“I was under my covers, not wanting to do anything. I only did what was mostly important. I didn’t really plan ahead or get my schedule done. I was a wreck.”
These were Maria’s words when describing her life before we started working together. Today, she’s a thriving entrepreneur managing multiple trucking companies, real estate investments, and raising four children—all while dealing with rheumatoid arthritis and self-diagnosed ADHD.
Her transformation story offers hope and practical insights for anyone struggling with depression, overwhelm, and the challenge of managing multiple responsibilities with an ADHD brain.
The Starting Point: When Success Looks Like Failure
When Maria first reached out to me through my YouTube channel, she was in what she calls “depression mode.” Despite already owning successful businesses and having supportive family members, she was struggling with basic daily functioning.
Her typical day looked like this:
- Take her daughter to the bus stop at 5:50 AM
- Drop her son at school at 7:20 AM
- Return to bed and stay there until 1:00 PM or later
- Avoid planning, scheduling, or taking action on important tasks
- Use a paper calendar that she constantly forgot to bring with her
The contrast was stark—a successful businesswoman who couldn’t get out of bed, an entrepreneur who had stopped planning ahead, a mother who was going through the motions but not thriving.
The Simple Changes That Created Big Shifts
Our work together focused on fundamental changes rather than complex systems. Here’s what made the difference:
1. Starting Where She Was
Our first goal wasn’t ambitious—it was simply getting Maria out of bed before noon. We gradually moved the target earlier, celebrating small wins along the way.
The breakthrough insight: Sometimes the most important change is the smallest one.
2. The Power of Visual Reminders
Maria resisted putting basic self-care tasks on Post-it notes on her bathroom mirror. “My kids are going to make fun of me,” she worried. And they did comment: “Mom, why do you have reminders for simple things? You’re not a kid anymore.”
But those simple reminders worked:
- Wake up
- Brush your teeth
- Brush your hair
- Get dressed for the day
Within months, these actions became automatic, and the reminders were no longer needed.
3. Calendar Revolution
The game-changer was transitioning from a paper calendar (that was never with her when needed) to Google Calendar on her phone. Maria now schedules everything, including:
- Morning and evening routines
- Sleep time
- Work appointments
- Personal commitments
Her brilliant innovation: Color-coding based on comfort zones:
- Red: Requires leaving home/comfort zone
- Green: Can be done from home or office
This simple system helps her mentally prepare for different types of commitments.
The Role of Faith and Community
One of Maria’s goals was returning to regular church attendance—something she deeply valued but had been avoiding. Through our work together, we identified and addressed the obstacles:
- Having appropriate clothes ready
- Managing anxiety about attendance
- Coordinating with family schedules
The result wasn’t just personal fulfillment—it strengthened her entire family dynamic and provided the community support she needed.
Managing Multiple Businesses with ADHD
As an entrepreneur with trucking companies, real estate investments, and various other ventures, Maria needed systems that could handle complexity without creating overwhelm:
The Action Item System
Each coaching session ends with 3-5 action items (sometimes up to 10 for Maria due to her multiple businesses). When we reconvene, we review each item:
- Done
- Rescheduled with specific new date
- Obstacles identified and addressed
This creates accountability without judgment and ensures nothing falls through the cracks.
The “Recommit” Mindset
When things don’t get done, Maria has learned to “recommit” rather than abandon goals. This simple language shift transformed her relationship with setbacks:
- Instead of: “I failed, I’m terrible at this”
- Now: “I’m recommitting to this goal with a specific timeline”
Health Integration and Accountability
Managing rheumatoid arthritis while running businesses required integrating health goals into business planning:
- Regular glucose monitoring (Maria is pre-diabetic)
- Daily step goals
- Gym attendance
- Managing flare-ups that require bed rest
The key insight: Health isn’t separate from business success—it’s fundamental to it.
The “Yay Me” Approach to Celebrating Wins
We created a WhatsApp group called “Yay Me” where Maria and other clients celebrate daily accomplishments. These range from small wins (checking glucose levels) to major achievements (completing difficult business tasks).
This addresses a common ADHD challenge: noticing what we don’t accomplish more than what we do accomplish.
Lessons for Other Entrepreneurs
Maria’s advice for struggling entrepreneurs:
“If they’re struggling with getting themselves accountable and doing things because we have no set schedule, having someone that can keep us accountable makes a huge difference. The consistency of meeting with someone either once a week or twice a week keeps me on my toes and on a level where I can do more things than I thought I could do.”
Key takeaways from her journey:
- Start impossibly small: Sometimes the goal is just getting out of bed by noon
- Use external reminders without shame: Post-it notes, calendar alerts, and systems aren’t signs of weakness
- Create comfort zone awareness: Know which tasks stretch you and plan accordingly
- Integrate values into daily systems: Faith, family, and health aren’t separate from business success
- Build positive accountability: Focus on problem-solving rather than judgment
- Celebrate progress consistently: Notice and acknowledge what you accomplish, not just what remains undone
The Transformation Timeline
In just six months, Maria went from:
- Staying in bed until 1 PM → Having structured morning routines
- Avoiding planning → Comprehensive calendar management
- Skipping church → Regular family attendance
- Feeling overwhelmed → Managing multiple business expansions
- Operating alone → Having accountability and support systems
Beyond Coaching: Building Long-Term Success
The goal of our work together is teaching Maria to “fish”—developing skills and systems she can maintain independently. She’s learned to:
- Identify when she needs to recommit to goals
- Adjust systems based on her energy and health needs
- Problem-solve obstacles without getting stuck in overwhelm
- Maintain accountability through personal practices
The Bigger Picture
Maria’s story illustrates that success with ADHD isn’t about perfection or complicated systems. It’s about:
- Meeting yourself where you are
- Creating simple, sustainable supports
- Building on small wins consistently
- Integrating all aspects of life (health, faith, family, business)
- Developing self-compassion while maintaining accountability
Her journey from staying in bed until afternoon to successfully managing multiple businesses while caring for her family shows what’s possible when you have the right support and systems designed for your unique brain.
If you’re struggling with similar challenges, remember that change is possible. Sometimes the most important step is the smallest one—just like getting out of bed before noon. Want to explore how coaching might support your own transformation? Book a consultation to discuss your unique situation.
#ADHDSuccess #EntrepreneurLife #DepressionRecovery #BusinessCoaching #AccountabilityCoaching
