When Ambition Exceeds Capacity

May 27, 2025

In this enlightening conversation, Meredith Carder—a speaker, writer, and ADHD coach—shares her journey of embracing the ADHD brain through her book, "Now Everything Makes Sense." She reveals how ADHD entrepreneurs often navigate the tricky balance between ambition and capacity, leading to cycles of burnout. Topics include the importance of self-compassion, challenging societal expectations, and strategies for avoiding toxic productivity. Listeners gain insights into embracing their unique paths while learning to stretch their capacity without breaking.

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INSIGHT

ADHD Ambition vs Capacity

ADHD ambition often feels like a flood of ideas without enough capacity to execute them all.
Recognizing the difference between impulse to start and drive to finish is key to managing burnout.

ANECDOTE

Meredith's ADHD Discovery Journey

Meredith experienced cycles of business starts and burnout before her ADHD diagnosis.
Her diagnosis helped reframe her relationship with ambition and capacity challenges.

INSIGHT

Shifting ADHD Commitment Mindset

ADHD brains struggle with traditional ideas of commitment and consistency.
Embracing a multi-passionate identity reduces shame and supports radical self-acceptance.

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Learning to align our drive and ambition with our genuine capacity tends to be one of those lessons that ADHD entrepreneurs learn the hard way - through cycles of shame, regret, and burnout.

But what if there is a better way, like listening to this conversation between two seasoned ADHD coaches? Meredith and I have both struggled with our own untamed ambition and learned that not all ideas need to be pursued, and how to stretch your capacity without snapping like a rubber band.

I met speaker, writer, and fellow ADHD coach Meredith Carder at the Neurodiversion 2025 conference in March, although we had known of each other for years. I knew she’d be the perfect guest to discuss drive, ambition, shame, and self-compassion.

Like most women, Meredith was diagnosed well into adult life and even wrote a book about it, called “Now Everything Makes Sense.”

If your ADHD includes hyperactivity and impulsivity, and you’re one of those people who has been coming up with business ideas since you were a kid, this inspiring and vulnerable conversation is for you.

5 Things You’ll Learn from This Episode:

ADHD Ambition: The difference between having the impulse to chase a goal and the drive to see it through

Dealing with Expectations (Yours & Others): We share the steps to untangling your self-worth from traditional measures of success.

Bandwidth, Burnout & Self-Compassion: Our ideas may be unlimited, but our ability to execute them isn’t. Adapting to your actual energy (not what “should” be possible) is a game-changer.

How to Decide What Deserves Your Focus: Meredith & I share practical, down-to-earth advice for “vetting” your ambitions, resisting impulsivity, and learning to stretch (not snap!) your capacity.

Shedding Shame & Rewriting Your Story: Hear Meredith’s journey from hiding her pivots to embracing her multi-passionate path—yes, you can experience both radical self-acceptance and constant reinvention.

Fun Fact From the Episode!

Both Meredith and I have been nicknamed “hummingbird” thanks to our tendency to quickly flit from one idea to the next, and both of us live where hummingbirds visit frequently.

How cool is that?

Mentioned during our conversation:

Neurodiversion 2025 - where Meredith and I met

Want to connect with Meredith Carder?

Website - Book - Instagram - Membership

Do you want to help future generations of girls and women get identified and diagnosed sooner? Join the #FindTheADHDGirls coalition. Click here for more information.