What My ADHD Taught Me About Marketing (And Why It's My Superpower!)

If you weren't already aware, I have ADHD (attention deficit, hyperactivity disorder) It doesn't mean I'm just chaos and I grew up as the 'naughty child'. Couldn't be further from the truth actually. Instead I'm pretty quiet, but I do have 8 thoughts all at once, I am easily distracted and I absolutely cannot stick to a schedule. If you can relate to this, you might agree that traditional marketing structures don’t quite fit your way of working. Planning can feel overwhelming, deadlines can sneak up on you, and content calendars are just frustrating. But here’s what I'm discovering, ADHD isn’t just a challenge in marketing; it’s also a superpower.

Why ADHD Brains Are Made for Marketing

I believe people with ADHD are natural marketers. We’re curious, creative, and constantly coming up with new ideas. We have an ability to hyper focus which is perfect for deep dives into innovative campaigns. Our tendency to think outside the box is exactly what’s needed to capture attention in a noisy digital world. So here’s how ADHD has become my marketing superpower;

1. I'm Creative

Our ADHD brains are wired for innovation. We see connections other people miss, which is why brainstorming comes naturally to us. It's important to use this to your advantage by keeping a running idea bank, whether it’s a voice note, or a pile of sticky notes. Whenever inspiration strikes, be sure to capture it. Later, you can sift through and refine your ideas into campaigns that actually work.

2. I Can Hyper-focus

One of ADHD’s biggest gifts is the ability to hyper focus. It's like an intense tunnel vision when something truly engages us, as if you're climbing down a rabbit hole and it's impossible to see anything, other than the end. This is actually great for deep work sessions for the parts of marketing you love, like writing content, designing visuals, or just analysing trends. You have to set timers though, so you don’t lose an entire day tweaking the same post!

3. I Love Variety

Repetitive tasks can be absolute torture for ADHDers. Which is actually why marketing is such a good vocation for us, it's full of diverse projects, social platforms, campaigns, branding, strategy. If you ever find yourself getting bored, you can rotate tasks throughout the day or week. Having a mix of creative and analytical work can help keep your brain engaged.

4. I Can Use ADHD Friendly Tools

I've had a tonne of experience with traditional planners and rigid systems, and they don’t always work for ADHD minds. Instead, I prefer to find flexible tools that support my way of working. Try project management apps like Trello, with colourful labels and quick drag-and-drop features. Use calendar reminders (with alarms!) to keep track of deadlines. And most importantly, create a system that works for you, not against you. Even if its pen and paper! No ones judging!

5. I Thrive On Setting Small Goals

Starting out can be the hardest part. What do you even post and when? To overcome this, it's a good idea to break tasks into smaller, bite-sized pieces. Need to post something? Then just take the selfie for now. Need to write a blog article? Start with the headline. When you've achieved this goal, celebrate it! It will give you all the momentum you need, and suddenly, things don’t seem so overwhelming.

6. Impulsivity Is My Advantage

ADHD impulsivity is often perceived negatively, but here, it's marketing gold. Bold campaigns, viral content, and disruptive ideas often come from instinctive, outside-the-box thinking. So, instead of stifling your spontaneous ideas, lean into them, just make sure to run them by a trusted colleague or friend before launching them into the world!

7. I Can Celebrate Small Wins

Marketing is about long-term efforts, but instead we thrive on instant gratification. To stay motivated, celebrate the smaller victories, whether that’s hitting ‘publish’ on a blog, gaining 100 new followers, or successfully sticking to a content plan for a week. These little wins keep you engaged and moving forward, so post about them!

Turning ADHD Challenges Into Marketing Strengths

Instead of seeing ADHD as a hurdle in marketing, re-frame it as your unique advantage. Your creativity, adaptability, and ability to think differently are exactly what make great marketers stand out. The key is learning how to channel your strengths and work with your brain, not against it.

So the next time you struggle with focus or feel frustrated by your to-do list, just remember, ADHD isn’t a weakness. In the marketing world, it might just be your strongest asset.