3 Business Coaching Tips That Changed Everything for My ADHD Clients 

Hi there! I’m Shelby, a hairdresser turned freelance writer turned business coach. I also have ADHD, but it wasn’t until my late 20s that I was finally diagnosed and some of my lifelong struggles started to finally make sense.
 
That diagnosis drove me to learn more about ADHD brains and what I could do to build a freelance business that works with me, not against me. Now, I coach new and aspiring freelancers on stepping in self-love and pursuing the work they’ve always dreamed of.
 
But it wasn’t always fun or easy! In fact, back at the very beginning, I paused my freelance dreams for an entire year because I couldn’t handle the thought of hearing “no” from potential clients.
 
When I finally discovered I had Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria— a real neurological difference common in people with ADHD— everything clicked into place. The shame I'd been carrying for years suddenly had a name.
 
And more importantly, a solution!
 
That's when I started training to become a coach other ADHD entrepreneurs. Because for many ADHD brains like mine, all the mindset work in the world won't help if you're fighting against your own biochemistry.
 
Today, I'm sharing three coaching tips that have transformed how my clients approach their businesses. These are practical, neurologically-informed approaches that are proven to work for ADHD brains, soul-led creatives, and anyone who might describe themselves as “sensitive.”
 
Tip #1: Start Small to Create Momentum If you’re anything like me, trying to start each day by tackling the hardest task is a sure path to procrastination. Turns out, there’s a neurological reason for that.
 
The gist is, people with ADHD produce less dopamine, a hormone produced by the brain. It’s known as the “feel-good” hormone because it’s tied to motivation and the joy of finishing tasks.
 
Since we have less of it, the best thing you can do is to start your day with something you know you can accomplish. Answer three emails. Organize your desktop. Make that quick phone call you've been putting off!
 
That small win gives you momentum. It provides your system with just enough dopamine to tackle the bigger task.
 
One more secret: save 1-2 smaller wins for after the big thing as a treat to look forward to. You'll be amazed how much faster you finish when there's something enjoyable waiting on the other side!
 
Tip #2: Mindset + Exposure = Lasting Change I work with a lot of people who've done so much powerful mindset work. They've journaled,  internalized the affirmations, and reframed their limiting beliefs.
 
And yet… they're still frozen when it's time to take action.
 
One of the biggest things I've learned as both an ADHD coach for freelance writers and someone who's been there myself is that your nervous system doesn't care what you “know.”
 
Let me explain.
 
You can believe with your entire logical mind that you're capable of reaching out to potential clients. But if your body goes into fight-or-flight mode the second you open LinkedIn, no amount of positive thinking will override that response.
 
That's where tiny, bite-sized doses of exposure therapy comes in.
 
If you're terrified of reaching out to clients, start by connecting with 10 copywriters on LinkedIn. They almost never say no to connection requests, and suddenly you have proof that reaching out to people isn't actually dangerous.
 
Then, maybe you comment on a few posts. Then you send a friendly DM to someone whose work you admire. Each small step gives your nervous system evidence that it's safe to be visible.
 
That exposure, tied with the mindset work you’ve already done, is the key to lasting change and strength.
 
Tip #3: Fun Isn't Immature… It's Strategic! Some people can simply think “I need my paycheck” and that's enough motivation to power through their day.If you have ADHD, the idea of money being all the motivation necessary sounds impossible.
 
Because the truth is, if you have ADHD, you need fun! You need games, puzzles, novelty, and challenge. You need to make things interesting to keep that dopamine flowing, because like I mentioned earlier, your brain has a hard time producing dopamine all on its own.
 
And let me tell you, nothing about that is silly or immature.
 
I've worked with brilliant, accomplished business owners who felt ashamed that they needed to gamify their invoicing process or turn their inbox into a points system. They'd been told their whole lives to “just buckle down and do the work like an adult.”
 
But what I tell every single one of them is that this isn’t childish! We’re actually leveraging biochemistry, which is pretty smart if I do say so myself.
 
Some of my clients race against timers. Some create elaborate reward systems. Some alternate between different types of tasks to keep things interesting. Whatever works for your brain is the right approach.
 
Stop trying to “work like a normal person” and start working like yourself.
 
About Shelby Dennis: Shelby Dennis is known for her creative and unique approach to writing, whether for her clients or her own courses and coaching materials. Her new official website, www.freelancermindset.com, breaks down her methodology and approach to coaching new writers, and you can subscribe to her free newsletter there as well. She also runs a Skool community for new and aspiring freelance writers who need support. Whether you struggle with ADHD or simply want to build a freelance business that feels authentic, Shelby will help you confidently navigate this journey with confidence.
 
Hope you enjoyed Shelby's advice friends! Watch the YouTube Video HERE.

Until next time take care, God Bless and Please Be Kind... be kind to yourself, be kind to others and I pray your kindness returs to you 100-fold.
PamT

In a previous blog post, we talked about Self-Care. Today we’re going to discuss Self-Love.

Some people think self-love and self-care are the same thing but that’s not necessarily true. Many take care of their health–eat clean, exercise, limit alcohol and sugar intake, etc.–and yet still hate their bodies or have a list of character flaws a mile long.

In other words, their internal dialogue is far less than loving toward themselves.

Now, by self-love I don’t mean cocky, arrogant or conceited, but a healthy love of Who you are. And who you are is a perfect soul in an imperfect body and imperfect world.

What do you see, and say, when you look in the mirror? Are you loving and appreciative of the body you’ve been blessed with or disgusted and disapproving?

WHY?

Who says what’s good or bad about the vessel that houses your soul?

We have allowed the opinions of everyone and everything outside of us to determine our worth!

Jesus said we should, “love your neighbor as yourself.” But how can we love our neighbor if we don’t even like ourselves?

So, how can we cultivate Self-Love?

One way is to simply close your eyes, place your hand over your heart and breathe in, “love.”

Another, is to say, “I love you,” instead of just breathing in the feeling of love.

One of the best ways is to look in the mirror at yourself, put your hand over your heart, and say, “I love you.”

If professing your love for/to yourself feels too icky, start by complimenting yourself. Hey Gorgeous (or handsome). You look good today. I really like your smile or that dress you’re wearing. That color looks good on you!

When you begin cultivating self-love, you may feel resistance in your body but if you’ll stick with the practice, I promise you will develop a healthy sense of love, kindness, and compassion for the vessel in which your soul resides.

Something to think about!
PamT
Coaching in PJs™
“Inspirational with an Edge!” ™

​Watch the YTvideo HERE.

Back in February of this year (2025) I did a workshop on Heart Coherence. What is that? You ask. 

Medically speaking, Heart Coherence is a state of being where your body's systems (heart, lungs, brain) align, leading to a balanced Autonomic Nervous System and more efficient functioning.

In layman’s terms, heart coherence is when your mind is quiet, your heart is open, your spirit is peaceful and you are able to hear what God or Your Intuition is telling you.   

In other words, you are not "stressed out." 

How do you get there?

Simple. Place your palms over your heart, close your eyes and take 5 deep (really deep) breaths, exhaling slowly through pursed lips (like you’re blowing out of a straw). Once everything is calm and quiet, think of something/someone you love and appreciate and/or something/someone you're grateful for.

Feel that? That soft, sweet feeling? 

THAT is heart coherence.

And, when you are in heart coherence more often than not, life seems to go a lot more smoothly and, honestly, you get more accomplished.

Some other ways to get into Heart Coherence are
*Sitting in nature.
*Meditation
*Practicing Yoga or Tai Chi.
*Indulging in a hot bath, sauna or massage. 

In other words, any activity that leads to a peaceful state of being where the monkey-mind has quit its incessant chatter, your body is relaxed and your heart and spirit feel expansive.

Try setting a timer or reminder on your phone to go off every few hours and check in with yourself and bring your body into heart coherence. You'll be amazed at the results.

Something to think about!
"Inspirational with an Edge! ™
"Coaching in Pjs" ™

You can't "find" time to write or meditate or (fill in the blank), you have to MAKE time. 

I know, I know, easier said than done. But is it?

Let’s think about this for a moment...

Everything in life is 90% perception and any change you want to make in yours usually requires a change in mindset first. So, remember, Time is an Illusion when complaining about your inability to set aside a few minutes a day or hours a week to pursue your passion or practice self-care.
 
Man created the clock, and we all have the same number of minutes/hours in a day. People who manage their time and spend it wisely do great things for themselves, their family, the community and, sometimes, humanity as a whole. “Not having time,” is one of the easiest excuses to fall back on when starting a pet project or implementing a new habit or anything else that will expand you. The mind does not like this, it would rather you stay stuck in your rut or in your safe zones.
 
So, what can you do?
 
First determine how bad you want it (whatever ‘it’ is).
 
Second, recognize when “something comes up” to prevent your scheduled time for yourself and be aware if that is really something urgent or important, or if it is simply procrastination brought on by fear.
 
Now that you’ve set your mind on your goal(s), here are some tips and tricks to making time in your schedule to accomplish it/them.

• For a week or two, keep track of your time the way you would your money when planning a budget. Be honest with yourself about your schedule.
• See if there are opportunities to combine activities in order to free up some time in your day or week. EX: Get your oil changed while eating lunch or while getting your hair cut or picking up a few non-perishables or shopping for gifts or clothes or whatever.
• Cut TV time or Telephone time.
• Be aware of time thieves like social media.
• See if you have time you can work on your project while waiting in a Dr.’s office or some place similar.

Find out where you can schedule 10-15 minutes and allocate those to your passion project, new business, or health goals. This may not sound like much but despise not small beginnings. Trust me, when you commit to those 10-15 minutes and stick with it, you'll discover they often evolve into 30 minutes or more. 

Something to think about!
"Inspirational with an Edge! ™
"Coaching in Pjs" ™