The ADD Business Owner

My Book Is Here!

Adults with ADD struggle to fit into a world that doesn't always fit them.

If you’re an adult with ADD, then you know firsthand how hard it can be to get it together and stay focused, become organized, manage your time and take care of yourself.

You know how hard it is to play the game of life following other people’s rules.

     But what if you could be happy and successful by breaking the rules?

     What if you could be yourself, and use those differences to your advantage?

     What if you could relish being the odd one out?

Odd One Out: The Maverick's Guide To Adult ADD doesn’t just tell you about these skills; it provides a roadmap to success.

     Inside, You’ll Learn How To:

           -Break the overwhelm-burnout cycle

           -Put yourself first in order to care for those around you

           -Work with your attention inconsistencies

           -Be more organized by doing less work

           -Get a handle on time management

           -Create a vision and a plan for your life

           -Embrace and enhance your maverick nature

Odd One Out will be shipping on or before September 30th, 2007 and will retail for $19.95.

Reserve your copy now and save! Presale orders are just $16.95, including shipping and handling in the US.

Visit the Odd One Out website to reserve your discounted copy today!

 

BIG NEWS: My New Book!

My long-awaited book, Odd One Out: The Maverick's Guide to Adult ADD, is coming out next month!

I've been working on the book for a long time now, and am so pleased that we're in the final stages of development and almost ready to begin selling it. The book is based on my ADD coaching model and teaches how to be happy and successful by breaking the rules.

We'll be announcing a pre-order sale this week. Stay tuned!

 

The 4-Hour Work Week: Check Email Twice a Day

So I'm not completely done with The 4-Hour Work Week yet, but readers of this blog seem to enjoy the posts about it, so I'm going to keep reflecting on the book as I go along. I hope you'll offer your thoughts, too!

I took Timothy Ferriss' advice today and checked email twice - once around noon and once at 4pm. (He eventually suggests knocking this down to once a day, then once a week. Being in a service-based business, I really couldn't drop down to less than once a day as I invite my clients to email me for support and accountability.)

My email Inbox sometimes feels like the bane of my existence. I'm anal about two things in life: 1) brushing my teeth before bed  2) not allowing email to accumulate in my Inbox. I keep only unanswered emails and those requiring action in my Inbox. I file all other emails in folders. I love nothing more than an empty Inbox...but it rarely happens. 

Even with spamarrest and non-published email addresses, spam still gets through. I'm also on a few "discussion" lists in my industry (mostly to stay on top of developments) and I get Google Alerts to keep me posted on ADD in the news. Then there are client, staff, and vendor emails. Sometimes it seems like I spend all day trying to catch up with email.

Today, however, I took Tim's advice and shut down email. I checked it twice and, to my amazement, it took only about 30 minutes total to respond to the emails. I did it quickly and efficiently, then closed it up again.

I took the power away from Inbox, and I won!

Now, did I have to read The 4-Hour Work Week in order to know that this strategy works? No, of course not. As an adult with ADD, I know how easily distracted I am by new email messages. I know that if I want to get work done then I need to close down Outlook sometimes.

But reading The 4-Hour Work Week has given me permission to close down email all the time, not just when I'm in the middle of something.

I like it.

Have you tried this strategy yet? How's it working for you? If not, what's stopping you? Please share in the comments field.

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The 4-Hour Work Night

Erin: Honey, what were you doing up so late last night?

Me: Well, I was reading my book, which inspired me to work on my own book. And then as long as I was at the computer I figured I'd knock out a couple of projects.

Erin: So much for the 4-hour work week.

I tried.

Actually, I really do like this book a lot. And I am even more convinced that Tim Ferriss is on our ADD team. The trouble is that this book excites me, which sends me into hyperfocus mode.

Honestly, I don't know that I could ever limit myself to 4 hours working per week. (Then again, who knows?)  But I think there are some fabulous ideas here - especially about outsourcing.

I currently use a Virtual Assistant, and I've begin asking myself What else can I outsource?  The answer I keep coming up with is: personal crap!

I've got about 3000 doctors appointments I need to make over the summer. I dread it...so why do it? Why not give the numbers and my schedule to an assistant and let someone else book those appointments for me?

I also HATE coordinating with our house builder about the couple of things that still need to be fixed. So why do it? Why not let someone else coordinate?

And how about fighting with Sprint, my cell phone company?  Erin fights with them constantly. (She does it because she knows I might go psycho if I had to.) But why not let someone else fight with them and report back when the problem is resolved?

Sure, this stuff costs money to hire out. But I'm already feeling more relaxed just thinking about hiring a personal assistant. And, going by Tim Ferriss' advice, money can be saved by outsourcing overseas.

Of course, like a good little ADDer who jumps on hot ideas, I've already put the wheels in motion. I'll post an update soon.

For now, I'd like to know: Are you outsourcing? Do you have a Virtual Assistant? What difference does it make to your business? What affect does it have on your stress levels? Please share your experiences in the comments field.

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The 4-Hour Work Week: Everyone Else Is Doing It...

One of the prevailing topics at my Master Mind meeting last month was the new book The 4-Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferriss.

I'm sure you've heard of it, as I don't think I've ever seen such a buzz on a business book before. And yes, although the book isn't specifically geared towards business owners, that is certainly whom I think will benefit most from it.

I resisted this book for a while. If everybody else is doing it, I kinda don't want to. But then I started to feel a little left out... so I went to B&N tonight to grab a copy. I'm 38 pages in and all I can say is...WOW.

Everyone is jumping on this little book that's all about how not to be like everyone else. And for that, of course, I love it.

I'll do a full review next week. For now, I'd like to make just a couple of points.

1. I think Timothy Ferriss has ADD. He is admittedly hyperactive, easily bored, and is clearly a born entrepreneur. (Then again, I tend to like to claim smart, entrepreneurial, maverick-types for our ADD team. So it could be wishful thinking...)
2. I absolutely love his style. I heard an interview with Timothy Ferriss a couple of weeks ago and didn't like him at all. Yet, I really connect with his words and ideas. He's got that "break the rules" attitude that I am so fond of. He's funny. And he's not afraid to swear, which I also love. (I thought about swearing just for the sake of it right here in this sentence, but that would just seem too forced, no?)
3. This book is helping me fill a few empty spaces. It's not about acquiring money in the bank accounts - it's about living the lifestyle NOW that you think you'd live if you had a ton of money in the bank. (I'm all for it. Vacation home in Cape Cod, here I come.)

Even though I'm only two chapters into The 4-Hour Work Week, I feel very comfortable recommending it to ADD business owners.

And if you've already read it, then I want to know what you think! Share your thoughts in the comments field.

Want practical tips on managing your business AND your life? Subscribe to the ADD Business Owner blog.

 

Give it Up for Donald Trump

Even though The Apprentice was canceled by NBC (because no one cares anymore) Donald Trump recently told Larry King:

NBC wants to do another season, a seventh season of The Apprentice... And, you know, I've had so much fun. It became the number one show on television. It's been terrific.

But, you know, the problem is NBC... there's such turmoil with the management... they took The Apprentice, which was really a powerful show, and they put it all over the place. They thought it was easily moved because it's so successful that it would, you know, easily follow.

And despite that, it did very well. It won the evening, as you know, recently on the finale.

But I'm so busy doing other things.

Yeah, keep telling yourself that, Mr. Trump.

I think it's time for The Donald to read The Dip.

Book Review: Lower Your Taxes - Big Time!

I recently stumbled upon an excellent book that I recommend all ADD business owners read!  It's called Lower Your Taxes - Big Time! 2006-2007 Edition by Sandy Botkin.

One of the best reasons to own a small business (or to form a company) is that when you do, all sorts of tax advantages become available to you.

For example, did you know that you can decuct the cost of your health insurance?  Okay, maybe you did know that. 

But did you know that you can deduct some of the costs of your car -- including gas and car washes??  Okay, once again maybe you did know that, or maybe you didn't...

But if you know this one, then I'm impressed: You may be able to deduct your out-of-pocket medical expenses, like copays and drug costs!  The requires setting up a self-insured medical reimbursement plan and hiring your spouse, which can usually be done easily and quickly.

Of course, I am not a tax professional (not even close).  When it comes to taxes, I'm learning as I go. And I absolutely positively recommend that you have a tax lawyer or accountant help you set up all these things properly. 

But isn't nice to know that you have these options available?  I certainly think so!

Review: The Art of Pricing

I recently finished reading The Art of Pricing by Rafi Mohammed.  This book is about pricing to increase business profits and growth, with a great deal of emphasis on providing value in your products and services.

The author shows readers how to uncover "hidden profits" by incorporating different pricing strategies to reach customers who may value your products differently.

For example, I offer an Intensive Coaching Package at $425 a month for ADDers who value the experience of having a personal coach to help them achieve their goals.  This package, of course, includes lots of personal attention.  I get to know my clients very well and they can count on me in times of need.

But not everyone values, or can afford, $425 a month for coaching.  So I also offer membership community that provides unlimited access to ADD management resources for a low monthly price of $27.  By offering these resources and coaching to the group, everyone benefits, although no one receives personal coaching attention. 

In this regard, my service offerings are in line with The Art of Pricing strategies, because with difference price valuations on coaching, I am able to service a greater number of people.  This strategy and others are discussed in detail by the author.

And one of the best features of this book is that while encouraging his readers to adapt a multi-level pricing strategy for profits and growth, the author is always on the lookout for a good deal.  So the reader learns about pricing from both sides of the equation: as the seller, and the buyer.

Jen recommends?: Yes

Recommended for: Business owners with multiple products/services

ADD-friendly: Yes - quick and entertaining read

Usefulness (scale of 1-10): 8 - pricing is one of the most difficult business decisions for ADDers

To purchase: Click here