In case you didn't know, I write several short posts like this each week on Instagram - check them out @diegofooter.

Do entrepreneurs have an ADHD problem?

Yes, maybe, and the science backs it up.

• Studies have found a positive connection between clinical ADHD, entrepreneurial intentions, and entrepreneurial action.
• It is estimated that 4-5% of adults have ADHD, while 29% of entrepreneurs have ADHD.
• People with ADHD are 500% more likely to be entrepreneurs.

Why is this?

• Risk-taking, impulsivity, sensation-seeking, hyperfocus, and curiosity are traits associated with both ADHD and successful entrepreneurs.
• Entrepreneurs frequently need to think outside the box and make quick, intuitive decisions, which is compatible with ADHD characteristics.
• Hyperactivity allows for intense concentration and immersion in business for long periods.
• Many entrepreneurs with ADHD have developed strong resilience skills due to facing challenges in their daily lives, helping them bounce back from setbacks.

All great traits to pull from the ADHD side, but the is also the flip side - the wild cousin named lack of focus.

Lack of focus is a productivity killer.

Everyone on the planet would get exponentially more done if they could consistently focus on work when it was time to work. Focusing on the most important thing is also key.

Whether you have ADHD or not, I don't know if I do. I have always had struggles with dealing with the shiny object syndrome. Seeing something, thinking it is the new best thing, then shifting focus onto that, often to the detriment of what I was working on.

I wish I could have all of that lost time back. But I can't. I can only prevent wasting it in the future.

Whether you have ADHD or not, you have to find a way to focus on what's important, when you should be working on it.

Instead of chasing shiny objects, we should polish the ones we already have.

Maybe it's the allure of something new and exciting, and maybe it's the difficulty to buckle down and do the unglamorous work right in front of us. Either way, we have to find ways to avoid these common traps that divert our attention from what we should be working on.

• The “New Business Idea” Syndrome

- You’re knee-deep in your current business, but suddenly you get an idea for a “better” one

- You start daydreaming about this new venture instead of fixing the problems in your current one

- Reality check: New businesses have problems too, they’re just problems you can’t see yet

• The “Magic Bullet” Fallacy

- Constantly looking for that one trick, tool, or tactic that will solve all your problems

- Meanwhile, the boring fundamentals that actually move the needle get ignored

- Remember: There’s no substitute for doing the work

• The “Grass is Greener” Trap

- Watching competitors and thinking they have it all figured out

- Wasting energy trying to copy their “secret sauce” instead of perfecting your own recipe

- Truth: Everyone’s struggling, some just hide it better

• The “Shiny Tech” Distraction

- Spending hours researching and implementing new software or tools

- Convincing yourself it’s “productive” when really it’s just procrastination

- Ask yourself: Will this actually solve a problem, or am I just avoiding real work?

• The “Constant Pivot” Problem

- Changing direction every time things get tough

- Never giving any one strategy enough time to actually work

- Reminder: Sometimes, success is just stubbornness in disguise

• The “Learning Junkie” Excuse

- Always signing up for new courses or reading new books

- Using “I’m still learning” as an excuse not to take action

- Hard truth: At some point, you know enough. Now do something with it.

Here’s the thing: It’s not that new ideas or learning are bad. They’re not. But they can become a form of procrastination, a way to avoid the hard, boring work that actually moves the needle.

So next time you feel that itch to chase something new and exciting, ask yourself: Am I running towards something, or just running away from the hard work I need to do right now?

What’s your experience with this? Got any strategies for staying focused on the important stuff, even when it’s not exciting?

​Listen to the long version of this letter on Carrot Cashflow.​

Diego

P.S. If this will resonate with someone, please share it.

Did you know I have several podcasts?

Carrot Cashflow here.

Farm Small Farm Smart here.

Farm Small Farm Smart Daily here.

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