ADHD-ish™

‍From her unexpected rise as an ADHD comic creator to pouring over 3,000 hours into designing The Anti-Planner, a "productivity spell book," Dani Donovan is a force of nature.
In this lively interview, Dani shares her unfiltered journey of building a tool for people tired of feeling like failures, dealing with the emotional roller coaster of intellectual property theft, and navigating impostors selling shoddy knockoffs of her labor of love.
‍We discuss what goes into protecting your intellectual property as an entrepreneur, why valuing your own creative work is vital, and what Dani wishes she’d known before dealing with copycat chaos and the steep cost of defending her business.
Her story underscores why trademark protection and legal safeguards aren't luxuries—they're essential armor for small business ownership.
‍If you’ve ever obsessed over planners you never use, struggled with perfectionism and procrastination, or wondered what it really takes to launch and protect something one-of-a-kind—this episode will resonate.
‍Get ready for hard truths, laughter, and transparency about the messy realities of ADHD entrepreneurship.
‍
Key takeaways for fellow creators and founders:
‍Protect Your IP Early - Dani Donovan’s story underscores the importance of copyrighting your content and considering trademarks before you reach mass awareness—even an overseas copyright or trademark if necessary.
Counterfeiting Can Happen to You - Whether you’re just starting out or have a viral hit, don’t assume your business is “too small” to be targeted. Copycats watch for what’s trending, and success makes you a target.
‍Community & Transparency Matter - Sharing the messy, challenging parts (like publicly addressing counterfeiting) can activate support from customers and fellow entrepreneurs—and may even lead to further growth and visibility.
‍Fun Fact From The Episode
‍When the first shipment of the Anti-Planner arrived, people (including myself) literally hugged it to their chest—and it wasn’t by accident! Dani intentionally made it “therapy pillow-sized” based on how she wanted users to feel about it.
‍
About today’s guest, Dani Donovan:
‍Dani Donovan is an award-winning designer and creator of the viral hit product, "The Anti-Planner: How to Get Sh*t Done When You Don't Feel Like It." Known for her relatable ADHD comics, tweets, and TikToks, she's been helping shape the online neurodiversity community since 2018.
Dani was the closing keynote speaker at the 2021 International ADHD Conference, and her work has helped thousands of people seek an ADHD diagnosis and treatment.
Mentioned during the episode:
‍Alibaba ‍ - Steve Peha - Copyscape Plagarism Checker ‍- MarqVision Brand Protection Agency
‍
About the Anti-Planner:
‍Tapping into her own frustrations and the lived experiences of ADHD peers, Dani Donovan spent over 3,000 hours creating The Anti-Planner, a “productivity spellbook”—a lovingly designed, non-linear, highly personalized compendium of over 100 strategies for overcoming procrastination and building emotional resistance.
‍Dani obsessed over every detail: the comforting size, playful illustrations, durable faux-leather binding, gold foil, thick paper, pen loop, and rounded corners. It is gorgeous, practical, and nothing like all the planners you’ve bought and abandoned two weeks later. I absolutely love mine!
‍Buy your copy of the Original Anti-Planner here. (Dani also has a Clean version if you are not so sweary…)
‍ ‍
Your ADHD-ish™ host, Diann Wingert
‍Diann Wingert brings decades of experience as a psychotherapist and serial business owner to coaching entrepreneurs with ADHD traits. Her style is direct and strategic, with a dash of humor, and filled with the insights of someone who lives and breathes the ADHD-ish™ experience. Diann is the creator of the ADHD-ish™ Method, host of the top-rated ADHD-ish™ podcast and proud mom of three neurodivergent adults.
‍ ‍‍ ‍
Should I have Dani back again?
Want Dani Donovan to return to ADHD-ish™ to talk about what actually happens when your business scales way faster than you expected? Let us know by leaving a voice message here or sending an email here. Thanks!
‍ ‍
© 2026 ADHD-ish™ Podcast. Intro music by Ishan Dincer / Melody Loops / Outro music by Vladimir / Bobi Music / All rights reserved.

‍Traditionally seen as a productivity flaw, time blindness is revealed here as a money problem, quietly undermining pricing, profits, and self-worth for solopreneurs with ADHD.
This episode explores why common fixes like timers and time blocking miss the deeper issue, and instead, offers practical ways to design around the unique ADHD brain.
Listeners can expect actionable tools—like range pricing, value-based pricing, and multipliers—to help create smarter, ADHD-friendly business practices.
Key Takeaways:
1. Why time blindness is more of a money issue than a productivity problem
Missed deadlines are visible, but it’s the underpriced projects and unseen labor that are draining your profits.
2. How the ADHD brain’s sense of time impacts your pricing (and sends you into the red)
3. Why accurate estimation is a myth—and what to do instead
Spoiler: The strategic move is to build pricing that works with your brain

The Three Places You’re Losing Money
The invisible cost of time blindness shows up in three big ways in most service-based businesses—and maybe in yours too:
● Quoting New Work: Saying “yes” to projects we’ve never done, referencing a project that only looks similar, and then confidently (but cluelessly) assigning a price. Inevitably, unknowns explode, and you end up working for free
● Scoping Familiar Work: Every project you think you know by heart, but memory only shows you the highlight reel.
● Hidden Labor: The worst offender. All the little admin tasks, endless revisions, back-and-forth emails, and extra meetings never get included in my quote. They don’t feel like “billable” work, but they devour hours and energy in unpaid work.

Six Pricing Strategies that Correct The Effects of Time Blindness:
● Range Pricing: Quote within a range, not a fixed number.
● Value-Based Pricing: Charge for outcomes, not hours.
● Multipliers & Buffers: Take your default quote and multiply it (1.5x, 2x, even 2.5x if you’re feeling brave).
● Project vs. Hourly Pricing: Bill by project, not hours, so you’re aren’t penalized for hyperfocus sprints
● Built-In Revision Rounds & Communication Caps: Set clear boundaries on extra work and comms, and make it official.

Time blindness isn’t going away—but by meeting your brain where it is, you can transform ADHD traits from liabilities into business assets. Design your pricing not despite your ADHD, but in partnership with it—and start keeping your hard-earned money where it belongs: in your business.
Try The Multiplier Experiment on your next proposal:
1. Write down the number you want to send.
2. Multiply it by 1.5x (or higher—it should feel just a bit stretchy).
3. Send that quote. Notice the resistance, the stories, the “what ifs.”
4. Collect the data: Did the client say yes? No? What did you learn?
Every proposal is a data point for better pricing decisions. Stop leaving money on the table!
Research on ADHD & time blindness

Your ADHD-ish ™ host, Diann Wingert

Diann Wingert is a business strategist, coach, serial entrepreneur, former psychotherapist, and passionate thought leader at the intersection of ADHD and entrepreneurship. In addition to hosting the ADHD-ish ™ podcast, Diann is the creator of The ADHD-ish ™ Method, a practicing Buddhist, dog mom, and relentlessly curious human.
Diann explains neuroscience in a relatable way. Through her accessible storytelling, Diann empowers others to understand their brains, manage their energy, and show compassion to themselves as they navigate the demands of being a business owner and in their everyday lives.
Resources Mentioned in This Episode:
Sign up for Di AI, my ADHD business coach digital clone, for free: https://bit.ly/di-ai-access

Make sure you don’t miss the next episodes in this “Reframing Your ADHD Traits as Business Strategies” series. Subscribe/Follow ADHD-ish on Apple or Spotify
Want my help to build your business with your ADHD traits in mind? Schedule a free consultation to explore 1:1 ADHD entrepreneur coaching.
‍ ‍
© 2026 ADHD-ish™ Podcast. Intro music by Ishan Dincer / Melody Loops / Outro music by Vladimir / Bobi Music / All rights reserved.

Ever wondered how someone with a full plate—a thriving business, a family, a neurodiverse household, AND a stack of published books—still finds time to sleep?
Or better yet… how they use their ADHD to power all of it? If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by your own creativity or wondered if you’re “too much,” you’re going to love this interview with returning guest and my SEO consultant, Meg Casebolt. Her approach to neurodiversity in business proves that ADHD can be a strategic advantage, not a limitation.
Meg is an entrepreneurial powerhouse who perfectly embodies the phrase “multi-passionate with a mission.” I’m talking about building a successful SEO consultancy while cranking out several romance novels, nonfiction books, and helping others find their voices—all with the magic (and occasional mayhem) of an ADHD brain. Her writing strategy and approach to creative writing offer a blueprint for managing multiple projects without burning out.
This is not a conversation about “doing it all.” It’s about how to let your brain’s unique wiring become your greatest asset. Meg shares candidly about her writing journey: from being a childhood word nerd, to losing the joy of writing through academia’s rigidity, and then rediscovering the creative spark during the uncertainty of the pandemic.

Ever felt like your nervous system is on overdrive? You’re not alone—turns out writing romance novels was exactly what Meg needed to dial down anxiety and reclaim hope. This is neurodiversity in business at its most authentic.
Here are my top 3 takeaways from our chat:
Creativity Needs Structure:

Meg breaks big projects like writing novels and business books into manageable, bite-sized sessions—30 minutes a day can add up to published work and reduced overwhelm.
Curate Your Input to Cultivate Your Output:

Both of us have found that reducing media consumption and focusing on our unique perspectives boosts creativity and clarity—whether you’re writing, building, or rebranding.
Honor Your Brain (and Your Needs):

It’s not about doing it all—it's about doing what fuels you. Speaker B balances left- and right-brain work, has learned to say no to platforms that drain her energy, and finds flow by following her interests and intrinsic motivations.

About today’s guest, Meg Casebolt:
Meg Casebolt helps experienced founders, consultants, and creators become findable in AI-powered search—not through keyword tactics, but through strategic authority positioning.
As founder of Love At First Search, she works with experts who don’t need more SEO advice but do need a new way to be understood by modern search systems.
Her approach focuses on helping people become quotable and recommendable: teaching them to claim specific expertise territory and build the signals AI uses to evaluate credibility.
Diann’s Note: After I lost 10k followers on social media accounts overnight due to hackers, I was determined to learn SEO and started working with Meg. Within 1 year, I rank at the top of all search engines in my niche, and 50% of my clients now find me through online search.
Meg’s Body of Work:
Love at First Search / Signal - SEO membership program (affiliate)
Aggressively Human podcast with Jessica Lackey
Social Slowdown Meg’s podcast and book
Happily Ever Indie - for self-published romance authors
Meg’s romance novels under her pseudonym Bailey Seaborn

Recommended by Meg during the episode:
Lacy Boggs, The Content Direction Agency
Joanna Wiebe - 12 Books That Will Make You Insanely Smart

Your ADHD-ish™ host, Diann Wingert
Diann Wingert brings decades of experience as a psychotherapist and serial business owner and is now a sought-after coach to entrepreneurs with ADHD traits.
Diann is a fierce advocate for self-acceptance and meaningful growth at the intersection of neurodivergence and entrepreneurship. She is the creator of the ADHD-ish Method and host of the top-rated ADHD-ish podcast.
Connect with Diann
Ready to work with an ADHD-informed business strategist and coach? Book a free consultation with me.

© 2026 ADHD-ish™ Podcast. Intro music by Ishan Dincer / Melody Loops / Outro music by Vladimir / Bobi Music / All rights reserved.

Welcome back to ADHD-ish™, where we're kicking off a five-episode series reframing the most talked-about ADHD traits as tools for entrepreneurial success, starting with hyperfocus.
Forget the myth that hyperfocus is a rare, unpredictable gift. ADHD-ish™ host, Diann Wingert, reveals that the most successful ADHD entrepreneurs create the conditions for hyperfocus rather than hoping it just shows up.

Here’s the game-changing insight:
Hyperfocus is a state, not a fixed trait—and you can stack the deck to get into it on demand.

3 Key Takeaways:
Engineer Your Hyperfocus: Don’t wait for the muse—set up conditions like real deadlines, novel environments, meaningful rewards, supportive sensory cues, and a nourished body to invite focus on demand.
Body Doubling is a Real Strategy: Working alongside others—friends on Zoom, coworking sessions, or even a busy coffee shop—provides social accountability and can reliably spark focus.
Stack Conditions, Not Guilt: Hyperfocus isn’t about willpower; it’s about stacking multiple supportive factors. Even intentionally stacking just two of these can create momentum in your business.

Hyperfocus can be a genuine business asset—if you learn to direct it. But, there are hidden costs to hyperfocus, too:
Mental exhaustion and decision fatigue
Neglected relationships
Other parts of your business are left idle

Remember: Hyperfocus is a power tool. Use it wisely—and plan for the comedown.

What’s My Hyperfocus Setup?
In my own business, I decide, ahead of time, exactly what needs my hyper-focused attention and how much time I’ll devote to it.
The routine is precise: comfortable clothes, a high-protein breakfast, natural light, a pre-game ritual of exercise, sunshine, and social connection. And hydration throughout the hyperfocused state. No brain jerky for me.
What’s not in my routine: willpower, white-knuckling, bullying myself or shame. The environment is repeatable, the stakes are real, and the body, mind, and brain are primed and ready. After it's over? Rest, recalibration, and reconnection.

Hyperfocus as Skill - Start Here:
Pick one 90-minute block of business-critical work.
Deliberately create at least two of the five conditions above.
Do the work—and observe the impact on your focus.
Don’t be an overachiever and do all five. Start small, track the effect, and iterate. It’s not a productivity contest—it’s your personal hyperfocus experiment.

Resources mentioned in this episode:
Focus Mate
Focused Space (affiliate link)
Zoom
Spotify playlists

Your ADHD-ish ™ host, Diann Wingert
Diann Wingert is a business strategist, coach, serial entrepreneur, former psychotherapist, and passionate thought leader at the intersection of ADHD and entrepreneurship.In addition to hosting the ADHD-ish ™ podcast, Diann is the creator of The ADHD-ish ™ Method, a practicing Buddhist, dog mom, and relentlessly curious human.
Diann explains neuroscience in a relatable way. Through her accessible storytelling, Diann empowers others to understand their brains, manage their energy, and show compassion to themselves as they navigate the demands of being a business owner and in their everyday lives.

Want more strategies for time blindness, novelty chasing, object permanence issues, and procrastination? Make sure you don’t miss the next episodes in this “Reframing Your ADHD Traits as Business Strategies” series. Subscribe/Follow ADHD-ish on Apple or Spotify

Want my help to build your business with ADHD in mind? Schedule a free consultation to explore expert ADHD entrepreneur coaching with Diann Wingert

© 2026 ADHD-ish™ Podcast. Intro music by Ishan Dincer / Melody Loops / Outro music by Vladimir / Bobi Music / All rights reserved.

ADHD fundamentally impacts executive function—the mental skills for planning, prioritizing, delegating, and following through. So, when an entrepreneur hires a VA and is expected to onboard, direct, and give detailed instructions, they’re faced with a mismatch: the very skills they struggle with are those they now must use to instruct their assistant.
Traditional VAs, trained to “do what they’re told,” end up sitting idle, waiting for direction, while the entrepreneur is paralyzed by indecision and shame. The result? Money is wasted, little is accomplished, and increased frustration, making it even harder to try again.
What if support could be different? What if, instead of looking for a “unicorn” VA who can do everything, ADHD entrepreneurs sought out “distant assistants”—human lifelines who specialize in executive functioning, regulated communication, and operationalized thinking?Today’s guest is Avigail (Avy) Schondorf, fellow ADHD entrepreneur, podcaster, and owner of the Alisto agency that trains and outsources distant assistants who understand what neurodivergent business owners really need.
This conversation is full of insights, humor, cringeworthy moments, and a new paradigm for shame-free support.
Here are 3 key takeaways for anyone considering hiring support:
A “bad” solution is not worse than no solution. Many ADHD entrepreneurs avoid help out of fear that it won’t work, but that only fuels more shame and wasted energy.
Don’t wait for the “perfect” moment or system. The real tipping point isn’t having more work—it’s being ready to ask for what you need, without shame.
Stop looking for unicorns—lean into teams. Expecting one assistant to do everything sets everyone up for failure. Specialized support means you (and your VA) can play to your strengths.

If “doing it all myself” isn’t scalable OR sustainable, maybe it’s time to delegate differently—and embrace asking for help as a sign of strength.

About today’s guest, Avigail (Avy) Schondorf:
Avigail (Avy) Schondorf is a social worker turned entrepreneur who built two companies around the way her brain actually works.
She's the founder of Alisto Virtual Workforce, a team of Distant Assistants who specialize in supporting neurodivergent entrepreneurs — and AvyHD, her strategy and thought leadership brand where she gets real about ADHD, delegation, and building a business without burning out.
When she's not running her team or hosting the AvyHD Podcast, she's lifting weights, reading, or wrangling two very energetic daughters.
Connect with Avy:
Website
AVYHD podcast
LinkedIn

Mentioned during this episode:
Avigail’s Octopus prompt
Jamie from Bottleneck Distant Assistant
My interview on Avi’s podcast, “Consistency, the Other C Word for ADHD Entrepreneurs”

Your ADHD-ish™ host, Diann Wingert
Diann Wingert brings decades of experience as a psychotherapist and serial business owner and is now a sought-after coach to entrepreneurs with ADHD traits. Her style is direct, strategic, and always honest—peppered with the insight of someone who lives and breathes the neurodivergent experience.
Diann is a fierce advocate for self-acceptance and meaningful growth at the intersection of neurodivergence and entrepreneurship. She is the creator of the ADHD-ish Method and host of the top-rated ADHD-ish podcast.
Links:
Follow / Subscribe to ADHD-ish so you don’t miss an episode
Ready to work with an ADHD-informed business strategist and coach? Visit my website.

© 2026 ADHD-ish™ Podcast. Intro music by Ishan Dincer / Melody Loops / Outro music by Vladimir / Bobi Music / All rights reserved.