Ever felt like your business is just as “ADHD-ish” as you are? This week on the ADHD-ish Podcast, I dove into an eye-opening conversation with Diane Mayor about how ADHD traits show up in our business, for better or worse.
Diane Mayor is a business-model strategist who deeply understands that revenue is a dopamine number, but profit is a reality number and that you can’t scale what you can’t see. Diane has the kind of ADHD that makes systems and structure make sense, but she also knows that if it’s not fun, it’s not going to happen, so she makes sure that it is.
If your business model looks sparkly on the front end, but is duct-taped together behind the scenes, don’t even think about scaling before taking the lessons in this episode to heart. Here’s what to listen for:
- Dopamine Is a Double-Edged Sword
- ADHD brains seek stimulation, which fuels creativity and enthusiasm—but the excessive pursuit of new ideas can lead to chaos. The trick? Channel that energy into a structured “idea parking lot”—capture your sparks, but choose your focus.
- Systems Don’t Kill Creativity—They Enable It
- Many of us with ADHD bristle at the word “structure,” but minimum viable systems (even something as simple as a checklist instead of a 10-page SOP) create the freedom to play, innovate, and keep the momentum going.
- Rejection Sensitivity & Executive Dysfunction Are Sneaky Saboteurs
- Uncomfortable truth: your business can’t scale if you get hijacked by every emotional reaction or caught up in decision paralysis. Building in “pause and process” moments—and asking for help where your brain’s not wired to excel—protects both you and your team from ADHD inertia.
You can absolutely harness ADHD as a strength in your business, but not if you ignore what makes your brain unique. The goal isn’t to “fix” anything, but to build a business that works with your neurodivergence in mind.
About Diane Mayor
After a successful career in corporate finance, Diane transitioned to becoming a business model architect and systems aficionado, after discovering both her ADHD and her passion for untangling business chaos. She helps entrepreneurs create sustainable, scalable businesses built around their unique neurodivergence—not despite it.
Website - LinkedIn - The 5- Minute Strategist Podcast - Strategic Business Diagnostic
Mentioned in this episode:
Marshall Goldsmith’s book “What Got You Here, Wont’ Get You There.”
Next Steps:
“You can’t scale what you can’t see.” If this tagline lands, you might be ready for Diane Mayor’s Business Blueprint, a laser-focused strategic business diagnostic for telling you exactly what to keep and what to toss before you scale. Click this link to book yours now.
Not quite sure whether you want to scale? Click this link for a custom playlist of past ADHD-ish episodes to help you figure out which business model is right for you.
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© 2025 ADHD-ish Podcast. Intro music by Ishan Dincer / Melody Loops / Outro music by Vladimir / Bobi Music / All rights reserved.