Entrepreneurs with ADHD – Getting Rid of Fear

Thursday, March 28th, 2013 at 12:43 pm

Entrepreneurs With ADHD

The ADD Brain is very powerful, when it is free of illusions of the true nature of the person whom possesses that brain. So many times we have been in school, at home, or work – and been pointed out as “the (____ place negative term here)” . This doesn’t happen just a few times, we’re talking thousands, countless, amount of occurrences. Even with a ‘normal thinker, this negative programming can be hard to bear. Entrepreneurs with ADD have incredible imaginations; making negative programming extremely powerful.

There is a theory that the ADD Brain functions dysfunctionally in direct relation to the perspective – that is colored by the amount fear shame and guilt that the person is internalizing. (the majority of the world is ‘sold’ on the Germ Theory, so let’s accept this ADD Dysfunctional theory as fact..) Let me make that clearer, entrepreneurs with ADHD can be incredibly constructive and destructive, based on the amount of personal fear, shame, or guilt they carry.

That fact, combined with the newer understanding that “thoughts become things” (Mike Dooley), in addition to the power of thought to change the environment (The Intention Experiment) , creates a very strong force that can be extremely destructive; one in which the person wielding the power has no idea that they are even the cause of it [I hope I didn’t lose you there – because this becomes a very important foundation for changing your ADD gifted brain]

Okay, let’s reel all that back into the present tangible quantitative ‘in the palm of your hands’ reality. Let’s tackle this thing called Fear, once and for all. Fear is fantastic. Fear keeps you from doing lots of things that you CAN do, but it can also push you to do things that you never thought possible. Because it is in your mind, and the chemicals it produces cause all kinds of actions and reactions. Scientific fact – when your ‘fight or flight’ response is kicked in from your nervous system, ALL your senses become more enhanced. Yes, absolute total fact. Visual, hearing, tactile, smell… at the highest level needed for the situation. Guess what? Who controls your mind? – YOU DO.. so this Fear thing is completely under your control (once you are aware, recognize and train yourself).

PERSONAL STORY – I was born in calif, raised for awhile in Hawaii, before my father got Navy orders to move us to Connecticut.. my point is – I am a serious ocean person, growing up in huge waves, also while vacationing in Outer Banks. Even as a small child I would go way out in the water to catch the biggest waves possible (that’s the risk taking high stimulus seeking behavior ADDr’s are known for) – BUT, when I was in my 20’s I was surfing in the water at Rodanthe Pier the morning that Hurricane Bertha was coming on shore [god’s honest truth] gorgeous giant enormous waves, because of the storm sucking the wind from the land onto the water, big gaping barrels; very dangerous as well.

I paddled into a wave that reminded me of a Surfer Magazine cover, and something gripped my heart and chest – Fear.. and I backed out of this beautiful monster.. within minutes the wind switched and the ocean became an enormous giant washing machine… that ended that day.. fast forward decade later Hurricane Bill hits the east coast, so I drive down to the coast; that makes sense to most entrepreneurs with adhd.

Waves so big that they were blocking out the sun as I paddled through the onslaught of the biggest waves I can remember ever surfing.. punching through the impact zone, I made it far enough out to not get pounded, I lined my self up with an enormous mother of a wave and started to paddle for it; again I felt that gripping paralyzing thing in my chest.. “geezus, what the hell is that? Oh my god, that’s FEAR.. haha, oh yeah, bring it on, you can’t hurt me, you’re in my head, Im going to turn you around to help me catch the biggest.. let’s go for it, give me all the adrenaline I need, we’re paddling out farther..” and I did, and with my heart pounding and senses completely jacked on fire, I paddled into a wave that almost made me scream and cry like a baby – hopping to my feet and flew down the face, my legs straining to make the bottom turn, I reached down to grab the rail of the board, crouched down and watched down the wave as it yawned up and roared the most wonderful sound of natural primal energy you could ever imagine… my scared, fear instantly turned into screams and hollers from myself, people, on the beach, others paddling out, and out in the water… I think the smile on my face broke my jaw…

This experience has helped me to understand the feeling of fear, and when I need to heed it’s warning or when I can turn it around to help me accomplish something that once thought was unattainable. I pass this onto my children daily..

When you get scared remind yourself of the skills that you do possess to handle the situation. In the surfing story… I can swim, I can surf, my board was solid, I can hold my breath under water, there is no coral reef below, water doesn’t hurt me, so why not go for it… Gymnastic coaches use this all the time with their athletes when they are scared to do a new routine.. They ask the athlete how confident in each of the basic skills that go into each trick.. and acknowledge the fear, and then do it while they are scared, because they can already do everything else that is required to perform the routine..

Facing your own internal notions of fear will take us into areas of our minds that we may believe are very real to us. That’s fine, I understand, but you have to understand that it’s only that way because YOU have made it that way.

Here’s the disclaimer – when you begin to ask yourself about the skills that you have to complete something that you’re afraid of – and you honestly don’t have the skills – GO GET THEM. Learn, Train, research, find a way to get that skill.. Anyone can learn new skills. If they allow themselves to.

Lets clear this up… because you may think that I’m making this easier than you may think at the moment..

Understand that fear is only a set of chemicals caused by the thoughts in your mind
Ask yourself “why am I feeling this, what am I ‘really’ afraid of?
List all requirements to accomplish the thing your afraid of..
Acknowledge your own skills, talents, and assets, and ask others for help you need to
Determine if you can perform those skills while you are scared.. (called brave)
Remember that you have created the stifling fear in YOUR head.
Now , take a deep breath, and go do it.. NOW.

This works, I promise. I have been able to face more things in the last 12 months that I used to be scared as hell to do. The most important being the real truth why I had relapsed so many times back into drugs and alcohol. No more of that.. Then the next biggest thing is the ability to have a relationship with my sons mother. I can honestly tell you that I think I held my breath the entire first 5 minute conversation we had after not speaking for 5 years.. Now we talk daily, help each other in other areas of our lives, co-parent amazingly, and have four sons that are very comfortable being around both of us.

So, yes, this works. And I’m going to look forward to the stories that come from the readers of this blog.

PLEASE COMMENT BELOW USING THE WORDS ‘ENTREPRENEURS WITH ADHD‘ WITHIN YOUR COMMENT. THANKS

author: Eric Etka