This week I wanted to share some reflections as an ADHD content creator, including some of my recent struggles:

• Creating a plan (content calendar, specific goals)

• Not taking action on my plan

• Feeling discouraged and like I’m a failure

• Wanting to avoid my work, then feeling more ashamed

• What actually helped

Hopefully you can relate too, especially as it gets closer to the holidays and all your friends are taking time off work (while you still feel like you have to pump out content).

The problem (5 whys analysis)

Clearly defining what the issue is can help more than you know.

Because if I didn’t do this, I’d believe the issue was me - that I just wasn’t “disciplined” or “good enough” to be a business owner. Or that I was in the wrong business or niche.

So if I dig deep (asking myself why 5 times for the root cause), I think the real issue with why I’m unable to take action on my plans is:

A fear that I won’t be accepted.

Here’s how I reached that conclusion:

1. I don’t take action on my plans because I don’t make time to actually do stuff I said I’d do - I’m so busy with travel and chores. Why?

2. I guess I’m not super excited by making content right now so I don’t make time for it - I’m not really sure where to start. Why?

3. I know what I share can help people (I have fun sharing it in calls), but when I think about the admin of making a post (editing vids, making carousels, hiring an admin assistant, etc.) I just don’t do it. I tried hiring and it was pain. Why?

4. I know in the past I sucked it up and got the boring admin out of the way by coworking with friends, but I didn’t do that this time because usually my friends are the ones asking for help, not me. I don’t want to be seen as incompetent. Why?

5. Everyone sees me as someone who knows what they’re doing and I feel pressured to have the answers. People keep telling me they’ll love what I post no matter what but every time I check the metrics, I get discouraged and scared that the numbers will go down. Why?

6. I base too much of my self-worth on whether I’m accepted or not (and I measure acceptance based on numbers). I should focus more on accepting myself and being proud of my efforts rather than putting so much pressure on the results.

I’d highly recommend this activity for you if you feel stuck - usually it’s more of a limiting belief or a mindset thing.

Tbh I feel like starting a business has made me way more aware of my flaws, but in a good way so I can improve them.

The solution

Before I did the 5 whys analysis and clearly defined my issue, I tried the following:

• Hiring an admin person (but I couldn’t keep up with the admin of hiring lol…ironic)

• Setting a clear goal based on numbers instead of vibes

• Asking creators I admire to hop on a call so I feel less alone (good insights were shared)

• Taking a break so I stop feeling overwhelmed (I just came back and still felt overwhelmed)

Writing this list now, I realize that I was solving the wrong problems:

• I thought it was admin I was avoiding (it’s painful but I’ll get it done if I’m really excited about the final project outcomes)

• I thought I didn’t have clarity on my goals

• I thought I felt lonely being an ADHD creator

• I thought I just had too much on my plate

I needed to solve for the way I was thinking about things - all my plans were heavily basing my self worth on things I couldn’t control.

Even when I told myself “I only care about my output, the number of posts I put out,” it was a lie…

Because in November I did an experiment:

I posted content consistently (text-based content on LinkedIn, X, and Threads).

But I wasn’t proud of the number of posts I made. I was most proud of how many new followers I got.

This isn’t sustainable.

Knowing that I shouldn’t focus on these external metrics of success is so different from feeling it in my heart - so I know there’s a lot of inner work I still have to do.

But I thought I’d share a bit of my thoughts with you in case you’re feeling something similar, so you know you’re not alone 🫶

Til next week,

Jennifer

P.S. if you wanna get a head start on 2026, I’m opening up a few more coaching spots! I specialize in helping ADHD content creators get sales (offer creation, program structure, funnels, etc.) 🫶 Just reply “sales” and we can hop on a call!

Usually I like to give people a free clear roadmap of what I thought they could do, then if they need help implementing the roadmap (accountability calls, reminders, advice) then they’d hire me as a coach.