“Starting your own business is like riding a roller coaster. There are ups and downs, and each turn presents another twist. The lows can be very low, but the highs can be incredibly high. You need to be resilient, keep your stomach tight, and go along for the ride you started.” ~ Lindsay Manseau

Did you know that adults with ADHD are 300% more likely to become entrepreneurs? Given the current economy, more and more people are opting to create their own success by starting their own businesses. Although its popularity has surged recently, the term ‘entrepreneur’ was initially defined in the late 1600s by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. According to Cantillon, an entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who generates income through risk and initiative. Risk and initiative…hmmm…sounds ADHD-like to me! I think it’s fair to say that ADHD and entrepreneurs share many similar brain-style traits. Some of the more famous entrepreneurs who have been diagnosed with ADHD include:

• Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Airlines.
• Ingvar Kamprad, the Swedish founder and chairman of IKEA, said he adjusted the inner workings of his business to accommodate his ADHD and dyslexia.
• David Neeleman, founder and CEO of JetBlue Airways.
• Charles Schwab, the founder, chairperson, and CEO of the Charles Schwab Corporation, the largest brokerage firm in the U.S.
• While ADHD presents some clear challenges, it also brings many positive qualities that contribute to the success of numerous entrepreneurial ventures.

1. Risk Taker

People with ADHD often do not consider the consequences of their actions. Instead, they focus more on what’s happening right now. This is beneficial for entrepreneurs because it means they will act on an opportunity rather than miss it because they are over analyzing their actions.

2. Creativity

Successful entrepreneurs and individuals with ADHD coined the phrase “thinking outside of the box.” With a wealth of thoughts and ideas stemming from their active minds, people with ADHD appear to be continually generating new concepts for products or services, leveraging this creativity to devise solutions and strategies that might otherwise be overlooked. This creativity is crucial for entrepreneurial success, enabling these unique thinking styles to recognize more opportunities, information, and resources that others often miss.

3. Ability to Hyperfocus

Success as an entrepreneur means spending hours, months, or even years dedicated to your business. This unique trait resembles the “hyper focus” that people with ADHD often experience. When individuals with ADHD are genuinely interested in something, they can concentrate on that one task while the rest of the world fades away. Time disappears, the outside world vanishes, and they seem to enter an incredibly focused state of mind that I call “the zone.” Some people with ADHD affectionately refer to this as their “ADD coma.”

4. Multitasking

Entrepreneurs are often jack-of-all-trades, required to wear multiple hats at once. The ADHD brain excels at managing several tasks simultaneously, particularly those that align with inherent interests, strengths, and passions. An ADHD entrepreneur may struggle with the overwhelming task of simply paying bills. Still, if this otherwise mundane task is combined with entrepreneurial activities like web browsing, listening to music, talking on the phone, and answering emails. In that case, it is more likely to be completed.

5. High Energy Level

Owning your own business requires a tremendous amount of mental and physical energy. Individuals with ADHD often tap into their personal adrenaline reserves to work longer hours, pull all-nighters, or meet tight deadlines.

6. Turns Chaos Into Cash!

Running a business and being an entrepreneur requires the ability to manage chaos, unpredictability, and inconsistency. Individuals with ADHD, known for their heightened interest in and tolerance for novelty and stimulation, often thrive in situations that might be crises for others. In fact, these are the precise circumstances where they tend to be the most focused and clear-headed, enabling them to make immediate decisions that drive profitability.

As an entrepreneur myself, I am often grateful for some of these unique qualities, which have helped me take risks, pursue possibilities others might not have noticed, and fuel the determination that has helped my business grow.

I would love to hear your thoughts on your unique ADHD traits and how they have contributed to the success of your entrepreneurial business!

To find out more about the entrepreneurial brain style, download my complimentary Ebook, “Unlock the Secrets to Your Entrepreneurial Brain Style“.