How homeschooling taught me the best business strategies for ADHD brains
Teaching Prepped Me for Business (Without Me Even Realizing It)
Before I was wrangling business systems, I was wrangling kids through 15 years of homeschooling—and yes, they survived.
I also taught high school literature and writing at a homeschool co-op, which was great because I am not the person you want teaching advanced math. (Thankfully, that’s what co-ops are for. I have not met “the calculus,” and I plan to keep it that way.)
But here’s the thing: teaching neurodivergent kids meant constantly adapting.
🌟 Figuring out how different brains process information?
🌟 Scrapping strategies that didn’t work?
🌟 Experimenting with everything until we found what clicked?
Turns out, that’s exactly what running a business with ADHD requires.
»Lesson #1: ADHD Brains Need Small Wins (Not Giant To-Do Lists)
I never expected a seven-year-old to write an essay in one sitting. That would’ve been a disaster (for both of us).
Instead, we broke it down:
✅ Brainstorm one day.
✅ Outline the next.
✅ Write one paragraph at a time.
My ADHD brain needs the same thing.
Big projects feel overwhelming because of executive function struggles.
So now, I break everything into tiny, bite-sized tasks. Writing a sales page? Nope. Today, I’m just writing the headline. Tomorrow, the intro.
The Infamous Pencil Allergy
At six years old, my son declared he was allergic to pencils. (Yes, allergic.) His brain was full of ideas, but the physical act of writing was the roadblock.
So, I took the pencil away. He dictated, I wrote. And suddenly, the words flowed.
Now, I apply that same principle to business:
If something feels impossible, there’s usually a roadblock. Removing it (or breaking it down) makes all the difference.
»Lesson #2: Every Brain Works Differently (So Every System Needs to Be Custom)
When teaching, I quickly learned:
Some kids needed visual aids.
Some needed hands-on activities.
Some needed absolute silence.
There was no one-size-fits-all way to learn.
And business? Same thing.
🎯 Some entrepreneurs thrive on strict routines.
🎯 Some need flexible work rhythms.
Me? My ADHD brain doesn’t do well with rigid schedules. Instead of fighting it, I build work around my energy cycles.
💡 Example:
Some days, my best work happens at 6 AM. Other times? I don’t hit my groove until midnight. And that’s okay.
Just like I once took lessons outside on a trampoline when my kids had the wiggles, I now move my workspace when I need to.
✅ Work feels like torture? I move.
✅ Need a boost? Change the environment.
✅ Systems failing? Adjust them.
Rigid systems don’t work for squiggly brains—and that’s perfectly okay.
»Lesson #3: Motivation > Discipline for ADHD Brains
In the classroom, I learned fast:
📝 You can have the best lesson plan in the world…
📝 But if the students aren’t into it? You might as well be talking to a wall.
ADHD brains are exactly the same.
⚡ Dopamine-driven work beats “just be disciplined” every time.
The best teaching moments happened when kids wanted to learn. The best business moments happen when I make work feel rewarding.
I may be in my 40’s but I still trick my brain into momentum:
✅ Turn boring admin work into a game.
✅ Reward myself after focus sprints.
✅ Make tasks feel fun instead of forced.
Because hustle culture says “work harder.”
ADHD brains say “work with your dopamine.”
Final Thought: Your Brain Isn’t Broken—The System Is.
The way we learn and work is unique. So why are we trying to run businesses like neurotypicals?
If you’ve been forcing yourself into productivity methods that don’t work… you’re not the problem.
You just need a system that actually fits your brain.
💬 Let’s Talk: What’s a Skill From Your Past That Helps You in Business?
I love hearing the unexpected ways we bring past experiences into entrepreneurship.
Drop a comment and tell me—what’s a skill from your past that helps you in business today? 👇
