We are officially through the first quarter of the year. For most “neurotypical” business advice, this is the time for spreadsheets, color-coded KPIs, and cold, hard data. The internet is likely flooded with “Quarterly Business Review” templates that make you want to go take a nap just by looking at them.
But for us? The high-achieving, ADHD-brained entrepreneurs and solopreneurs? We usually look back at Q1 and think, “I didn’t do half of what I planned because I got distracted by… well, everything.”
Maybe you started January with a 10-step launch plan, but by February, you were down a rabbit hole researching the best ergonomic chairs or building a new website from scratch because the old one suddenly felt “wrong.” We tend to focus on the “squirrels” we chased—the projects we started and didn’t finish, the half-written blogs, or the brilliant ideas that went nowhere.
But what if we shifted the lens this year? What if we looked at the squirrels you actually caught?
Hack #43: Create an Evidence List
As an ADHD and productivity coach, I see this every single day. We have what I like to call a “Success Memory Glitch.” Because our brains are wired for novelty and the “next big thing,” we finish a huge project and immediately delete the achievement to make room for the next “to-do.” It’s like our brain hits the “Empty Trash” button on our wins the second they are finalized.
This is a fast track to burnout. When you feel like you’re never winning, your brain loses the motivation to keep trying. You start to feel like you’re running on a hamster wheel, with lots of movement, but no distance covered.
To get out of this cycle, we have to manually override our brain’s tendency to focus on the “incomplete.” We have to create a physical record of our progress. Take a minute to stop what you’re doing. Put down the “To-Do” list for Q2 for just a moment. I want you to create an Evidence List.
In the legal world, evidence is used to prove a fact. In your world, this list is going to prove that you are a successful, capable business owner, despite what your “inner critic” says.
Write down 10 things that prove you are moving forward. Here are some prompts to get you started:
- Did you have a hard conversation with a client or contractor?
- Did you finally organize that digital “downloads” folder that was giving you anxiety?
- Did you show up for a discovery call even when your brain felt like mush?
- Did you say “no” to a project that didn’t align with your goals?
- Did you try a new marketing strategy, even if it didn’t result in a sale yet?
This list is the fuel your brain needs to keep going into Q2. It’s not just “fluff”, it is a neurological tool to help your brain recognize that effort leads to results.
Hack #37: Go For No
Often, we don’t celebrate our progress because we’re afraid of rejection, so we stop asking. We hide behind “perfecting” our offers because as long as we don’t put them out there, no one can say no. But for an ADHD solopreneur, “stagnation” is the real enemy, not rejection.
I want you to flip the script for Q2: Go For No. Instead of aiming for a “Yes” on every pitch, discovery call, or outreach message, I want you to aim to get five “No’s.” Why on earth would we want a “No”?
- Dopamine for Effort: It gamifies the part of business we usually dread.
- The Law of Averages: Because for every “No” you get, it means you were visible enough to be considered. It means you took action.
- The Pivot: A “No” is just data. It tells you that either the person wasn’t a fit or your messaging needs a slight tweak. It’s much more valuable than the “Maybe” that leaves you in a loop of overthinking.
When you collect “No’s,” the “Yes’es” happen by default. It turns the “scary” part of business into a game that your ADHD brain can actually get excited about. Did you get a “No” today? Great! That’s 1/5 of your goal. Celebrate it! You caught a squirrel just by trying.
The EFT Tool: Tapping for Achievement
If you look at your Q1 and still feel that sinking feeling of being “behind” or “failing,” your nervous system is likely in a state of “freeze.” When we are in freeze mode, we can’t be creative, and we certainly can’t lead a business effectively.
We need to shift you out of “survival mode” and back into your “CEO brain.”
Where to tap: Choose your favorite point or tap through them all (top of head, eyebrow point, side of eye, under eye, under nose, under mouth, collarbone, under arm).
Why it supports you: Tapping on these acupressure points reduces the feeling of being behind, calms the “freeze” reaction and assists with the ability to make decisions (your CEO role), take action, and have the courage to follow through. When you tap, you are sending a physical signal to the amygdala (the brain’s alarm system) that everything is okay.
The Script: As you tap gently, say these words out loud or in your head: “I release the pressure to be perfect. I celebrate how far I’ve come.”
This shifts you out of “survival mode” and back into your “CEO brain.”
Ready to stop the spiral and start the soaring?
I know how lonely it can feel to build a business with a brain that feels like it’s constantly playing hopscotch. But you don’t have to do it alone.
Let’s see if we’re a good fit: Let’s hop on a Discovery Call to see what support could look like for you and if our energies align. Schedule your Connection Chat here!
Every Monday at 11am PT, I host a Free Power Hour. It’s a space to get focused, get supported, and realize you aren’t the only one chasing squirrels! Register for the Monday Power Hour!
Grab the Book: If you want all my hacks in one place, check out my book—it’s designed specifically for the way your beautiful brain works. Get your copy here!
