Navigating business with a Sparky Brain

Did someone steal the map?

That’s how I felt for years. I was brimming with ideas, fuelled by passion, and had an unwavering commitment to making an impact. But my path? Less like a straight road to success and more like a twisty-turny, stop-start, endless-loop detour.

• I had no shortage of ideas. (In fact, I had too many!)
• I was constantly pivoting, all lit up by those new ideas, I frequently ran down the path of the new and exciting.
• My enthusiasm was undeniable, but so was my lack of traction.

Looking back, I think it’s pretty ironic that my Marketing Agency was called “Ideas Into Action”. The compliments from my friends that “they’ve never seen a faster action taker” once I moved on to my coaching and mentoring business several years later fell into the same basket.

Yes, I was creative and was never stymied by procrastination…but through 18 years of self-employment, I also found myself wondering…

💭 Why does business feel so much harder than it should?
💭 Why can’t I just be more… consistent?!
💭 Why do I feel like I’m capable of so much more – but I can’t seem to unlock it?
💭 Why can’t I just knuckle down and focus on one thing like several of my other entrepreneurial friends…

Then, at 53, I was diagnosed with ADHD. And the more I learned about the impact of this neurodivergent brain-wiring, the more many of my challenges and triumphs made so much sense.

The late-stage ADHD diagnosis rollercoaster

Discovering I had ADHD so late in life led me through a real mix of many emotions. On one hand, it answered a lot of questions that had confounded me for years.

• 💡 No wonder I struggled with self-doubt. (I had spent years trying to fit into systems that weren’t designed for me, whilst watching other people they DID work for, succeed)
• 💡 No wonder I had so many unfinished projects. (Novelty sparks dopamine. Follow-through? Not so much.)
• 💡 No wonder I could see endless possibilities but had trouble narrowing them down. (I’d always described myself as someone with Popcorn Brain, and now I knew why!)
• 💡No wonder I could so easily and quickly see the gaps and opportunities in my clients businesses (my divergent thinking style connects the dots of seemingly unrelated things super fast)
• 💡No wonder I reinvented my business in big and small ways almost every year in the holidays (My questing brain was always on the lookout for new ways of doing things, fed my my ferocious love of learning)

There’s often a sense of relief when you look back. But there’s also sadness and anger, especially if you’re diagnosed later in life, like me. The feeling that “things could have been so different if only I’d known” is a place I think you have no choice but to visit. The key is not to stay there.

I created the Late-Stage Diagnosis Cycle© to encapsulate my feelings and share the ideas with others. It’s not a linear journey. You’ll likely find yourself bouncing between the different spots. Frequently. And that’s totally ok. Labels can be limiting, and they can also be liberating when you allow yourself to feel all the feels.

As I started speaking openly about my experience, I realised something really interesting. SO MANY of my clients were navigating the same thing – whether they knew they had ADHD or not. It’s what I call being Sparky-Brained – it’s as though I’d lived in this pre-diagnosis state for years. And now I knew why, and that presented the opportunity for change.

ADHD in business: The dual reality

I know that ADHD isn’t only a challenge. It’s also a unique way of thinking.

And in business, that means we experience a dual reality – one that confronts us with obstacles and advantages.

The challenges include:

❌ Overwhelm & scattered focus (Too many ideas, not enough follow-through.)
❌ Decision paralysis (What if I pick the “wrong” idea?)
❌ Hyperfocus traps (Getting lost in details and over-editing instead of moving forward.)
❌ Procrastination & avoidance (Not because we’re lazy, but because urgency fuels action.)
❌ Emotional intensity (Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD) makes feedback feel like a punch to the gut.)

The Strengths:

✅ Rapid ideation & creative problem-solving (We see connections others miss!)
✅ High energy & drive (When we’re engaged, we’re unstoppable.)
✅ Big-picture thinking (We don’t just follow trends; we create them.)
✅ Deep empathy & emotional intelligence (Connection and impact matter to us.)
✅ Adaptability, resilience & courage (We’ve been navigating challenges our whole lives.)

For years, I was so focused on beating myself up and trying to fix what I thought was terribly wrong with me (the Comparison Trap) that I often completely overlooked the value of my natural strengths.

That was my turning point. Once I’d had my fill of Instagram memes, found a medication that worked for me, and careered through all the stages of the Late Diagnosis Cycle above, I realised I was now being offered a quite brilliant opportunity.

Instead of fighting my brain and berating myself, I could learn how to work with it and support myself.

Closing the potential gap: what’s actually holding you back?

Regardless of whether we’re sparky-brained, “officially” ADHD, or like my lovely husband, as neurotypical and linear thinking as it’s possible to be, we hear a lot about the pain gap in business – what’s not working and what needs fixing (or in our case, what’s “wrong” with us). Success is rarely a straight line for any of us brave enough to be in business. The real challenge isn’t that something is ‘wrong’ with us – it’s that we’re often using the wrong strategies. The moment we stop blaming ourselves and start working with our strengths, everything shifts.

So, what if we focused on the potential gap instead?

✨ That’s the space between where you are now… and what’s possible when you fully leverage your unique strengths.

For sparky-brained business owners, success isn’t about discipline or willpower. It’s about designing a business strategy that works with the way our brains naturally operate.

That’s where your Spark Advantage© comes in.

Instead of trying to “fix” yourself, the key is to understand:

✅ Your Spark Zone – where you naturally thrive and feel energised.
✅ Your Spark Edge – the strengths that make you different and powerful.
✅ Your Spark Traps – the pitfalls that drain your energy and derail progress.

When you map, define, and activate your Spark Advantage, business starts to feel easier – because you’re finally working in a way that aligns with how YOU think and operate.

And that’s where my Elevated Impact Model© comes in -it’s a roadmap that turns your brilliance into real traction.

Side note: A key aspect of my own Spark Advantage is the ability to create models easily, for myself and my clients… and they’re often fabulous ways to differentiate yourself in the market.

What to do instead: The shift that can change everything

For years, I tried all the traditional advice – the strict time management systems, the “just focus on one thing” strategies, the rigid productivity hacks. I think I’ve bought 101 new planners and productivity courses over the years… convinced “this time, this one, would be the magic solution”! I do have optimism and positivity as strengths – I guess that shows 🙂

But you likely know the results. None of it worked.

Because our brains don’t thrive on structure – we thrive on strategy.

The biggest shift I made? I stopped trying to fit into someone else’s system and started building one that fit me. I’m not suggesting I have it all worked out – I’m still a work in progress. But my business core, services, marketing and organisational tools all feel more “made to measure” rather than strait jackets.

Here’s one simple shift you can make today:

Instead of trying to “be more consistent,” focus on being more intentional.

Ask yourself: What’s ONE thing I can do today that actually moves the needle?

💡 If you struggle with Priority Pinball, pick just ONE task and set a “Mini Win” goal (e.g., “Draft the first 200 words of my blog,” not “Write an entire blog”).

💡 If Confidence See-Saw has you second-guessing, try future pacing: “What would Future Me thank me for doing today?”

💡 If Popcorn Brain is in overdrive, use the “Now, Next, Later” filter: Does this idea need action now, can it wait until next, or should it go into the later pile?

When you stop forcing yourself into rigid productivity models and start working WITH your brain instead of against it, everything changes. And I can help you with creating a structure that amplifies your brilliance – not one that stifles it.

If you’d like to replace non-stop action with gaining traction, let’s talk.

You can click here to book a Connection Call with me. Not quite ready? All good – you could start by exploring my feedback & case studies to see if my approach feels like the right fit for you.