The ADHD entrepreneur’s dilemma: Lots of business ideas, limited time and energy

If you are an ADHD entrepreneur, chances are you’ve come up with an endless flood of business ideas.

One day, you’re planning to launch a podcast; the next, you’re creating a line of handmade crochet plushies based on deep sea creatures. The creativity and enthusiasm you bring to each idea are unmatched—but when it comes to actually getting those ideas off the ground, things can start to fall apart. So, why does this happen? And more importantly, how can you take those brilliant ideas and turn them into something real?

In this article, we talk about why ADHD brains are wired to come up with endless business concepts but struggle with execution. We’ll also go over practical advice on what to do when you get a new business idea, like how to validate a business idea, choose the right one, and—perhaps the most crucial part—stay interested long enough to see it through.

Why do we do this?

For starters, the ADHD brain is wired to seek novelty and stimulation. We thrive on newness and the excitement of a fresh idea, so it's no surprise that we get flooded with business concepts. Each new idea is novel, feels like the next big thing, and the burst of enthusiasm we feel is powerful.

But here's the catch: once the novelty wears off, that dopamine rush fades, and what was once exciting now feels mundane. With every business, there are fun parts and not-so-fun parts. Creating and selling custom candles sounds fun while you’re making the candles. That is, until you have to start bookkeeping for your expenses and figuring out how to package your candles to handle a cross-country trip, getting thrown around by package handlers.

This is the ADHD struggle. Your ideas are amazing but the motivation and executive functioning needed for the follow-through can be difficult to maintain long-term. When running a business, following through on an idea means sticking with it, even when it’s not fun or novel anymore. This is where a lot of ADHD entrepreneurs hit a roadblock. It’s not that the ideas aren’t good, it’s that the natural ebb and flow of interest makes it hard to stay the course long enough to turn them into a successful business.

Validating a business idea

With so many ideas bouncing around, how do you even know which ones are worth pursuing? You don’t want to jump into something that seems amazing at first, only to realize a few months down the line that it’s not viable.

Here’s how you can validate your business idea to see if it’s worth your time:

1. Market Research: Is there a demand for this? Who is your target audience? Try to talk to real people about whether they’d use or buy what you’re offering. Look at similar businesses and see what’s working for them.

   You can try this by joining Facebook groups related to your business idea and asking for opinions there. For example, I see lots of crafters in an ADHD Crafts group I’m in who enjoy crafting and are considering selling their creations. They post a few pictures of what they make and ask the people in the group, an audience of folks who enjoy buying from small businesses, if they would buy that item and how much they might pay for it. That’s just one way to market research, though. A bit of internet research should help you figure out different ways to do market research for your specific business idea.

2. Cost vs. Return: Think about the resources you’ll need to invest. Do you need special skills, equipment, or a large amount of time? Will it realistically make enough money to justify the effort? Maybe you want to start a laser-engraving business, but you’ll have to drop a few thousand dollars on a laser engraver first. This is an example where you’ll want to seriously consider the cost vs. return.

3. Longevity: Ask yourself if this idea will work in a year or two. Remember fidget spinners? They were all over the place for a while. You could buy one at just about any store you went to. Once the fad died off, lots of businesses were left with product they couldn’t sell.

   So, be sure to ask yourself, is the idea based on a passing trend, or does it have the potential to stick around for the long haul?

4. Personal interest: Are you personally interested in the business you want to run? Starting a marketing agency or dropshipping kitchen supplies may be profitable, but if your heart isn’t in it, you’re going to have trouble moving forward in your business. Choose something that offers you something in return, even more than money.

   For example, being a virtual assistant is probably a boring idea for some people. However, to me, I find satisfaction in having a wide skillset, helping others, and proving wrong the folks who think being a generalist is a bad thing. Business, to me, feels like a very real game of Monopoly, which keeps me curious and allows me to persevere when I feel “meh” about work.

Once you’ve validated your ideas, you’ll likely have narrowed them down to a handful of viable ones. Then, it’s time to decide which one to focus on and how to stay invested in it.

An important note on having multiple businesses

It’s no secret ADHD entrepreneurs may have multiple businesses at a time. Should you do this? That is perfectly fine. However, as someone who is ADHD and has worked with multiple ADHD entrepreneurs, my advice is to start one business at a time.

That doesn’t mean you can’t have multiple businesses, but that you want to get one business off the ground before you launch another one. The benefit of this approach is that:

1. You are not stretching your mental and physical energy too thin.

2. You have enough monetary resources to dedicate to your idea.

3. You are less likely to burn out on accident.

4. You are not unintentionally “dopamine-chasing” by launching multiple businesses at once.

5. You get to learn from your first business launch and make adjustments for the next one to go smoother.

Choosing the right idea for you

Here’s where things get tricky: choosing one doesn’t mean the others are bad! You can always come back to those later. But for now, focus on picking an idea that ticks the following boxes:

• Passion: Do you care deeply about this idea? If it doesn’t spark some kind of passion or personal connection, it’s going to be tough to push through the hard times.

• Viability: Is this idea realistic given your current resources, skills, and time? Passion is an amazing driving force, but if you don’t have the means to execute it, you might set yourself up for frustration.

• Sustainability: Does this business have the potential to earn the amount of money you need it to earn? Will there be ways to evolve and grow it as your interest shifts?

The novelty will wear off (and that’s okay)

Every entrepreneur, ADHD or not, experiences the “honeymoon phase” of starting a new business. At first, you’re on fire with ideas, designs, plans, and dreams. But once the reality of day-to-day operations kicks in, that sparkle dims. This is perfectly normal—but when you have ADHD, it can feel like hitting a wall.

How do you get past this phase?

1. Break it into smaller tasks: If the big picture starts feeling overwhelming, break the work into bite-sized pieces. Checking off small tasks provides little dopamine hits that keep you going. Plus, it makes getting the work done easier. Lots of projects can’t be done in a day, even when we hyperfocus our way through it, so breaking a project down into smaller tasks helps us know the next step and avoid overwhelm.

   Need help doing this? Try ChatGPT or Goblin Tools.

2. Find new (fun) challenges in your business: Inject novelty into the work you’re doing by learning new skills or setting new challenges for yourself. This helps you reignite that initial passion. For example, you could do this by adding a new service or collaborating with other business owners in some way.

   Coincidentally enough, as I’m writing this article, I am struggling with this problem I’m writing about. My solution is to meet other neurodivergent business owners and write articles with them based on their areas of expertise. This allows me the novelty of meeting new people, growing my writing skills, and getting a hit of dopamine whenever I publish a new article.

3. Outsource the mundane: If it’s possible, hand off the parts of your business that drain your energy. Whether it’s answering emails or updating your website, find help for tasks that don’t keep your attention. Depending on the task, you could hire a virtual assistant (wink, wink) or you could hire an expert in that specific area of business, like a copywriter for your sales funnel or an accountant for your taxes.

4. Remind yourself of your “why”: When interest fades, reconnect with the reason you started in the first place. Whether it's helping people, earning financial freedom, or following a passion, remembering your core motivator can give you a much-needed boost.

5. Remember “this too shall pass”: A lack of interest in your business is not necessarily a death sentence. Flowers don’t bloom all year round, they need a break sometimes. Your motivation toward your business works the same way.

   Your interest may ebb and flow. It is natural! Take it as a queue to put less focus on your business as a central aspect of your life, and pursue hobbies, new experiences, and other other interests. At some point, you will naturally come back to your business with a new sense of interest and motivation.

Staying interested in your business when you are ADHD

Once you’ve chosen your idea and the honeymoon phase fades, here are a few ways to maintain your focus:

1. Schedule downtime: ADHD brains can burn out quickly if you don’t pace yourself. Make sure you build in time for rest, relaxation, and activities that recharge your creativity. While it can be tempting to go “all in” and give all of your time and attention to your business when you’re launching it, remember to pace yourself.

   I’ve seen folks recommend other business owners should utilize this hyperfocus phase as a way to make as much progress as possible, but, ultimately that is not sustainable!!! I can’t emphasize that enough. Make sure you’re allowing your brain time to think about other things that aren’t your business. I know that can be hard sometimes, but it will help you not burn out in the future. Think about it like you’re training your brain to take things at a pace you can comfortably handle for the long term.

2. Keep learning: Keep feeding your brain with fresh information. Is there a new skill you’d like to learn? Or just new information that would help you improve something you’re already doing? Dopamine can be earned through satiating curiosity.

3. Reward yourself: Build small rewards into your work routine. If you hit a milestone, treat yourself to something that feels like a genuine win. Remember, you are your own boss now. Be a good boss to yourself!

4. Create accountability: Find someone (or a group) to hold you accountable. Whether it's a business partner, an assistant, a mentor, or a coach, having someone who checks in on your progress can make all the difference in keeping you focused. Doing business alone is hard. Having others who understand what you’re going through makes a big difference.

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Being an ADHD entrepreneur is a double-edged sword—you have the creativity and innovation to dream up amazing ideas, but long-term execution takes effort. With some structure and the right strategies, you can turn those ideas into a business that lasts.