Enough of the negativity sometimes associated with ADHD! People with ADHD have incredible strengths (or should we say, superpowers!) that set them apart. These abilities can be game-changers for entrepreneurs and anyone looking to start a successful side hustle or business.

Just take a look at some highly successful people who have openly discussed their ADHD: Richard Branson (Virgin Group), Michael Phelps (Olympian), Ingvar Kamprad (IKEA), Jim Carrey (Comedian & Actor), David Neeleman (JetBlue) and Justin Timberlake (Singer & Actor). Many of them credit their ADHD superpowers as the reason for their success—not in spite of it, but because of it.

The key to thriving in entrepreneurship or side hustles is recognizing your ADHD strengths and using them to your advantage—while keeping things fun and engaging!

Many of these will tell you their success has largely been because of their ADHD, NOT in spite of it.  The key to successful entrepreneurship and side hustles is recognizing your superpowers and playing to those strengths – while keeping it engaging and fun. 

 

ADHD Superpowers That Make You a Great Entrepreneur

If you’ve been diagnosed with ADHD or even suspect you may be neurodiverse, it’s time to focus on the many positive superpowers you have.  You may not possess all the superpowers listed below and everyone is different, whether “neurotypical” (if that even exists!) or neurodiverse, but chances are, you will be ticking more of the below boxes than not.

Some positive, typical ADHD characteristics (to name just a few) and why these can be your secret weapons to success, include:

• Creativity – Unleashing your creativity and thinking outside of the box can lead you to being innovative and standing out.
• High energy – Keeps you engaged, productive, focused and resilient. 
• Great problem solving – Your unique way of thinking = creative solutions & opportunities others would miss.  
• Multitasking – You can make rapid progress in multiple tasks all at once.
• Hyperfocus – This helps you get things done.
• Adaptability – Makes you more resilient and better equipped to handle changing situations and unexpected obstacles.
• Intuitiveness Having and trusting in this typical ADHD strength can give you the competitive edge (and great customer/audience relations).  
• Great in a crisis/emergency – People with ADHD are often great in a crisis and when the unexpected happens.  
• Spontaneity – Allows you to create and seize opportunities with your quick/out-of-the-box thinking.
• Adventurous/Risk Taking – Entrepreneurship inherently involves risk, whether financial, emotional or reputational. Without a willingness to embrace uncertainty and take calculated risks, many innovations and groundbreaking businesses wouldn’t exist. 
• Curiosity – This drives you to ask questions, seek knowledge and dive deeper into challenges. It motivates you to push boundaries and explore opportunities – and is more likely to result in innovative ideas and solutions. 
• Enthusiasm – brings positive energy and passion which increases productivity, creativity and motivation = greater success!
• Empathetic – Lets you connect with people on a deeper level and build trust – leading to stronger customer/audience relationships. 
• Fun & great sense of humour – Your customers/audience will love you and keep coming back for more. This will also keep you sane when things don’t go to plan. 
• Great entrepreneurs – There is an abundance of research that says people with adhd are between three and 10 times more likely to be entrepreneurs (likely because of the above characteristics).

These superpowers can be your crucial tools for thriving in your successful side hustle (as well as main job/career!). 

Best Side Hustles for People with ADHD

Looking for a side hustle that aligns with your strengths? Here are some ADHD-friendly business ideas that can keep you engaged and successful.

1. Freelance Writing or Blogging – Writing can be a great fit for people with ADHD because it offers creative freedom along with flexibility. You can write about topics that interest you and break it down into manageable chunks. You could blog, write for websites, do copywriting or even write a fiction book or memoirs.  To get you started, you could try guest writing for someone else’s blog. Check out some tips for blogging here.

2. Social media management – If you’re good at navigating social media platforms and enjoy the fast-paced environment, managing social media accounts for businesses or influencers can be a fun side hustle. Or start your own social media channels – try “how to” guides or show casing and exploring cool coffee shops, parks and other attractions in your local area. You can set your own hours and create engaging content.

3. Background and “extra” work – Sign up with an agency and get paid to be a background extra – you get paid to watch how movies and TV shows are made – there’s always something new and exciting happening.

4. Voiceover Work – If you enjoy using your voice, voiceover work for commercials, animations, or audiobooks could be an excellent fit. It’s creative, and you can easily do it from home.

5. Online Tutoring – If you have expertise in a subject, craft, hobby or cooking, tutoring students or beginners (either online or in person) can be very rewarding. The personal interaction and teaching can be motivating, and you can choose your schedule.

6. TaskRabbit – run errands – Signing up for a platform like TaskRabbit or just advertising locally lets you pick up various short-term tasks like assembling furniture, moving, cleaning, gardening, heavy lifting, pruning, going to the store or running errands. Set your own hourly rate or per job fee. It’s active, varied, and provides an immediate sense of accomplishment – all while helping others. Great positive vibes! 

7. Gigs – Use your positive high energy and spontaneity to entertain others – for example stand-up comedy, skits, singing etc.  Many comedians, entertainers and singers have ADHD – it’s the superpower behind their success. You don’t have to start at Madison Square Garden – try open mic nights, busking or local coffee shops, bars and restaurants. 

8. Tour guides – Start doing guided tours – offer small group tours with flexibility, local knowledge and personalized attention. One of your points of difference can be finding out any special needs or exactly what your group wants to see/do/learn (do they want nature, bustling chaos, accessibility, the best coffee shops etc) – and tailor each tour accordingly.  Start local and after a while gain the traction to go further afield and be paid to explore other areas. Promote yourself using online platforms, social media and local recommendations. 

9. Teacher aid – Elementary schools are often looking for additional help. It might be reading to children or some hands-on help for kids with neurodiverse learning traits – who better to relate and assist?!  This can have a huge feel-good factor as you can really make a difference to a child’s learning (and life).

10. Gardening and household cleaning – Use those multitasking and/or hyperfocus skills to work quickly or focus on detailed problem areas. Use your problem-solving skills to find better ways to do tasks quickly.

11. Dog walking and pet sitting – If you love animals this can be a great side hustle. No day is the same and it helps keep you active and on the go.  Fab Mood boost! Check out our experience pet sitting here.

12. Fitness coaching / personal training – in person or online – If you’re into fitness, coaching or training others to get in shape/get fit is a great way to stay engaged. You can create personalized workout plans, offer one-on-one coaching, or lead group classes virtually.  You don’t need to invest in a fancy home gym or expensive equipment. With some cones (or find existing obstacles) this can be done at a local park – find somewhere with trees for shuttle run markers, stairs or inclines for jogging and sprinting laps.  Vary each session to keep it interesting for yourself and your punters. 

13. Photography or Videography – If you enjoy capturing moments, starting a photography or videography side hustle or business could be a great fit for your creativity.  You can do portrait photography, event coverage, product imaging or even create digital content for businesses – start by trying small businesses that might want to expand or where the owners don’t have the time or skills for creating online/social media content.

14. Growing vegetables and herbs – This is rewarding fulfilling and low initial investment. You can try experimenting with growing different types at once. If your space is limited, use your creativity to find new ways to grow in unusual places (e.g. vertically) and experiment with homemade watering systems or growing out of season vegetables inside. You can grow to simply save money but once successful you can grow in higher volume and sell at markets or using social media platforms.

15. Volunteer work – Volunteering at organizations such as shelters, food banks, animal welfare and charity thrift shops etc. not only helps those in need but expands your life experience and helps you network – which can lead to new possibilities that might become inspirational or profitable. You might be able to leverage your efforts to carry out the next idea….

16. Clothing and shoe flipper – Select the right items from thrift shops then sell them online or at local markets.  If you have a sewing machine or handy with a needle and thread, use your creativity to add value by mending or altering items to make them more desirable.  Paint, decorate or fix shoes to make them one of a kind designer pieces. Check out our experience clothes flipping here.

17. Painting and other creative art and hobbies – Use your out of the box thinking to come up with new ways/materials to create art. You could sell creative art, prints, jewelry etc. on platforms like Etsy or at local markets. You can experiment with different products, and the process is very hands-on, engaging and rewarding.

Final Thoughts: ADHD is Your Superpower!

In short – do not stop being you! Do not let ADHD (or other people’s ignorance or attitudes towards it) dim your light. Do not believe in barriers – instead recognize your superpowers and use them to your advantage – both in life and in starting up your side hustle, stage career or whatever your business idea might be. So long as you are passionate about your idea, you have more than enough superpowers needed to make anything a success!