Skye Waterson, an ADHD strategist and founder of Unconventional Organization, dives into brain-friendly systems that enhance productivity for entrepreneurs. She shares insights on identifying truly urgent tasks to reduce overwhelm and advocates for flexible, adaptable tools that cater to individual thinking styles. Skye emphasizes the importance of hobbies to maintain excitement without complicating workflows. From effective task management to balancing work and personal interests, her practical advice empowers solopreneurs to thrive amidst the chaos.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Skye's ADHD Discovery Journey
Skye Waterson discovered she had ADHD during her PhD, which changed her life path entirely.
This personal journey led her to develop systems tailored to ADHD brains based on her research and experience.
question_answer ANECDOTE
AI-Aided Voice Memos for Focus
Joe Casabona records voice memos to clear his mind and sends them to AI for task extraction.
This method helps him be present with family by offloading task management.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Identify Truly Urgent Tasks
Brain dump all tasks from your head without distractions to clear your working memory.
Identify tasks with real negative consequences if not done immediately for true urgency.
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In 'The Checklist Manifesto', Atul Gawande explores the power of checklists in overcoming the complexities of modern professional work. He argues that despite advanced training and technology, professionals often fail due to the sheer volume and complexity of knowledge. Gawande illustrates how checklists, first introduced by the U.S. Air Force, have been successfully adopted in various fields, including medicine, to reduce errors and improve outcomes. He provides compelling examples, such as the reduction of fatalities in surgical procedures and the elimination of hospital infections, to demonstrate the effectiveness of checklists. The book emphasizes the importance of balancing autonomy and control, empowering frontline workers, and continuously improving checklists based on feedback and experience[1][3][5].
Buy Back Your Time
Dan Martell
Buy Back Your Time is a definitive guide for entrepreneurs at every level, teaching them how to scale their business quickly while avoiding burnout. The book introduces the 'Buy Back Principle,' which emphasizes hiring people to do repetitive and low-value tasks, allowing entrepreneurs to focus on high-value activities that bring energy and fulfillment. Dan Martell provides practical steps, frameworks like the 'replacement ladder' and 'DRIP matrix,' and strategies for outsourcing, automation, and prioritization to enhance both professional and personal life. The book is structured around key frameworks and tools, making it a valuable resource for entrepreneurs looking to achieve a better work-life balance and build a thriving business empire.
Getting Things Done
David Allen
Getting Things Done (GTD) is a personal productivity system developed by David Allen. The book provides a detailed methodology for managing tasks, projects, and information, emphasizing the importance of capturing all tasks and ideas, clarifying their meaning, organizing them into actionable lists, reviewing the system regularly, and engaging in the tasks. The GTD method is designed to reduce stress and increase productivity by externalizing tasks and using a trusted system to manage them. The book is divided into three parts, covering the overview of the system, its implementation, and the deeper benefits of integrating GTD into one's work and life[2][3][5].
My therapist recently asked if anyone had ever talked to me about ADHD. While I've never been formally diagnosed, that question sparked a journey into understanding how our brains work—especially when running a business. That's why I was thrilled to chat with Skye Waterson, an ADHD strategist who helps entrepreneurs build "brain-friendly" systems.
Skye discovered her own ADHD during her PhD studies and has since developed an approach called "Unconventional Organisation" that works with your natural thinking patterns instead of against them.
If you've ever found yourself with 30 browser tabs open, jumping between half-finished projects, or creating elaborate systems you abandon by Tuesday, this conversation might be exactly what you need. Skye's practical approach cuts through the noise and focuses on what actually moves your business forward while leaving room for you to be present with your family.
Most of us genuinely have fewer than five truly urgent tasks each day—learning to identify what has actual external consequences versus what just feels urgent can instantly reduce overwhelm
Create systems that match your natural processing style rather than forcing yourself to use tools that don't work for your brain
Find dopamine sources outside your business—hobbies and interests prevent you from creating unnecessary complexity just to keep things exciting
Streamlined Solopreneur: Systems & Automation to Help Solopreneurs Reduce Friction 
