October is ADHD Awareness Month. What better time to bring together a group of micro business owners, all who have been diagnosed with ADHD, to chat about the ups and downs people face running a micro business when they have ADHD.
Huge thanks to Andrew Critchett – Founder: Doing Good Coffee, Kim Allingham – Neuro-inclusion Consultant, Nicola Little – Founder & Director: MINT Business Club & Celebrate Difference and Rachel Morgan-Trimmer – Neurodiversity Consultant for taking part in this online session sharing their experiences, advice and understanding.
If you missed the session you can watch it here https://youtu.be/uOhOPljUn2I
What is ADHD ?
ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, it affects people’s behaviour. People with ADHD may act on impulse, can seem restless or have trouble concentrating *
ADHD Symptoms or Entrepreneurial Traits ?
In 2016, a study carried out by a team of international economists at the Technical University of Munich found many of the traits associated with entrepreneurship, and yes as a micro business owner you are most definitely an entrepreneur according to the Collins Dictionary definition here, were similar to symptoms used to recognise ADHD. One of the comments made by a micro business owner watching the panel discussion was ‘I can resonate with most things that you are saying but didn’t realise they are attributes of ADHD’. Many others probably feel the same and our panelists themselves talked about coming to terms with some of the symptoms prior to diagnosis and how a diagnosis became a light bulb moment for them. Famous business creators and entrepreneurs who have ADHD include Richard Branson, Founder of Virgin Group and Ingvar Kamprad, Founder of IKEA – the ADHD symptom of being impulsive and taking risks may very well have helped in their business development. There are attributes that can both help and hinder you when you have ADHD and are running a micro business, something else our panelists touched on.
Top Panelist Tips
Amongst the questions Tina Boden, panel host and Founder of The Micro Business Mentor Club, asked Andrew, Kim, Nicola and Rachel was ‘What is your one top tip for people with ADHD running a micro business?’
‘You can do anything but cannot do everything’ shared Andrew.
Kim advised people to ‘Scrap yearly goals and go for a 90 day sprint instead’.
Rachel’s top tip is ‘Do things your own way’.
Nicola couldn’t manage just one bit of key advice so rolled two into one ‘Live to your own values and surround yourself with the right people’.
These are certainly great pieces of advice !
Want To Chat Further ?
Do not be afraid to reach out to any of our panelists on social media or alternatively drop us an email hello@themicrobusinessmentorclub.com and we are more than happy to put you in touch with them.
*Definition taken from www.nhs.uk
