Founders, ADHD & the Enneagram: How to Harness this Superpower

Being a founder is a wild ride.

One minute you're on fire with ideas, and the next, you're stuck in the mud, overwhelmed by everything you're supposed to be doing.

Now throw ADHD into that mix—your brain buzzing like a broken radio, never quite tuning into one clear station. If you’ve been there, you know this isn’t just about time management or missed deadlines. It’s about identity. It’s about who you are at your core.

At its best it's a gift and it's probably one of the reasons why you're great at what you do. At its worst though it can be a consistency nightmare.

So - how do you capitalise on its upside and manage the challenges? Let's take a look ...

ADHD Through a Metaphysical Lens

On a metaphysical level, ADHD can be seen as scattered energy. Imagine a bright light refracting into a thousand different beams. Instead of channeling all that power into a single focus, it spills everywhere, creating both brilliance and chaos.

Emotionally, ADHD feels like a conflict between wanting total creative freedom and needing structure to make things happen. It’s like having one foot on the gas and the other on the brake at the same time. And this inner struggle? It hits right at the heart of your Enneagram core fear.

Enneagram Meets ADHD: What’s Your Fear?

Let’s break it down. ADHD doesn’t just make you unfocused or impulsive; it amplifies the core fear that’s already driving your behavior based on your Enneagram type.

The Enneagram is an incredible tool for identify what drives us at a foundational level. It's a profiling tool that showcases 9 different energy types.

1. Type 1 (The Reformer): The Fear of Being Wrong Type 1s crave order and perfection, but ADHD throws a wrench in the gears. The fear of being “wrong” or not living up to moral standards gets supercharged when ADHD leads to missed details or incomplete tasks. They struggle with feeling like they’re constantly failing their internal judge.

2. Type 2 (The Helper): The Fear of Being Unloved For Type 2s, their biggest fear is that they’re not lovable unless they’re helping others. ADHD distracts them from being present, and they worry that they’ll let people down or seem unreliable, fueling that fear of being disconnected or not needed.

3. Type 3 (The Achiever): The Fear of Failure Type 3s live for success, but ADHD can feel like the ultimate saboteur. The fear of failing to meet the high bar they set for themselves can lead to anxiety, overcompensation, and burnout as they try to juggle everything at once, desperate to maintain their image of success.

4. Type 4 (The Individualist): The Fear of Being Insignificant Type 4s fear they’re insignificant or missing something essential. ADHD’s scattered focus can leave them feeling even more misunderstood, heightening their sensitivity and their fear that they’re fundamentally different or flawed in a way that makes true connection impossible.

5. Type 5 (The Investigator): The Fear of Being Overwhelmed Type 5s need to feel competent and in control, but ADHD can feel like a storm they can’t weather. Their fear of being overwhelmed by the demands of life can lead them to retreat even further into their heads, isolating themselves to avoid the chaos.

6. Type 6 (The Loyalist): The Fear of Uncertainty For Type 6s, life needs to be predictable and safe, but ADHD is anything but predictable. Their fear of uncertainty gets triggered when ADHD causes them to drop the ball or lose track of important details. This can lead to overthinking, doubting themselves, and seeking external reassurance.

7. Type 7 (The Enthusiast): The Fear of Being Trapped Type 7s live for freedom and variety, but ADHD can turn their love for new ideas into a double-edged sword. Their fear of being trapped in boredom or pain is exacerbated when they start multiple projects but struggle to finish any, leaving them feeling stuck in a cycle of distraction.

8. Type 8 (The Challenger): The Fear of Being Controlled Type 8s fear being controlled or vulnerable, and ADHD can make them feel out of control. They may try to overcompensate by taking on too much or bulldozing through tasks to maintain their power and independence, even when ADHD leaves them feeling scattered.

9. Type 9 (The Peacemaker): The Fear of Conflict Type 9s fear conflict and being disconnected from others. ADHD can leave them feeling disengaged or unable to follow through, making them worry that they’re creating friction or letting people down, triggering that fear of losing their sense of peace and harmony.

Turning ADHD into a Superpower

Founders with ADHD often have extraordinary strengths. The key is learning how to channel them.

• Creativity on Overdrive: ADHD minds are creative in ways that linear thinkers can’t touch. You can connect dots no one else sees. You’re spontaneous, innovative, and capable of outside-the-box thinking that can lead to breakthroughs.

• Hyperfocus: When something captures your attention, you can dive deeper than most people ever could. The trick? Create systems to manage distractions so you can unleash this power at the right time.

• Resilience: Founders with ADHD often develop resilience by sheer necessity. You learn how to bounce back after distractions or setbacks, and this grit can be a huge asset in the chaotic world of entrepreneurship.

Practical Strategies to Thrive

While ADHD can’t be wished away, it can be managed—both practically and metaphysically.

1. Mind Mapping: ADHD brains thrive on visual structure. Use mind mapping tools to organize your thoughts, capture your ideas, and create a clear roadmap to action. This reduces overwhelm and helps you maintain focus on the big picture.

2. Time Blocking for Focus: Create blocks of time for specific tasks. Think of it as controlled hyperfocus. You get 90 minutes to dive deep into one thing, without distractions. When the timer’s up, you move on. This helps your brain feel less trapped and more in control.

3. Grounding and Energy Practices: Metaphysical techniques like the 12D Shield can ground your scattered energy, shielding you from external distractions and aligning your focus. It’s about more than just calming the mind; it’s aligning your energetic field to your higher purpose.

4. Delegate and Collaborate: ADHD founders excel in vision, but often stumble in execution. Build a team that supports you—people who can handle the details while you steer the ship.

5. Meditation and Mindfulness: Yes, your mind is always racing, but mindfulness can teach you how to control the flow. Even a few minutes of meditation each day can help you cultivate awareness, giving you the space to pause before your ADHD hijacks the moment.

Case Studies: ADHD-Driven Success

Consider Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group. Branson openly attributes his ADHD as a driving force behind his success. Instead of fighting it, he leaned into his strengths—his ability to think creatively and take risks. By delegating the details to others, he was able to focus on big-picture thinking, turning ADHD into an asset.

Or take Arianna Huffington, who embraced mindfulness to manage her ADHD-like tendencies. Her journey from burnout to thriving CEO came from learning how to structure her life in a way that aligned with her strengths, using meditation to keep her mind calm and focused on what truly mattered.

Final Thoughts: Embrace the Chaos

ADHD doesn’t have to be your Achilles' heel. By understanding your Enneagram type and its core fears, you can turn what feels like chaos into your greatest advantage. ADHD founders are often some of the most visionary, creative leaders out there. The key is to stop trying to fit into a mold that was never built for you. Instead, create systems, both practical and metaphysical, that work with your ADHD, not against it.

Founders who thrive with ADHD know that it’s not about suppressing who they are—it’s about leaning into their gifts, managing their fears, and grounding their energy so they can change the world, one chaotic, brilliant step at a time.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kristina Elphinstone (formerly Mills)

• Founder - Higher Purpose Movement

• Founder - The Marketing Powerhouse

• Founder - Toroidal One Consciousness Expansion Clinic

Kristina is passionate about helping founders build enlightened enterprises that are the ultimate expression of their highest purpose and genius in this lifetime. Kristina has a rich and unusual mix of skills including three decades as a veteran direct response marketer and copywriter, human behavior and neuroscience expert, executive advisor, business advisor, combined with her esoteric skills as an intuitive, multi-dimensional healer, and shaman.

Services Offered:

• Divine Blueprint and Supernatural Genius Mapping - beyond Ikagai, Golden Circle, Astrology, Gene Keys, or Human Design.

• Holographic Personal Branding - terrestrial and other dimensional.

• Purpose-Driven Business Coaching and Private Consulting

• USP Differentiation Intensive

• Marketing Automation and Strategy Development

• Executive and Business Intuition Coaching

• Spiritual Mentoring for Founders

These services are designed to empower entrepreneurs to create a meaningful impact while achieving exponential growth aligned with their soul's purpose.

For more information visit me at KristinaElphinstone.com

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