Entrepreneurs with ADHD, and “E-Myth Mastery” (TM): ADHDer’s travel on the road to success may be determined more by their ability to “Differentiate” than to “Focus”.

In today’s tough economic climate, entrepreneurs face a uniquely broad set of challenges. While forced to react to every day tactical crises (e.g., the demand to increase sales, the need to develop a new employee, securing long-term relationships), it is more important than ever to be proactive and maintain a strategic focus (e.g., put systems in place, implement strategies that respond to market changes and customer demands, improve the bottom-line, lead your company and create new opportunities).

To be successful, today’s Entrepreneur with ADHD must learn to differentiate between these competing demands. In fact, beyond learning to focus, it may be the case that increasing your ability to differentiate what activity merits your attention may an
equally – if not more – crucial determinant of your company’s success.

To help you learn to differentiate, I will refer to an approach I first encountered in the “E-Myth Mastery: The Seven Essential Disciplines for Building a World Class Company,” written by Michael Gerber. He insightfully points out that Entrepreneurs need to have the ability to differentiate (or as he say’s to “discriminate”) — that is, choosing where to focus your attention. Mr. Gerber has a brilliant, yet simple system that can be used to help Entrepreneurs with ADHD develop their skill at differentiating between whether an activity is strategic or tactical.

Assuming you have found an ADHD treatment that helps you learn how to increase your focus, developing your skill at differentiation may be the most critical step you take on your path to success.

You must learn how to focus — and where to focus — your attention. If you can not differentiate your attention, you will never learn how to use it to select the most important thing to do. An entrepreneur who can not differentiate will spend as much energy on the least important things as the most important things, which will almost guarantee you are taken off course. You must know what strategic objectives are important, and what activities will bring them about.

Achieving these strategic objectives has little to do with successfully reacting to today’s crises; rather, it involves proactively putting together and executing a strategic plan that accomplishes your big picture goals. 

To learn to become more strategic, I want you to get a calendar book and write down everything you do for a day. No matter how insignificant, I want you to list every thing you do. At the end of the day, you are to designate the activities on your list as either “E” for entrepreneurial, “M” for managerial, or “T” for technical.

The work that you designate an “E” to should be entrepreneurial work. The work you designate an “M” to could be entrepreneurial, or managerial work. That is, either you as an entrepreneur can complete it, or you could assign it to a manager because it is not essential that you complete it. The work you designate a “T” is definitely not entrepreneurial work. Rather, it is work you can assign to either a manager, or a technician to complete.

So how do you know which letter to assign to which task?

Entrepreneurial work. If the task is essential to achieving one of the strategic goals of your company, then it is the work of an entrepreneur. For example, doing a conference call with perspective investors on a deal that is essential for your long term success is designated “E”.

Managerial work. If the task falls within the operation of your company, and can be designated to manager, then it is the work of a manager. For example, making a sale, hiring/firing an employee is designated “M”.

Technical work. If the work can be completed by someone other than you or a manager, then it is the work of a technician. For example starting a new filing system, ordering supplies, or getting a computer network fixed is designated “T”.

Once you have identified whether your activities are either “E”, “M”, or “T”, you will probably be surprised by how little you’ve been differentiating between the strategic work an entrepreneur does and the tactical work that a technician can do. However, developing the skill of differentiation, will have a profound impact on the choices you make during the course of your day.

Next, I want you to organize your day into entrepreneurial, managerial and technical segments — and allocate your time accordingly. It doesn’t matter which times are devoted to which work, but for the purpose of developing the skill of differentiation, it is critical that you dutiful do this exercise daily, and that you confine yourself to doing the work you have committed to for that segment of time.

Once you start to make the distinction between strategic and tactical work, and govern your activities accordingly, you will notice that while you still have ADHD things will not continue to just happen to you. Instead, you will be begin to harness your ADHD in such a fashion that the stuff you want to happen in your business will always happen.

Good luck! Feel free to post a comment updating us on your progress!

Pod-Cast: Breaking the Myths about ADHD

This Podcast was recorded on the Joy Keys Radio Show. Click here

In this Radio Show, Host, Joy Keys, Dr. Shane Perrault and Dr. Josephine Elia (Co-Medical Director of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Center for Management of ADHD), talk about a few Myths associated with ADHD. In addition to debunking some of these Myths, this show offers a strength-based, giftedness approach to ADHD — which should help you begin to recognize and harness the hidden talents and personality traits that frequently accompany ADHD.

In all, it’s an easy and informative 30 minute show that I think you will in enjoy!

Saturday Mornings with Joy Keys

“Saturday Mornings with Joy Keys” is an interactive, live Internet talk-radio show that focuses on providing people with tools to enrich and advance their lives mentally, physically, monetarily and emotionally. Callers are encouraged to call (646) 929-0368 to listen or ask questions.

The show is live every Saturday at 11:00 a.m. Eastern.Joy Keys is a native Philadelphian. She is a mother, trainer, speaker, mentor, actress, writer, producer and director. A member of the Screen Actor’s Guild (SAG) and a Leeway Art and Change grantee, Ms. Keys is passionate about making a difference in her local and global communities.

ADHD Assessment: Are you (or an employee) “dis-organized,” or do you have ADHD?

Helping yourself (or an adult employee with ADHD) struggle with “disorganization”, or ADHD can be a challenge. However, determining which one of these is causing the inefficiency can go a long way in your getting the most of their ability.

Determining if a client is “un-organized” is fairly simple. Be around them! On the other hand, determining if a client has (ADHD), and knowing what to do if they have ADHD is not simple at all.

What is ADHD?
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is currently defined as a neurological (brain) disorder.  What is important to know is that ADHD affects both children and adults. ADHD symptoms are characterized by

• disorganization
• inattention
• impulsivity
• hyperactivity.

ADHD is an unusual disorder in that many of its key symptoms are experienced occasionally by the entire population. For instance, who hasn’t forgotten a date, lost something, made an inappropriate comment, daydreamed, made a late payment, or lost track of time.

Here is a test help you distinguish if you (or an employee) are “un-organized,” or actually have ADHD:

Are/Do They…

1. Disorganized?
2. Chronically procrastinate or have trouble getting started?
3. Easily bored?
4. Have many projects going simultaneously, and have trouble with follow-through?
5. Sometimes over focuses on details, at other times appears distracted by everything?
6. Creative, intuitive, and highly intelligent?
7. Impatient; exhibit a low tolerance for frustration?
8. Say what comes to mind, without necessarily considering the timing or appropriateness of the remark?
9. Underachievers, regardless of how much ability they possess?
10. Have trouble going through established channels, following proper procedure?
11. Always on the go as if driven by a motor?
12. Seek out fast paced, exciting activities?
13. Demonstrate an inability to get things done unless there is an absolute deadline?
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GUIDELINE FOR ADHD TEST INTERPRETATION: Since most everyone exhibits these characteristics periodically, when evaluating these behaviors have your client consider the frequency of which these characteristics are exhibited: “once in a while,” “often” or “frequently”. If a their behaviors are “frequently” consistent with 8 or more of these traits, then you are advised to have them seek a professional opinion. (Only a trained professional can truly determine if a person has ADHD, and provide treatment.)