Having ADHD can make it difficult to keep up with daily, sometimes tedious work tasks, but traits often tied to the condition — like the tendency to take risks and hyperfocus on topics of interest — can also be a boost to entrepreneurs.
There are some well-known very high-achieving ADHD entrepreneurs including Richard Branson, Bill Gates and Walt Disney. Richard Branson had no interest in anything academic. Still, once he was able to harness his talents and imagination in his own way, he began to build a phenomenal business empire.
Adults with ADHD are six times more likely to start their own business, according to the Economist magazine. ADHD entrepreneurs lead many start-ups.
1. People with ADHD are 500% more likely to be entrepreneurs. It is estimated that 4-5% of adults have ADHD and 29% of entrepreneurs. Research estimates that 3.3 million American adults have been diagnosed with ADHD, but 85% of people are undiagnosed.
There are many successful CEOs who have ADHD. Some of these individuals include Indra Nooyi from PepsiCo, Howard Schultz from Starbucks, and Alan Mulally from Ford.
Indeed, 60 per cent of self-made millionaires have ADHD.
Why Are There So Many Successful People with ADHD? It is known that people with ADHD have specific strengths, as a result of their brain functioning difference. They are more spontaneous, creative, energetic, intuitive, imaginative, and inventive.
These may include hyperfocus, resilience, creativity, conversational skills, spontaneity, and abundant energy. Many people view these benefits as “superpowers” because those with ADHD can hone them to their advantage. People with ADHD have a unique perspective that others may find interesting and valuable.
Entrepreneurs have to manage projects and are more likely to have ADHD. If you have ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), you are 300% more likely to start your own business.
Research shows that young adults with ADHD often struggle to manage money. That's because ADHD can cause procrastination, disorganization, and impulsivity. These traits aren't harmful in themselves, but they can make it difficult to manage money.
Does ADHD affect IQ? A popular misconception is that all children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are naturally smarter and have a higher IQ than children without ADHD. However, there is no correlation between this condition and intelligence.
Impulsivity and risk-taking are strongly associated with ADHD — symptoms thought to be linked to deficiencies with self-regulation and dopamine, the “feel-good” hormone. Risk-taking, which may be highly stimulating for dopamine-starved ADHD brains, is also part and parcel of entrepreneurship.
ADHD traits might lead entrepreneurs to focus intently on tasks they're passionate about, such as building their dream company. Entrepreneurs and people with ADHD are both commonly risk-takers who seize opportunities.
Can you take on a management or leadership position with ADHD? Absolutely! Not only that, the structure of management in many organizations can be the perfect fit for the way your ADHD brain works.
Individuals with ADHD need a medical waiver to be able to enlist if they meet these points, with the branches — Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, and Air Force — typically requiring that applicants be off medication for several months and prove that they can function without it to be considered for a waiver.
You're calm under pressure.
High-stress situations get the dopamine pumping in the brain, which is why adults with ADHD tend to make great firefighters and ER doctors, as well as brilliant stock-traders and entrepreneurs.
Executive functions have other roles which affect how someone thinks. In people with ADHD, these executive dysfunctions impact thinking in numerous ways. People with ADHD don't really think faster than people without it, but it can sometimes seem like they do.
There's been a lot of focus on the harmful symptoms of ADHD. Although there's less research on ADHD superpowers, people with ADHD report that they are more energetic, creative, courageous, and resilient than people without the condition.
The five gifts of ADHD include creativity, emotional sensitivity, exuberance, interpersonal empathy, and being nature-smart (The Gift of Adult ADD, 2008).
“Research shows that 30% of entrepreneurs have ADHD or dyslexia or both and that university graduates with ADHD are twice as likely to start their own business,” says Tony Lloyd, CEO of the UK ADHD Foundation.
“Nobody has perfect memory… but for [people with ADHD], it's extreme. They feel like they're lost all the time,” Almagor said. He believes this is why people don't take ADHD seriously. “I think that's why some people don't respect the severity of what [a person with ADHD] can experience,” he said.
A person with ADHD may have trouble remembering details, but they are able to move seamlessly from task to task without much thought. This makes them ideal candidates for CEOs because they can make fast decisions and react quickly when needed.
Look at this list of famous, successful people who were diagnosed with ADHD: Presidents John F. Kennedy, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt and Lyndon Johnson.