(ADD) How to get motivated when I am my own boss and my only accountability?

[BlessedNeuroDiverse]

I have just launched a business that I know can be successful if I invest the time and energy. I struggle with procrastination and because I am my own boss I have no one “putting on the pressure” to show up and get stuff done. So my business sits there, waiting for me, but I don’t show up. I know what I need to do but I don’t. I’m making myself so frustrated which I’m sure adds to the procrastination. Any tips would be wonderful!

[Gettingittogether]

Yeah, it's really frightening to be our own boss and not be able to motivate ourselves. People with ADHD need structure. Most of us don't work well alone without some pressure, some deadlines, somebody checking in with us.

You've actually created the hardest working situation for yourself. There an opportunity to really learn here. Because ADHD people running a business is really iffy. Usually people will partner with a detailed-oriented person.

Can I ask what gave you the idea that you could work alone? With ADHD, we have to be brutally honest and accurate about the conditions under which we work best. We do need some structure.

You need to find a business accountability group. But really, you got yourself in a really hard situation for people with ADHD. If you can't self-start, then you cannot build a business.

Now, you can get better, but it will take time. I mean, a task like learning how to manage your time with no outside accountability ... that can take years to learn for someone with ADHD.

Can you afford a business coach? ... and find a business support group? Where people meet with each other and hold each other accountable--and encourage each other?

[STEM_Dad]

Difficulty with motivation and self-direction are common for those of us with ADHD. However, it's also known that many people with ADHD have an entrepreneurial spirit.

Some very successful people have ADHD. This article names a few who are well known, and has some recommendations that you may find helpful.

psychologytoday.com/us/blog...

I think that Gettingittogether

is right that it's hard to do alone. That's what is implied by some of the points in the article.

I do believe that you can find the motivation you need. Just because it's harder for us to be motivated doesn't mean it's impossible. Of course it's possible! But you know yourself better than anyone else knows you.

So then, ask yourself why you started your business. Ask yourself why you do what you do.

I've faced many difficult things in my adult life. I have dealt with some scary things, done work that I felt like walking away from. If I was only looking out for my best interests, I would have walked away from each of those situations. But, I chose to persist, I didn't give up, and it's for one reason. I found my greatest motivation...I did it for my family.

Some people are motivated to bring something new into the world, they have a vision, they have a dream to fulfill. It could be a business, I could be a ministry, the service organization, a school. It could be in service to a nation or a particular people group. There are many good reasons to find motivation.

I am most motivated in my work to serve people, to help people. My greatest values are centered on the Family, most especially on my own family.

Again, you were motivated by something to start your business. You had a dream, a vision, a goal. Remember that, remember what it is, remember what inspired you.

Once you remember that, and start thinking about but it will take to meet your goal, to fulfill your vision, to drive your business towards success. If you need help to do it, to be real with yourself about what help you will need. Will you need to invest in coaching? Will you need to hire an assistant? Think about it.

[Hidden]

If nothing works, “Which I’m sure you’ll find a way to make it work.” I can always call you and yell at you Army style. The consequences are very high in your situation. This is your income to live. Maybe hang up your bills in places that you’ll see them. Or positively reinforce the situation with reminders everywhere of what you want your business to become. You have to fill your pockets with goals and carry a notebook at all times with you. Get rid of your distractions around your work area. Out of sight out of mind works really well for ADHD. Another thing that might work is creating a battle rhythm. It’s all the things written down like a check list that you need to get done everyday in order. I’m the Army you use battle rhythms to keep from being complacent.

[Tim_Othy in reply to Hidden]

Rod, you could make a living holding people accountable, I think they call that a serious Life Coach. I may take you up on that offer

[Hidden in reply to Tim_Othy]

lol it’s from being an NCO. I do find a lot of joy when others succeed. I wish you the best.

[Tim_Othy]

I can completely understand your situation. I have started many businesses on paper, with full details, every step laid out and at times did nothing with it. I have also started multiple businesses with partners. Some partners were very poor choices and led to less than optimal endings, but I have had several very high quality partnerships that have been life changing. If you are the type of person that will keep you word to others, though maybe not to yourself, a partnership could be the answer.

Entrepreneurship is challenging and can be very fulfilling. I have found the only way for me to be successful in a start up is through complete saturation or hyper focus, putting the diversions aside, making commitments to others, and ride or die.

I would also ask myself too what degree my fear is holding me back. If you are putting out time and money for something that may go south, most people don’t even attempt such ventures. Sometimes fear is wiser than courage, but should be based on one’s level of exposure to a negative outcome. In other words, will this business destroy my family, financial health, will I lose my house - what is at stake? I like the book called Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway.

Never get lost in the details and menutia of daily life, if you have a higher purpose.

Unlike Jordan Peterson - I don’t make my bed.

[Gettingittogether in reply to Tim_Othy]

Tons of wisdom from hard-earned experience in your post, Tim_Othy. You would be a great mentor for the struggling entrepreneur here.

[sittingforyou6]

Hi,

I relate your situation to my struggle in early days of my startup as I failed to initiate things automatically like others do very normally. I tried many ways, healing methods, alternative therapy till I found CBT much helpful in dealing things very directly and accurately. I started learning about my patterns of habbit and creating strategy to deals with, besides I use pomodore , timer , self deadlines and externalize reward methods to initiate myself. Our ADHD mind knows whats good and whats looks hard , so it avoid everything which is not good, unpleasant and almost have a tendency to make every task exaggerated hard , time consuming, and unpleasant , untill we show him that its not. Thats the philosophy i realized a long ago and manage things well. You can make a partner, with you can share your success and failures on daily basis and prepare a learning and strategy journal where you put your strategy to deals with failures and repeat your success. I love to be accompany you in this recovery journey and learning partner or anyone here in this group, So we can discuss our life on daily basis and make it more beautiful than previous and share my strategies with others. ADHD makes us co-operative and we should be to deal this. Best wishes

[Lanizard]

Is the motivation to make more money or create your business more successful than its reason? I think you need help running your business. It's just that when I opened my toy store in Jersey, I had no idea where to start, what to save money on or how to increase my income. But I was lucky enough to find a website that specializes in helping all those who are starting or having trouble running a small business. It helped me a lot, so I suggest you click for info bizop.org to get some helpful tips that will get you back motivated to grow your business.

[SierraHomesick]

someone just posted about doing zoom check in meetings to help motivate each other and help with accountability. Maybe they could help