Podcast Summary
Determination and ADHD: ADHD doesn't have to limit opportunities. Determination and focus on goals can lead to remarkable achievements, even when faced with unique challenges and skepticism.
Determination and perseverance, even with the unique challenges of ADHD, can lead to remarkable opportunities. Andrea McDowell's story highlights the importance of staying focused on goals, even when faced with skepticism or doubts from others. McDowell shares how she seized an opportunity to exhibit her flowers at the Chelsea Flower Show, despite the challenges of having her peak bloom season in September, rather than May when the show is typically held. Her tenacity and refusal to accept the notion that it would take years to reach this goal inspired many, and serves as a reminder that with hard work and a clear vision, even those with ADHD can achieve great things.
Embracing unique strengths, finding passions: Success with ADHD comes from focusing on passions and unique strengths, ignoring fears and worries, and bringing energy and commitment to your niche.
Success with ADHD comes from embracing your unique strengths and focusing on your passions. The speaker shared her personal story of being denied entry into a horticulture society due to her lack of experience, but she proved herself by winning gold medals at flower shows. She attributes her success to her hyper focus and creativity, which are common traits among successful entrepreneurs with ADHD. The key message is to ignore the fears and worries, and instead, follow your heart, creativity, and passion. Success is not determined by qualifications, certificates, or experience, but rather by the energy and commitment you bring to your niche. So, if you're unsure about how to be successful with ADHD, the answer is simple: find what you love and go after it with all your heart and energy.
Persistence and resilience: Investing time, energy, and resources into staying focused on your vision and convictions, even during challenges, is crucial for entrepreneurial success. Understanding your strengths and weaknesses can help you embrace your unique qualities and adapt to obstacles.
Persistence and resilience are key factors in entrepreneurial success. The speaker's journey showcases the importance of staying focused on your vision and convictions, even when faced with challenges and setbacks. This requires a significant investment of time, energy, and resources, and may involve sacrifices in other areas of life. It's important to remember that success is not always a smooth path, and it's essential to keep moving forward despite obstacles. Additionally, having a deep understanding of one's strengths and weaknesses, such as ADHD traits, can help entrepreneurs embrace their unique qualities and lean into their abilities rather than criticizing themselves for perceived shortcomings. In the end, maintaining a positive attitude and a willingness to adapt and pivot can lead to great success.
Burnout: Ignoring physical and mental health can lead to burnout, causing a heavy burden on both body and mind. Prioritize self-care to recognize signs early and maintain wellbeing.
Ignoring your physical and mental health can lead to burnout, even for those with immense passion and drive. The speaker shares her personal experience of not recognizing the signs of burnout until she hit menopause and started experiencing anxiety. She had always pushed through exhaustion without acknowledging her limits. Her best friend, who had struggled with anxiety her whole life, helped her understand the feeling as a heavy burden that affects both the body and mind. The speaker eventually came to realize that she was experiencing overwhelm and a central nervous system shutdown. This experience taught her the importance of self-care and recognizing the signs of burnout before it becomes debilitating. It's crucial to prioritize your health and wellbeing, even when running a business or facing intense passion and drive.
Perimenopause and ADHD: Perimenopause can exacerbate ADHD symptoms, leading to overwhelming feelings and difficulty managing tasks. A doctor's understanding and HRT can provide relief, while addressing job-related stressors can also help.
The intersection of perimenopause and ADHD can lead to overwhelming feelings and difficulty managing simple tasks. The speaker's experience involved feeling like she was dropping balls and struggling with anxiety, leading her to believe she had dementia. A doctor's diagnosis of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was a game-changer, but the speaker was grateful for a doctor who understood women's health and took her concerns seriously. The speaker also realized that the administrative tasks associated with her job were a significant source of stress and contributed to her feeling overwhelmed. The combination of perimenopause and ADHD created a perfect storm of challenges, but with the right support and resources, it is possible to navigate these challenges and find relief.
Embracing diverse interests: Having diverse interests and skills can lead to various opportunities for success, even when they seem unrelated. Embrace your unique abilities and explore new possibilities to find abundance and happiness.
Having a diverse range of interests and skills, even when it seems unrelated, can lead to various opportunities for success. The person in this conversation should be commended for their ability to adapt and explore different areas, from flower design to merchandise and social media workshops. The process of navigating the logistics of participating in events can be overwhelming, but the excitement and curiosity that comes with discovering new opportunities can lead to abundance and happiness. Despite the challenges and hardships in life, it's essential to lean into our unique abilities and explore new possibilities, just like the person in this conversation has done. Their story serves as an inspiration to embrace the energy and curiosity that comes with having an ADHD brain and use it to explore various passions and interests.
Embracing failure and fear: Embrace failure and fear to learn, grow, and find joy in work. Trust yourself and believe in abilities, even when others doubt. Potential rewards far outweigh fears.
Finding joy and fun in your work is essential for success. This doesn't mean avoiding challenges or hard work, but rather embracing all aspects of your business with enthusiasm. As the speaker shared, they found fulfillment in merchandise, workshops, and even flower shows, despite initial doubts and fears. When faced with fear or self-doubt, it's important to remember that failure is a part of the journey. Instead of letting fear hold us back, we should learn from our mistakes and use them as stepping stones towards growth. The speaker encourages listeners to embrace failure and take risks, as the potential rewards far outweigh the fears. Moreover, it's essential to trust ourselves and believe in our abilities, even when others may doubt us. By removing the fear of failure, we open ourselves up to new opportunities and experiences. And remember, every day is an opportunity to learn and grow, so don't be too hard on yourself for mistakes or setbacks. Instead, use them as opportunities to improve and move forward.
Believing in abilities: Despite challenges, believe in your abilities and keep pushing forward, drawing inspiration from Brené Brown to challenge perceived limitations and not let anxiety or fear hold you back.
Despite facing challenges and setbacks, it's important for women to believe in their abilities and keep pushing forward. The speaker, who launched a merchandise range, experienced unexpected demand and stock shortages, but instead of giving in to the stress or limitations set by others, she drew inspiration from Brené Brown and continued to strive for success. She encourages women to challenge their own perceived limitations and not let anxiety or fear hold them back. The speaker's passion and determination led her to achieve more than she thought possible, and she encourages others to do the same. It's not about taking things easy or playing it safe, but rather embracing challenges and pushing past them to become the best version of yourself.
Mistakes and ADHD: Making mistakes is normal for those with ADHD, but it's important to learn from them and not let them define us as failures. Embrace responsibility, be resilient, and maintain a positive mindset.
Making mistakes is a natural part of life, especially for those with ADHD. It's important to embrace these mistakes, learn from them, and not let them define us as failures. The speaker shares her experience of forgetting her son's football tournament kit and taking responsibility for it, despite having ADHD and a busy life. She encourages others with ADHD to own their mistakes and not believe the lies their brains may tell them. Furthermore, she emphasizes the importance of resilience and adaptability in coming up with solutions, even when things don't go as planned. Lastly, she encourages a positive mindset and the opportunity to write a new and better chapter after setbacks.
Embracing New Opportunities: Embrace new opportunities, say 'yes' and figure out how to make them work, as Sir Richard Branson suggests. Use Instagram for storytelling and self-empowerment.
Life is a story, and we have the power to shape it by stepping out of our comfort zones and taking action. As Sir Richard Branson encourages, we should say "yes" to new opportunities and figure out how to make them work. Instagram can be a tool for storytelling and self-empowerment, allowing us to look back on our lives with pride and satisfaction. The ADHD Women's Wellbeing Podcast is a source of wisdom and inspiration, reminding us to embrace challenges and keep pushing forward. So, take a page from Branson's book and don't hesitate to throw your hat in the ring – you never know what amazing stories you'll create along the way.