We recently connected with Alyssa Blackwell and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Alyssa, thanks for joining us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

Growing up, I had a pretty intense case of ADHD, but I wasn’t diagnosed until my early 20’s. I’ve heard ADHD (Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) compared to thinking you’re a weird horse trying to fit in with all the other horses, when in actuality, you’re a zebra. For most of my life, I thought I was the weird horse, and that created a lot of shame, in addition to the common difficulties that ADHDers face – hyperactivity, lack of focus, forgetfulness, low dopamine, disorganization… the list goes on.

And so that shame about who I am and how little I fit in carried into adulthood. It followed me like a dark cloud, and it wasn’t until I discovered life coaching that I realized I got to determine how my life turns out, and that I am the only one in control of my destiny. And on that journey of deep inner work and profound spiritual healing, I went to school to study to become a life coach, and met some people who also were on the deep inner work journey and had been diagnosed with ADHD.

These humans helped me immensely- helping me understand how my brain works differently, how shame appears in every facet of life for ADHDers, how to work through and release said shame, and what tools I can use to focus, be more productive and be happier in my day-to-day life.

I loved learning from each of my teachers, and began sharing the mixture of all that I had learned with the life and business coaching clients I was working with. I had unintentionally been helping ADHD entrepreneurs for 5 years before I officially added “ADHD-focused” in front of my “Life & Business Coach” title. Funny enough, ADHDers hyper-focus on the things they find interesting, and my ADHD hyper-focus happens to be on ADHD itself. And this is where the idea for this business was born.

Alyssa, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Six years ago, my personal journey with ADHD and a desire for personal growth led me into the world of life coaching. I recognized the unique perspective and strengths that my neurodiversity brought, which fueled my passion for helping others. I decided to formalize my path by becoming a certified life coach through intensive training. My specialization in mindset work, ADHD support, spirituality, women’s wealth, and leadership development emerged from both my interests and the needs of my clients. What drives me is witnessing the incredible transformations my clients undergo, breaking free from limiting beliefs, and finding fulfillment. This journey is deeply rewarding and inspires me daily.

I offer two primary services to my clients. The first is a 4-month program called “Flow & Flourish,” designed specifically for individuals with ADHD. This program focuses on creating personalized systems and routines to enhance focus, productivity, and overall happiness. It addresses the unique challenges faced by ADHDers and provides them with practical solutions for their daily lives.

The second service I provide is the “ADHD Rescue Session,” which is a single session designed for individuals who need immediate assistance and support. This session allows people to book an individual coaching session with me to address specific areas where they may be feeling stuck or facing challenges related to ADHD.

What sets me apart from others is my deep understanding of ADHD and neurodiversity, as I have personal experience with ADHD myself. This firsthand knowledge allows me to offer empathetic and tailored support that resonates with my clients. Whether through a comprehensive 4-month program or a focused single session, my goal is to empower individuals with ADHD to overcome obstacles, find their flow state, and ultimately lead more fulfilling lives.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson I had to unlearn was that I “wasn’t trying hard enough.” Countless times in my childhood, I heard, “you’d be such a good student if you could just sit still and pay attention,” or “you’d be getting straight A’s if you could just apply yourself!” But what my teachers didn’t know was that I was already trying my hardest. That I was doing everything in my power to not fidget, to not doodle in my notebook, to not daydream.

And once I learned about ADHD as an adult, I was able to start visiting with that little me inside, who was shamed in school a lot, and thinks she’s wrong, dumb, and lazy. I got to tell her that she’s a good kid, and that I see her effort and believe that she’s doing enough. There’s so much shame associated with ADHD, and so going back and working through each of the shameful memories has been profoundly healing, and has allowed me to tap into new levels of joy, authenticity, and expression.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

For 5 of the 6 years I’ve been in business, I had no real niche – I just wanted to help people in any area of life that they were feeling stuck. People are so unique and complex, I wanted to show up and help in any way they really needed it. For most people, they know what they need to do, they just want someone in their corner. So for those reasons, I resisted having a niche where I could only focus on one specific area like money, spirituality, or relationships. But in the past year, with focusing in on ADHD, I’ve niched down my audience, without having to niche down on the topics I can discuss. So that was a big pivot.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.alyssablackwell.com/adhd
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mylifecoachalyssa/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssa-blackwell/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@alyssablackwell