easy to see someone who did well once and assume they have it all together. Stop spending so much time looking over the fence admiring someone else’s grass and water your own damn grass! One of the things I find interesting about what I do is seeing behind the scenes of peoples’ business lives. No one I work with has a perfect life, and when things are going well for them, it’s because they work hard and discipline themselves. Defer pleasure where required. Do what you need to do to get where you feel like you need to be. Get up early, give up sugar, or turn off the tv. It sucks now but it’s going to get better and it’s going to get easier.
Depend on people

Don’t try to do it alone! The answers we’re looking for often come from other people. Seek advice from those who have consistently accomplished what you hope to achieve. Even when you feel like no one else believes in you, look beyond your inner circle and find that person who does. The internet is beautiful place for that very reason! Someone out there wants to see you succeed and can give you the support you need. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and learn from those you look up to. No one is actually an overnight success.
Deposit the price

What are you willing to give or give up to reach your goal and is the cause worth the cost? You’ve probably heard the saying “nothing in life worth having comes free.” There’s always a price for reaching a goal, whether it’s time, money, your reputation, or something else. Don’t set goals that are convenient for you. You have to stretch yourself if you want to see a difference. Your life is going to change when you reach your goal. You better be prepared for that change and everything that comes along with it.

I’ve created a worksheet that you can use to help you prioritize your goals and find your focus. Do one worksheet per goal, then determine which goals you want to continue pursuing and which ones you want to forget about. Focus on the goals that truly matter to you. The ones that will make you a happier and better person. The ones that will improve all aspects of your life, not just one aspect like your finances or self esteem.