Forget Consistency—The Key to Sustainable Business Growth for ADHD Entrepreneurs
Read Time: 4 MinutesTL;DR:
Expecting yourself to be consistent in everything leads to guilt and burnout.
Authenticity and boundary-setting are key to sustainable entrepreneurship.
Clear communication (e.g., setting response times) prevents shame spirals.
Use auto-responses and silence notifications to protect your focus.
Success comes from working with your ADHD, not against it.
Redefining Consistency for ADHD
During market research for this business, I repeatedly saw one thing among new entrepreneurs with ADHD: an inability to be consistent.
It’s no wonder. Every piece of traditional advice online screams about the importance of consistency:
Post on social media daily.
Release long-form content on a rigid schedule.
Work long nights and weekends to keep up.
It’s easy to feel like that’s the only way to be successful when it seems everyone is doing it the same way. But here’s the deal: That advice was not written for you.
Most business advice is written by neurotypicals for neurotypicals who can’t even fathom what it is like to live with our brains. By people who can’t fathom why it would be hard to brush your teeth every day or keep up with basic care tasks at home.
They don’t understand you, friend.
Why Expecting Consistency Sets ADHD Entrepreneurs Up for Failure
It’s no wonder so many powerful, motivated women are wasting time, paralyzed in fear of getting started, or constantly giving themselves guilt trips. Expecting yourself to be utterly consistent at anything sets you up for failure.
Think about it: is there anything you do every single time you say you would or think you should? Probably not. And it’s not because you’re so worthless you don’t deserve the business of your dreams. It’s because ADHD means we never know who we will wake up as or how much energy we will have.
Why Authenticity Beats Consistency
What if you let yourself off the hamster wheel and accepted yourself for who you are? What if all that energy you’re spending on guilt and fear could be spent on making your dreams come true?
There’s no magic wand here. Instead, it’s about embracing a mindset shift. You’ve likely spent much of your life masking this natural inconsistency in yourself. Making up lies about why you “forgot to text back” or begging for deadline extensions because you were “so sick unexpectedly.”
What if you were just honest? What if you told people you don’t know who you’ll be that day but will try your best?
Communicate Boundaries: a real-life example
Let me share a quick story. I was interviewing virtual assistants recently, and one candidate told me about a client who took three days to respond to messages. She was appalled, but I thought: That’s me. I do that all the time.
Instead of panicking, I owned it. I told her upfront:
“I don’t commit to responding instantly. My business is built around flexibility, and I hope we can align on that.”
That moment was empowering. It reminded me that setting clear boundaries doesn’t make me a bad business owner—it makes me an honest one.
ADHD-Friendly Systems for Managing Client Expectations
Deconstructing the haphazard systems you’ve created to feign consistency will take time. Here’s a way to get you started:
There’s a sickness in our culture that convinces many that we must always be reachable and responsive. In theory, we could be since we’re all walking around with little computers in our hands 24/7. But who wants to live like that?!
The advice has changed in favor of more work/life balance, even in rigid corporate circles. Leaders are encouraged to step away from email and allow things to wait until their typical response window. Why? Because smart people have figured out that it’s a massive waste of time to respond to every single message as soon as it comes in. Not to mention fucking exhausting.
So, how do we make the change?
1. Put Response Time in Your Contract
When starting new relationships with clients, make it clear from the beginning. Tell your clients what days and hours you work. Explain that messages will be responded to within 48-72 hours. (If you need more, say it!) By setting clear expectations, you avoid the shame spiral when you decide between helping them with an emergency at 11 a.m. on Sunday or going to the park with your family.
2. Setup Auto-Response Emails
Take that communication one step further by creating a stagnant “out of office” response to new emails so everyone knows what to expect. Even if you regularly respond faster, the weight off your shoulders should free up more mental capacity.
3. Setup Auto-Response Texts
Did you know this feature exists on your smartphone, too? A quick Google will show you how to do it, but the effect is the same - people know what to expect from you.
Bonus Tip: Silence Notifications
If you take one piece of advice from this article, PLEASE start keeping your phone on and do not disturb. Stop letting every app on your phone dictate what you are focused on. Stop letting anyone and everyone interrupt your flow. You can do it guilt-free now that everyone knows you’ll respond eventually.
Build a Business That Aligns with Your ADHD Strengths
I hope you feel released from the wholly made-up obligation to respond quickly. I hope you can stop beating yourself up, tying yourself in knots, and making up excuses. Instead, I hope you find more ways to stand in your power and live on your terms.
I promise you deserve it.
With all your newfound freedom, your natural inclination towards ideation can shine. If you feel overwhelmed by all your brilliant ideas, try my free ADHD-friendly guide to selecting and executing your most aligned idea. This system works so well that I couldn’t bear to charge for it!
