Ask HN: ADHD and Entrepreneurship

Working for others just hasn’t worked out for me. Over the past decade, I’ve tried to ignore my urge to market my side projects and build a business around them, choosing instead to focus on what seemed like the "right" path—a steady 9-to-5 job.

I even tried medication, but my output still doesn’t match others’. My working memory isn’t strong, and my thought processes often feel out of sync with the usual approach, which has created challenges. I can solve complex problems, but my way of doing things is distinct from others’.

I got lucky with an investment and made a few quick millions.

I am thinking of taking a year off and just focus on my side project and see if it makes any money. I already have a virtual personal assistant who helped me keep my job.

Just wondering if ADHD will throw a wrench in my Entrepreneurial aspirations as well.

12 points | by romeros 2 days ago

12 comments

  • codingwagie 2 days ago
    Before you quit, whatever idea you want to build, try to sell it. Go make a landing page, sign up on apollo.io, start sending sales emails. Offer to pay people 100$ per hour to speak with you. If you get sales with no tech, then maybe quit and build.
    [-]
    • romeros 2 days ago
      I got 1 paying customer. I already built it. But I have to revamp it.
      [-]
      • codingwagie 2 days ago
        I dont know you or anything about the product, but before revamping, go get ten more sales. sales. sales.

        this is coming from an engineer with adhd :)

        [-]
        • incangold 1 day ago
          …and then you have customers, who will start demanding things. Now your motivation is externalised. Stressful, but we do not tend to get things done without stress, and inertia is anyway stressful in a different way.
    • readyplayernull 2 days ago
      What does apollo do? Seems like AI tailored cold emailing.
  • nickd2001 1 day ago
    If it causes procrastination, that's a problem. Seems to me, being an entrepreneur requires high levels of self discipline, vs working in some big org where you get told what to do and held to it. I worked at a start-up where my boss who was one of the founders, didn't do what needed doing if it didn't interest him. Suffice to say, the company wasn't ultimately successful. Its understandable that with ADHD people seek to escape the strait-jacket of the conventional workplace, and find somewhere that they can tailor more to their way of working, but I'd caution about entrepreneurship, might be even worse. And if you don't get on with "what you're meant to be doing" you then don't get paid. Whereas in conventional job its easier to work your a* off the next day if you faffed about and had nothing to show one day.
  • a-saleh 1 day ago
    To me, the core of my ADHD experience is, that for better or worse, I need the journey to the result be somehow compelling. Meds somewhat help, but steps that are not compelling or absolutely necessary are really hard to pull myself through.

    One of the things that helps - having somebody on the journey with you. That makes it worth it and you get somebody to help you keep focus.

  • mklepaczewski 1 day ago
    ADHD is a spectrum of traits. Which ones do you experience?

    I’ve learned to think of everything as a feature—not an advantage or disadvantage, but simply a characteristic. Some features are beneficial in certain situations, while others may not be. Even a high IQ can be a disadvantage in certain scenarios.

    Focus on your strengths, ignore your weaknesses, or hire people to handle the tasks you find challenging.

  • ensocode 1 day ago
    I think that ADHD people can be a perfect fit for one-man shows. But as there are less limiting factors than at a steady 9-to-5 job, things like burnout or procrastination could arise. It all depends on management and focus... and as the other comments say, if it is about products: Sales!
  • decide1000 1 day ago
    Yes, it will. I have ADHD.

    I had a good job. Made some money. Quit my job. Started entrepreneurship. I failed for 3 years. All my money was gone, literally. I found a business partner who did the commercial stuff, the stuff which took too much energy of me. I basically gave half of the company away for free to him. Now we earn money, have clients, are happy.

    Don't focus on others, focus on the process. People with ADHD have the ability to accelerate. Find your sweet spot.

    [-]
    • hndude 1 day ago
      Are you two partnered up doing consulting? Or do you all have a product?
      [-]
  • d--b 14 hours ago
    > I got lucky with an investment and made a few quick millions.

    Er. Go do whatever it is you want to do...

  • frowin 2 days ago
    Out of curiosity, investment = crypto? I can relate a tiny bit.
  • debacle 2 days ago
    ADHD or not, all good entrepreneurs manage themselves.