September 14, 2025 • 31 mins
Have you ever felt like your business would thrive if only your brain would cooperate? For wedding professionals with ADHD, running a successful business often means navigating a mind that feels like "sitting in Times Square trying to do Chinese algebra."
In this illuminating episode, we welcome ADHD systems specialist Caitlin Blair who transforms what looks like chaos into strategic success for neurodivergent entrepreneurs. Drawing from her experience growing up in a household filled with ADHD family members and working with numerous wedding professionals, Caitlin shares insights that go beyond typical productivity advice.
We dive deep into why traditional business systems often fail for those with ADHD, and how "organized chaos" can be harnessed rather than eliminated. Ben shares his personal journey with ADHD, offering a raw glimpse into how it affects decision-making, focus, and the emotional landscape of running a wedding business. From the anxiety that often accompanies neurodivergence to the transformative power of proper diagnosis, we explore the full spectrum of the ADHD entrepreneurial experience.
You'll discover practical strategies tailored specifically for the ADHD mind: visual planning systems, how to approach tools like Trello without getting overwhelmed, time blocking techniques that prevent hyperfocus on single tasks, and methods for tackling those dreaded administrative duties every wedding professional faces. Caitlin also walks us through her process of creating custom systems that don't just organize your business, but actually work with your natural thinking patterns.
Whether you have ADHD yourself or work with someone who does, this episode offers compassionate understanding alongside actionable strategies. The noise in your head doesn't have to be your business's downfall—it might just be your greatest creative asset when channeled properly.
Subscribe to Wedding Empires to continue exploring the unique challenges and opportunities of running a wedding business, and find Caitlin at VirtuallyVitalCo to learn more about her specialized services for neurodivergent entrepreneurs.
🚀 THE ONLY PLACE TO WATCH OUR VIDEO INTERVIEWS BEFORE THEY DROP!
🎥 Want behind-the-scenes access to our guest interviews before they go live on the podcast? Want to actually be there for some of the live recordings? Then you NEED to be inside our Facebook group—the VIP lounge for 7,000+ wedding pros just like you.
💬 Rub shoulders with Jac & Ben
❓ Ask YOUR questions before we hit record
🎉 Network, learn, and grow alongside industry leaders
📢 Join discussions that don’t make it to air
👉 Join the community now: facebook.com/groups/weddingempirespodcast
👰♀️ This is where the real conversation happens. Don’t just listen—experience it.
📲 LET’S STAY CONNECTED
🌐 Website & Courses: www.weddingacademyglobal.com
📸 Instagram: @weddingacademylive
🎶 TikTok: @weddingacademylive
📺 YouTube: Wedding Academy TV
👍 Facebook: Wedding Academy Global
🎓 READY TO BUILD YOUR WEDDING EMPIRE?
Join thousands of ambitious creatives leveling up inside WeddingAcademyGlobal.com. Whether you'...
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi everyone and welcome back to season five of
Wedding Empires.
I'm Ben we've got Jack on theright-hand side here and today
we're talking about a subjectthat is close to my heart and
close to everything that'sbuzzing around my head, my house
, my world, and that's ADHD.
So we've got our lovely friendCaitlin Blair joining us all the
(00:23):
way from the US and she'shuddling in her house hiding
from a storm at the moment.
Apparently so is the storm,caitlin.
Is that the same as the onethat's in all our ADHD heads?
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Yeah, I'm sure it's just as loud probably.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
So, guys, what Caitlin does is she helps people
with adhd in their businesses.
Because if, if any of you outthere have adhd or you you work
with someone who does, you, yourealize that their world can be
noisy, it can be messy, it canbe a bit chaotic and things can
(01:02):
just be generally everywhere inlots of little piles.
And this is kind of how we workas people with ADHD and that
sort of stuff.
So Kaylin is here today to giveus some insight into how we can
better navigate things, how wecan build some systems and stuff
in our businesses to help andmanage the noise that's in the
head, and how we can sort of getaround that.
(01:22):
She's also going to help withdealing with and manage the
noise that's in the head and howwe can sort of get around that.
She's also going to help withdealing with and working with
people that might be ADHDers andthat sort of stuff.
Strap in for this one I'mlikely to get loud and all over
the place.
Jack's just sitting therelooking at me like what's this
guy doing?
Speaker 3 (01:44):
No, no, no, no.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
what thrown this jack has thrown this all to me this
morning and said we're not goingto do the normal intro, you can
just do it.
By the way, we're live for thefirst time in two months anyway.
Here we are, so I've justdropped us all in the deep end.
Thank you, jack, thank youcaitlin, and I'm going to throw
it over to you for the firstquestion.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
And we're off Absolutely.
Thanks, Ben Caitlin, so greatto have you here.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
My first question.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
Thank you, and I know you're in the middle of a storm
.
You're all the way over inVirginia.
First of all, I guess what was?
How did it all come togetherfor you, to kind of go, this is
my niche and I'm really good atthis, and there's a business in
this.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Yeah, so I have three siblings, all of them with
diagnosed ADHD and one with ADHD, autism and anxiety.
So I have grown up in ahousehold with neurodivergence
and one of the first clientswhen I first started my business
, I was just a general virtualassistant, helping like a family
(02:49):
friend.
She was a wedding violinist, soI was helping her with her CRM,
so with her contracts andinvoices and things, and she had
ADHD and I realized that theway that her brain worked was so
much like my sister's and howshe needed to see her tasks and
it was, like I call it,organized chaos, where there's
(03:09):
like to me or like someone fromthe outside you might see that
there's so much happening,there's so much everywhere, but
to them it's like, oh yeah,under this piece of paper you'll
find this paperclip, blah, blah, blah, like super buried, so
they know where everything is intheir brain.
But it's just so, there's justso much happening.
(03:30):
And so then after that I wasable to help her organize things
around, like with her ADHD, somaking sure that tasks were
there, but also balancing likenot seeing too many tasks,
because then you'll getoverwhelmed and might not
physically be able to doanything.
And then, after I'd worked withher.
Somebody very similar to her hada similar issue with her with
(03:53):
staying organized and staying ontop of tasks, and I've now
gotten to the point where, ifI'm on a call with someone, I'm
like you have ADHD, because Iknow, like the things that
you're talking about andstruggling with, like I'm like
do you have ADHD?
And all of them are like yes, Ido, and I'm like okay, so yeah,
(04:15):
I've just.
That's pretty much how Istarted was with with her
wedding violinist with ADHD, andthen I was like I had worked
with some other wedding peopleand I just love the wedding
vendors, but then I specificallyhave been able to help people
with ADHD because of her andbecause of my siblings as well.
So, long story short, no, thisis great.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
Can I paint a picture for everyone?
Not to be rude, caitlin, therewas a period there where some of
you might have seen it.
I kind of glazed over because Ijust went off on another little
tangent and I had to come backto what you were saying.
Now, for anyone that can'tquite get the grasp of what
(04:52):
happens, the easiest way I canexplain what can go on, as
someone with ADHD and that glazeover and everything else
Imagine sitting in the middle ofa busy Times Square at a desk
trying to do Chinese algebra.
Welcome to my world.
That's quite often what itfeels like.
There's noise, there's so manyshiny objects and it's really
(05:18):
noisy in your head To be able tofocus on one thing and to get a
specific job done.
And if that job is somethingthat you don't like, like if for
me it's invoicing, like I putit off and put it off, and put
it off and it piles and pilesand that's just another thing,
so that's what happens, that'swhat you're dealing with.
(05:40):
So if you're speaking tosomeone and they appear that
they glaze over or somethinglike that and that's kind of
what they're dealing with intheir head, so just to kind of
paint that picture so that youknow, you get a concept of what
we're talking about.
And it's not just someonedoesn't care, or they're not
listening, or it's just they'redealing with so much noise, yeah
.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
Yeah, okay.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
My dog is down there snoring his head off, so I hope
you can't hear.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
That first question would be, I guess.
So now we're like ben, you'veexplained really well, kind of
like, the challenges in theday-to-day of operations.
So, caitlin, what would be stepone?
So they've, they've heard aboutyou, they've come to you and
they've gone.
I just want to do the photos,like all this other stuff, like
the emails and the invoicing andthe like.
(06:26):
How can I simplify my business,like, where do you, where do
you start with that client?
Speaker 2 (06:31):
Usually, I will help them and we will go over their
workflow, and what I mean bythat is um, a workflow is just
how to get from step A it, pointone, to point two.
Uh, and we'll go over everystep together of what they need
to do.
Somebody's filled out a form ontheir website.
(06:53):
What happens?
And then, like, we'll go intothe details.
I know it's can be a lot forpeople with adhd, but then after
that, after that talk, they'regood to go and we can start
building that based off of thatconversation.
And for them, if they're like,okay, that's great, but how do I
do that myself, if I don't wantto work with you or hire you?
(07:16):
You can map out what I mean bythat is, just list out the tasks
that you need to do and thenyou can work backwards from
there and don't, like I knowpeople will just get so focused
on a tool and then just buildout a whole thing in 12 hours
and then be like, okay, I'mnever touching that again and
get so burnt out.
(07:36):
So don't be realistic and tryto space it out so you don't get
burnt out and then you neverwant to touch that tool again.
And I found that that has beenreally helpful.
I'm like, okay, today I'm goingto make the email templates
that I need, or this month,that's my goal, and then I won't
have to make email templatesagain because they're already
made.
Yeah, so that's where I wouldstart is just realize what you
(08:01):
need done and then workbackwards from there.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Yeah, I found that also, as you said, doing lists
and stuff, I always try, beforeI go to bed the night before to
to put a list together of thethings I need to do the next day
, because if I don't do thatquite often I'll get into my
office in the morning and gowhat was I supposed to do?
(08:27):
And then I just go off on somelittle journey with something
that isn't going to make memoney or extend business or
something like that.
I just, yeah, you're offeverywhere.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Yeah, I have found.
And if you're looking for atool or something to help you
people with ADHD, something tovisually see what you need
Because if it's out of sight,out of mind, you're going to
forget it exists, if you don'tsee it, and so that's.
Yeah, that's the big thing ishaving something where you can
(09:00):
list out all your tasks but thenat the same time, don't list
them all, because then you mightget just paralysis and you
there's like, oh my gosh,there's so much I need to do, I
just can't do it.
There's a word for it.
I forget what it is, but it cancome off as being lazy, but you
are neurodivergent, you're notbeing like.
Your brain physically will notallow you to complete those
(09:22):
steps.
So that's where automationscome in, having things that you
don't have to do be automated,and so then that's off your task
list.
You don't have to see that, andthat automation I think, is the
key for people with ADHD, andbeing efficient is just have
your tool, do it, have something, send that email automatically
or add that task automatically,or whatever.
Speaker 1 (09:44):
Yep, and it's funny you said the visual component to
things.
If you sit down in my officeand look around the walls,
there's visual planners, there'svisual step systems all over in
my office, because that's whatI need as someone.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
That's how you're paying for it.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
Yeah, I need to see things visually and I thought,
oh, it's just because I'm aphotographer or whatever, it's
just because I'm a creative orwhatever.
But now I understand that it'sbecause I needed to see things
visually, as opposed to, youknow, a list of text or numbers
or something like that.
Speaker 3 (10:17):
Yeah, I imagine something like Trello would be a
good.
I mean, I'm not somebody whohas ADHD, but in a visual way
like that, is that the sort ofsoftware that you'd move them to
.
Can you talk me around that,like when you're talking, when
you're introducing a better wayto manage tasks.
Yeah, like what would yourecommend?
Yeah, I would definitelyrecommend.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
Trello for project management.
So all right, if you're awedding planner, right, I signed
the contract.
Now what do I need to do?
And then Trello for projectmanagement.
So all right, if you're awedding planner, right, I signed
the contract.
Now what do I need to do?
And then Trello you can listout all your tasks and keep
things organized there.
And what's great with Trello isyou can like collapse the list.
(10:59):
I know that's confusing becauseI can't, I'm not showing you,
but then it's just like a littleline as opposed to seeing
everything.
So I found that that's helpful,so it's a lot less overwhelming
.
So there's that if you want toget tech techie, there's also
just a planner.
Like, if you're, if you're, ifyou're not, a very tech person,
don't push yourself over theedge to try to learn something.
(11:21):
Just have a planner where youcan list things out, like you
were saying, and with your room,how.
There's just so much there,which I love.
So I would highly recommend.
I'm glad that you brought upTrello, because that's the big
one that I recommend people formanaging their business tasks
and things.
Speaker 3 (11:39):
Yeah, yeah, I think that would be an obvious one.
Yeah, now, when it comes to now, for those of you who haven't
used Trello probably Ben, Idon't think you've used Trello,
have you Maybe with?
Speaker 1 (11:49):
me.
I don't use anything like thatand there is a reason for it.
And it goes like Caitlin'snodding head.
She already knows what I'm goingto say the reason that I
probably should use the CRM ofsome description and there's
been times in my career whereI've just gone oh, there's too
many weddings, there's too muchgoing on.
I can't juggle it all and if Ihad something like that then I
(12:11):
might have been able to manageit better.
But stepping into somethinglike that is new is scary and I
personally and I'm sure this isthe same for other people we
hate change.
Once we get comfortable withsomething like you get
comfortable with something andyou set up your system for it.
It might be a little bit longerthan it could be for someone
(12:31):
else using automated software,but it's your system, you're
comfortable with it, it worksfor you and you just stick to
that because you feel safe inthat system.
The reason that I haven't goneto some big like ages ago I
tried a crm and it kept and it'sit's the industry leading, one
of the industry leading ones forfor photography and it kept
getting bigger and bigger andbigger and I just kept going
(12:54):
what the, what the?
yeah, eject yeah I didn't evenreally get into it because it
just got too overwhelming, withthem adding so much that I just
had to reject.
And that's why many of us won'tjump into something like this
because it's new, it's scary,it's confusing and it's just.
(13:14):
You need the courage to be ableto walk through that door.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
Exactly.
And also, yeah, know yourselfand know like all right, if I
try this, is this going to like?
Am I going to get super burntout?
Because I'm trying to learn anew system and trying to change
everything.
So if you feel like that's toomuch, you can stick with your
planner, stick with the notebookand list out things there, like
you were saying.
But also, yeah, challengeyourself and see.
(13:39):
All right, I'm going to test itout for a month, see what
happens, see if it's better forme, because you can always go
back.
It's not written in stone.
Speaker 3 (13:48):
When it comes to setting up, like automations, so
say, like in its most simplestform, like sending out a
reminder to pay or a reminderabout an upcoming appointment,
or something like that sendingout a reminder to pay or a
reminder about an upcomingappointment, or something like
that Do you ever approach it ina way that you kind of go let's
(14:08):
just map it out on paper andbuild it for them?
Yeah, do you?
Yeah, cause I imagine somethinglike that would be helpful that
they can it's, it's in a visualway that they can understand,
but they don't need to, don'tneed to know the nuts and bolts
of it's just going to turn up.
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
I have an Excel sheet where we'll talk through
everything, like, all right, youwant to send this email
reminder three days before yoursession, and great, that's on
the Excel sheet.
I know I need to build that.
And then, throughout, because Idon't want to just throw them
to the wolves and be like, allright, here's your account and
your automations, have fun.
So, throughout the process ofwhat I'm building, I'll create
little videos and be like, allright, this is what it looks
(14:43):
like, this is what's going tohappen, like how you wanted on
the Excel sheet that we didtogether, this is what it looks
like.
And then warm them up there.
And then, once everything's done, we have a super fun
off-boarding call where I showthem everything.
And then that's where I'm likeif you want to make changes here
, you can do this, you can dothat, and then they can opt in
for 30 day support.
And if they want to do that,then they can hop on a call with
(15:04):
whenever with me, and be like,great, can you walk me through
it again, cause that was just alot of information?
And yeah, so that that's theExcel sheet that I have at the
very beginning, where we're likeall right, let's talk through
every your wedding?
All right, great.
Do you offer birthday parties?
Do you offer portrait minisessions?
Whatever Like?
We'll talk about all of that incase if there's custom things
(15:26):
here and there for processes.
But yeah, the little videosthroughout, I try to do it so
they feel comfortable with usingit once we're done.
Yeah, because that can be scary.
Speaker 1 (15:36):
Yeah, Having having the videos, like I know when
you're creating a system forsomething, if you can have those
little videos, just even likefor me to prompt myself.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
Having those little videos to refer back to is such
a helpful thing and it justmeans that with that system, if
you step out of that business,you can give that system to
someone else and go here, you go, this is what needs to happen,
and they can just watch thevideos and they can do it, so
you don't need to be the onemanaging it all all the time.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
So, yeah, I think systems are so important for
this kind of scenario yeah, oreven an assistant, to be like
all right, great, this is how itworks, and then send the videos
to your assistant, and thenthey can send the emails on
behalf of you or whatever.
Speaker 1 (16:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
What about when it comes to tasks that they really
don't want to do but they haveto do?
How do you like massage, likedo you go okay, like let's do it
first thing on a Monday, likewhen you've got the most in it?
I don't know, like, how do youkind of massage that in and make
that happen?
Speaker 2 (16:39):
I mean, it depends on the person, because sometimes
it's more extreme than somebodyelse, but I will, I'll be like
all right.
Something that has helped me isI will like hype myself up for
it and if it's something thathappens like once a month or
whatever, I'll reward myselfwith like a sweet treat.
(17:01):
Be like all right, great, I didthe thing I did not want to do.
I'm going to go get myStarbucks or I'm going to go
take a 20 minute nap or whatever.
Whatever I feel like is reward,that really helps.
But if it's somethingrepetitive, like oh, I hate
sending this one email, blah,blah, blah Usually recommend
like again, everybody's sodifferent.
(17:23):
Usually what I'll say is firstthing in the morning, like you
said, and just don't even thinkabout it, just go through the
motions, blah, blah, blah, andthen hit send or hit blah, blah,
blah and if it's that stressfulfor you, throw your phone like
walk away from your desk Ifyou're like it's a stressful
email and get away from thesituation for a bit and then you
(17:44):
can come back.
But yeah, it depends on the onthe task, depends on the person,
but yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
One of the one of the greatest tools that I found and
I hope this resonates with alot of other people is, if
there's a difficult conversation, that that you need to have a
difficult email, somethingdifficult that you need to do
just bite the bullet and do itfirst, just get it done.
And there was I can't rememberwho the author was, but there
was a book, an audio book, thatwas brought out.
(18:10):
I think it was called Eat thatFrog and it talks about systems
and stuff.
I can't remember who the authorwas, but he's quite famous.
It's called Eat that Frog andit's about taking on that
challenging task first andgetting the tough stuff out of
the way before you step into theother stuff that you want to do
and that sort of thing.
So I think it's important thatif you have something you don't
(18:34):
want to do the tough stuff orthe hard conversations just bite
the bullet and just do it.
I know that's tough and it is ahard thing.
And I guess, if I can go off ona little tangent here, because
that sometimes happens, can Ithat scheduling of things, doing
(18:56):
things, taking the first stepfor things, doing things, taking
the first step for things itkind of leads on to the fact
that a lot of times people withADHD also suffer from anxiety,
depression, crippling,self-doubt, there's a lot of
that.
That goes on and, jack, we dida little podcast-y sort of live
stream and stuff about that awhile back.
(19:19):
All of us feel a little bit ofself-doubt and a bit of anxiety
and stuff going on.
You know, all the time.
I'm sure with people with hd,with adhd, it it tends to uh, it
tends to multiply and becausewe do fixate on things and
there's sometimes you can't getyour brain out of a certain
thing.
So having that and dealing withthat, as well as all the noise
(19:41):
and stuff, is another challengethat people need to take.
And quite often you'll hearpeople say look, come and talk
to me.
I'm here if you need me, mydoor's always open, and that
sort of stuff.
They're basing that comment onthe assumption that you actually
have the courage to walkthrough that door to ask for
help, to go.
Hey, I'm just not coping, I'mdepressed, I'm whatever.
(20:07):
And that then leads into makingsure that if you're feeling
this and if you're struggling toget things done, there's lots
of noise in your head, you'refinding there's little piles of
things to do all around yourhouse and you're just not
productive, that maybe it's timefor you to go and see a doctor
and take that step and go.
Hey, I think I might be ADHD.
Can we go through the processto see if that's a thing,
because, I won't lie to you,pretty much everyone that has
(20:29):
something like this and has beenformally diagnosed, and then,
if you want to do it, it's apersonal choice to have
medication for it that willchange your world, because it
absolutely has for me and itabsolutely has for probably 20
other people that I've comeacross and that I've helped in
this process.
So even my beautiful partnerHayley like she, you know I went
(20:51):
through first and you know shedid the same thing and it's
helped her immensely and itanswers a lot of questions as to
why we do things and what wesay and how we do it exactly the
anxiety, the depression andthat sort of stuff it's, it's a
big part of this as welldefinitely, I think, can we talk
(21:12):
about.
Speaker 3 (21:13):
Like there's people that suspect that they, you know
, have some sort of adhd orneurodivergence or you know,
like me, I've got the complexptsd and and that causes the
depression and the anxiety andthe overwhelm and all of that.
I'm of the opinion it wasreally helpful to get the
(21:34):
diagnosis to kind of go okay,this is what this is.
Let me first understand it.
What's your opinion, ben?
I mean, do you think that'sstep one, like figure out what
it is?
Speaker 1 (21:45):
Yeah, so diagnosis, in my opinion, is not a dirty
word.
Speaker 3 (21:50):
Yeah, me too.
Speaker 1 (21:52):
The label ADHD I don't think is anything
derogatory, negative or anythinglike that, because I can
confidently say to you, had Ihave worked out what this was
and potentially my parentsworked out what this was when I
was a kid, I might have done alot better in school.
I might have been a pilot.
(22:13):
Now, like I couldn't be a pilotbecause my grades weren't high
enough and I didn't go throughyear 12 because I just could not
do any more school.
Like I left in year 10 and Iwent to the military not do any
more school.
I left in year 10 and I went tothe military.
(22:33):
Had I had the help and had theinsight into this that I have
now via a diagnosis, then Ithink that would have
drastically changed my outcomeand my trajectories.
Definitely it's the first step.
Go and see your doctor and gohey, tell them what's going on.
If you're struggling to getthings done, if there's lots of
noise in your head, if you'vegot piles of stuff everywhere,
(22:56):
if you're suffering anxiety,depression, crippling,
self-doubt, all that sort ofstuff, then go and talk to
someone and see if there's someway it can help.
You don't necessarily need tobe medicated.
You don't necessarily and thisis not medical advice.
You don't necessarily need theantidepressants and all that
sort of stuff.
It might be just a case of onestrategic step that can really
(23:22):
help you in managing everythingday to day and elevate you.
Speaker 3 (23:24):
I think too, outside of introducing systems and tools
and things like that, whatabout, like caitlin, have you
suggested any other kind ofhabits you know, like around, um
, if they're having a momentlike that and it's all too much,
or or to just create kind ofbalance or listen to their body
and focus on particular like?
I don't know, like, is theresomething more holistically,
(23:45):
outside of the systems, thatyou've found has helped people
facing this?
Speaker 2 (23:49):
Yeah, and this is something that you can do.
It's really beneficial if youdon't like doing what you're
doing, If you're doing the adminwork when you really want to be
taking the photos right now.
I recommend doing 20, 25minutes of work, set a timer and
then, after that timer, take a10 minute break and go stretch,
go to the bathroom, eat a snack,whatever, and then get back to
(24:13):
it for another 20, 25 minutes.
That helps you reset your brain, get you back in the zone A
little fresh freshness to yourroutine.
Something else you can do isyou can partner that with time
blocking.
That sounds like a scary word,but it's like you go on your
calendar and you say all right,from 9am to 10am I'm going to be
(24:36):
working on sending emails tothe people or responding to
inquiries, and then during thattime, 25 minute timer, 10 minute
break, 25 minute timer, all ofthat.
And then from 10 to 11, minutetimer, 10 minute break, 25
minute timer, all of that.
And then from 10 to 11, I'mgoing to be editing this
client's gallery, and then from11 to 12, I'm going on lunch and
all of that.
So you can time out your day,so you know what's going to be
(24:59):
happening and also so that wayyou don't get like super zoned
in on a project and then sixhours have gone by and you're
like crap, I totally forgot todo this other thing.
And now that client projects isbehind.
So that time blocking helps youstay focused with getting the
tasks done without getting liketoo zoned in and then taking
that break, stepping out.
(25:20):
And yeah, that's what I havefound helpful for me and also
for some of my otherneurodivergent business people.
But, um, test it out,Everybody's different.
It might work great for oneperson because ADHD there's a
lot that's similar, but mysister is so different than my
cousin who also has diagnosedADHD, versus my aunt, versus my
(25:42):
like there's so many people inmy family that have it and
they're all different, butthere's some that habit and
they're all different, butthere's some.
Speaker 3 (25:51):
There's like obviously similarities that help
them.
So um great thank you can.
Speaker 1 (25:54):
I add to that, like breathing exercises are really
good as well, just to to sitback and and just take, you know
, six deep breaths, centeryourself and, and you know that
sort of thing, the, thebreathing really helps as well.
Speaker 3 (26:08):
So yeah, so, Ben, I believe you've got a special
question that you'd like to ask.
Is that right?
Speaker 1 (26:15):
Is it that time already?
Speaker 3 (26:17):
It is.
Why aren't you watching theclock?
Can't you do 20,000 things atonce?
Speaker 1 (26:22):
What With?
Everything else, wow.
So, caitlin, I have a littlequestion I like to ask all.
I guess, if you walked outsidetoday running into an
18-year-old version of yourself,what advice would you give
yourself, knowing what you knownow?
Question.
Speaker 2 (26:37):
I would say just keep going and keep trying, because
entrepreneurship I have done somany different things with.
I didn't start with systems.
I tried social media, I triedcopywriting, I tried blog.
I did a lot and now I've beenwith systems for a year and a
half and I am obsessed with it.
And because I did all thoseother things, I am now great at
(26:57):
what I do.
So just don't give up, justkeep going, keep trying, keep
doing it, scared, like it'll beokay.
Speaker 1 (27:03):
Yeah, and can I just share, like I've asked that
question to so many people, likeeven quite influential people
that I've managed to sit inlarge you know rooms and stuff
with, and a lot of them, a lotof those you know, entrepreneurs
and those big business peoplelike you, richard Branson's and
stuff like that.
Having been asked this question, so many of them have said to
(27:26):
focus on one thing, be great atthat and then move on to the
next.
And I think that's such goodadvice coming from someone with
ADHD, coming from someone likethat, because that's the
simplest thing that we can doJust focus on that one thing,
get great at it and then move onto the next.
(27:47):
So can I tell an ADHD joke?
Do it Go for it?
How many ADHD kids does it taketo change a light bulb?
Want to go swimming?
Speaker 2 (27:56):
Literally like talking to my cousin.
Speaker 1 (28:00):
That's my favorite ADHD joke.
Speaker 3 (28:03):
Well, thank you so much, Caitlin.
Speaker 2 (28:05):
It was really insightful.
Speaker 3 (28:06):
And, yeah, I can see on ben's face that he's got a
bit out of that.
So, um, if anyone would like toconnect with caitlin and work
with her, her business isvirtuallyvitalco.
You can also find her oninstagram and her facebook.
Uh, she's gota facebook page aswell and it's the same
virtually vitalually Vital VA.
(28:26):
Now, don't go anywhere.
If you want to listen to thenext few episodes coming up your
way, we need you to subscribe,whether you're watching us on
YouTube, in the Facebook group,or you can find us on any of
your favourite podcast streamingservices.
So, thanks, guys, thank you,thank you.
Speaker 1 (28:46):
Lovely to meet you, Caitlin.
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (28:48):
Yeah, you guys as well.
That was so fun All.
Hi everyone and welcome back to season five of
Wedding Empires.
I'm Ben we've got Jack on theright-hand side here and today
we're talking about a subjectthat is close to my heart and
close to everything that'sbuzzing around my head, my house
, my world, and that's ADHD.
So we've got our lovely friendCaitlin Blair joining us all the
(00:23):
way from the US and she'shuddling in her house hiding
from a storm at the moment.
Apparently so is the storm,caitlin.
Is that the same as the onethat's in all our ADHD heads?
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Yeah, I'm sure it's just as loud probably.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
So, guys, what Caitlin does is she helps people
with adhd in their businesses.
Because if, if any of you outthere have adhd or you you work
with someone who does, you, yourealize that their world can be
noisy, it can be messy, it canbe a bit chaotic and things can
(01:02):
just be generally everywhere inlots of little piles.
And this is kind of how we workas people with ADHD and that
sort of stuff.
So Kaylin is here today to giveus some insight into how we can
better navigate things, how wecan build some systems and stuff
in our businesses to help andmanage the noise that's in the
head, and how we can sort of getaround that.
(01:22):
She's also going to help withdealing with and manage the
noise that's in the head and howwe can sort of get around that.
She's also going to help withdealing with and working with
people that might be ADHDers andthat sort of stuff.
Strap in for this one I'mlikely to get loud and all over
the place.
Jack's just sitting therelooking at me like what's this
guy doing?
Speaker 3 (01:44):
No, no, no, no.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
what thrown this jack has thrown this all to me this
morning and said we're not goingto do the normal intro, you can
just do it.
By the way, we're live for thefirst time in two months anyway.
Here we are, so I've justdropped us all in the deep end.
Thank you, jack, thank youcaitlin, and I'm going to throw
it over to you for the firstquestion.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
And we're off Absolutely.
Thanks, Ben Caitlin, so greatto have you here.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
My first question.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
Thank you, and I know you're in the middle of a storm
.
You're all the way over inVirginia.
First of all, I guess what was?
How did it all come togetherfor you, to kind of go, this is
my niche and I'm really good atthis, and there's a business in
this.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Yeah, so I have three siblings, all of them with
diagnosed ADHD and one with ADHD, autism and anxiety.
So I have grown up in ahousehold with neurodivergence
and one of the first clientswhen I first started my business
, I was just a general virtualassistant, helping like a family
(02:49):
friend.
She was a wedding violinist, soI was helping her with her CRM,
so with her contracts andinvoices and things, and she had
ADHD and I realized that theway that her brain worked was so
much like my sister's and howshe needed to see her tasks and
it was, like I call it,organized chaos, where there's
(03:09):
like to me or like someone fromthe outside you might see that
there's so much happening,there's so much everywhere, but
to them it's like, oh yeah,under this piece of paper you'll
find this paperclip, blah, blah, blah, like super buried, so
they know where everything is intheir brain.
But it's just so, there's justso much happening.
(03:30):
And so then after that I wasable to help her organize things
around, like with her ADHD, somaking sure that tasks were
there, but also balancing likenot seeing too many tasks,
because then you'll getoverwhelmed and might not
physically be able to doanything.
And then, after I'd worked withher.
Somebody very similar to her hada similar issue with her with
(03:53):
staying organized and staying ontop of tasks, and I've now
gotten to the point where, ifI'm on a call with someone, I'm
like you have ADHD, because Iknow, like the things that
you're talking about andstruggling with, like I'm like
do you have ADHD?
And all of them are like yes, Ido, and I'm like okay, so yeah,
(04:15):
I've just.
That's pretty much how Istarted was with with her
wedding violinist with ADHD, andthen I was like I had worked
with some other wedding peopleand I just love the wedding
vendors, but then I specificallyhave been able to help people
with ADHD because of her andbecause of my siblings as well.
So, long story short, no, thisis great.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
Can I paint a picture for everyone?
Not to be rude, caitlin, therewas a period there where some of
you might have seen it.
I kind of glazed over because Ijust went off on another little
tangent and I had to come backto what you were saying.
Now, for anyone that can'tquite get the grasp of what
(04:52):
happens, the easiest way I canexplain what can go on, as
someone with ADHD and that glazeover and everything else
Imagine sitting in the middle ofa busy Times Square at a desk
trying to do Chinese algebra.
Welcome to my world.
That's quite often what itfeels like.
There's noise, there's so manyshiny objects and it's really
(05:18):
noisy in your head To be able tofocus on one thing and to get a
specific job done.
And if that job is somethingthat you don't like, like if for
me it's invoicing, like I putit off and put it off, and put
it off and it piles and pilesand that's just another thing,
so that's what happens, that'swhat you're dealing with.
(05:40):
So if you're speaking tosomeone and they appear that
they glaze over or somethinglike that and that's kind of
what they're dealing with intheir head, so just to kind of
paint that picture so that youknow, you get a concept of what
we're talking about.
And it's not just someonedoesn't care, or they're not
listening, or it's just they'redealing with so much noise, yeah
.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
Yeah, okay.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
My dog is down there snoring his head off, so I hope
you can't hear.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
That first question would be, I guess.
So now we're like ben, you'veexplained really well, kind of
like, the challenges in theday-to-day of operations.
So, caitlin, what would be stepone?
So they've, they've heard aboutyou, they've come to you and
they've gone.
I just want to do the photos,like all this other stuff, like
the emails and the invoicing andthe like.
(06:26):
How can I simplify my business,like, where do you, where do
you start with that client?
Speaker 2 (06:31):
Usually, I will help them and we will go over their
workflow, and what I mean bythat is um, a workflow is just
how to get from step A it, pointone, to point two.
Uh, and we'll go over everystep together of what they need
to do.
Somebody's filled out a form ontheir website.
(06:53):
What happens?
And then, like, we'll go intothe details.
I know it's can be a lot forpeople with adhd, but then after
that, after that talk, they'regood to go and we can start
building that based off of thatconversation.
And for them, if they're like,okay, that's great, but how do I
do that myself, if I don't wantto work with you or hire you?
(07:16):
You can map out what I mean bythat is, just list out the tasks
that you need to do and thenyou can work backwards from
there and don't, like I knowpeople will just get so focused
on a tool and then just buildout a whole thing in 12 hours
and then be like, okay, I'mnever touching that again and
get so burnt out.
(07:36):
So don't be realistic and tryto space it out so you don't get
burnt out and then you neverwant to touch that tool again.
And I found that that has beenreally helpful.
I'm like, okay, today I'm goingto make the email templates
that I need, or this month,that's my goal, and then I won't
have to make email templatesagain because they're already
made.
Yeah, so that's where I wouldstart is just realize what you
(08:01):
need done and then workbackwards from there.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Yeah, I found that also, as you said, doing lists
and stuff, I always try, beforeI go to bed the night before to
to put a list together of thethings I need to do the next day
, because if I don't do thatquite often I'll get into my
office in the morning and gowhat was I supposed to do?
(08:27):
And then I just go off on somelittle journey with something
that isn't going to make memoney or extend business or
something like that.
I just, yeah, you're offeverywhere.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Yeah, I have found.
And if you're looking for atool or something to help you
people with ADHD, something tovisually see what you need
Because if it's out of sight,out of mind, you're going to
forget it exists, if you don'tsee it, and so that's.
Yeah, that's the big thing ishaving something where you can
(09:00):
list out all your tasks but thenat the same time, don't list
them all, because then you mightget just paralysis and you
there's like, oh my gosh,there's so much I need to do, I
just can't do it.
There's a word for it.
I forget what it is, but it cancome off as being lazy, but you
are neurodivergent, you're notbeing like.
Your brain physically will notallow you to complete those
(09:22):
steps.
So that's where automationscome in, having things that you
don't have to do be automated,and so then that's off your task
list.
You don't have to see that, andthat automation I think, is the
key for people with ADHD, andbeing efficient is just have
your tool, do it, have something, send that email automatically
or add that task automatically,or whatever.
Speaker 1 (09:44):
Yep, and it's funny you said the visual component to
things.
If you sit down in my officeand look around the walls,
there's visual planners, there'svisual step systems all over in
my office, because that's whatI need as someone.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
That's how you're paying for it.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
Yeah, I need to see things visually and I thought,
oh, it's just because I'm aphotographer or whatever, it's
just because I'm a creative orwhatever.
But now I understand that it'sbecause I needed to see things
visually, as opposed to, youknow, a list of text or numbers
or something like that.
Speaker 3 (10:17):
Yeah, I imagine something like Trello would be a
good.
I mean, I'm not somebody whohas ADHD, but in a visual way
like that, is that the sort ofsoftware that you'd move them to
.
Can you talk me around that,like when you're talking, when
you're introducing a better wayto manage tasks.
Yeah, like what would yourecommend?
Yeah, I would definitelyrecommend.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
Trello for project management.
So all right, if you're awedding planner, right, I signed
the contract.
Now what do I need to do?
And then Trello for projectmanagement.
So all right, if you're awedding planner, right, I signed
the contract.
Now what do I need to do?
And then Trello you can listout all your tasks and keep
things organized there.
And what's great with Trello isyou can like collapse the list.
(10:59):
I know that's confusing becauseI can't, I'm not showing you,
but then it's just like a littleline as opposed to seeing
everything.
So I found that that's helpful,so it's a lot less overwhelming
.
So there's that if you want toget tech techie, there's also
just a planner.
Like, if you're, if you're, ifyou're not, a very tech person,
don't push yourself over theedge to try to learn something.
(11:21):
Just have a planner where youcan list things out, like you
were saying, and with your room,how.
There's just so much there,which I love.
So I would highly recommend.
I'm glad that you brought upTrello, because that's the big
one that I recommend people formanaging their business tasks
and things.
Speaker 3 (11:39):
Yeah, yeah, I think that would be an obvious one.
Yeah, now, when it comes to now, for those of you who haven't
used Trello probably Ben, Idon't think you've used Trello,
have you Maybe with?
Speaker 1 (11:49):
me.
I don't use anything like thatand there is a reason for it.
And it goes like Caitlin'snodding head.
She already knows what I'm goingto say the reason that I
probably should use the CRM ofsome description and there's
been times in my career whereI've just gone oh, there's too
many weddings, there's too muchgoing on.
I can't juggle it all and if Ihad something like that then I
(12:11):
might have been able to manageit better.
But stepping into somethinglike that is new is scary and I
personally and I'm sure this isthe same for other people we
hate change.
Once we get comfortable withsomething like you get
comfortable with something andyou set up your system for it.
It might be a little bit longerthan it could be for someone
(12:31):
else using automated software,but it's your system, you're
comfortable with it, it worksfor you and you just stick to
that because you feel safe inthat system.
The reason that I haven't goneto some big like ages ago I
tried a crm and it kept and it'sit's the industry leading, one
of the industry leading ones forfor photography and it kept
getting bigger and bigger andbigger and I just kept going
(12:54):
what the, what the?
yeah, eject yeah I didn't evenreally get into it because it
just got too overwhelming, withthem adding so much that I just
had to reject.
And that's why many of us won'tjump into something like this
because it's new, it's scary,it's confusing and it's just.
(13:14):
You need the courage to be ableto walk through that door.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
Exactly.
And also, yeah, know yourselfand know like all right, if I
try this, is this going to like?
Am I going to get super burntout?
Because I'm trying to learn anew system and trying to change
everything.
So if you feel like that's toomuch, you can stick with your
planner, stick with the notebookand list out things there, like
you were saying.
But also, yeah, challengeyourself and see.
(13:39):
All right, I'm going to test itout for a month, see what
happens, see if it's better forme, because you can always go
back.
It's not written in stone.
Speaker 3 (13:48):
When it comes to setting up, like automations, so
say, like in its most simplestform, like sending out a
reminder to pay or a reminderabout an upcoming appointment,
or something like that sendingout a reminder to pay or a
reminder about an upcomingappointment, or something like
that Do you ever approach it ina way that you kind of go let's
(14:08):
just map it out on paper andbuild it for them?
Yeah, do you?
Yeah, cause I imagine somethinglike that would be helpful that
they can it's, it's in a visualway that they can understand,
but they don't need to, don'tneed to know the nuts and bolts
of it's just going to turn up.
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
I have an Excel sheet where we'll talk through
everything, like, all right, youwant to send this email
reminder three days before yoursession, and great, that's on
the Excel sheet.
I know I need to build that.
And then, throughout, because Idon't want to just throw them
to the wolves and be like, allright, here's your account and
your automations, have fun.
So, throughout the process ofwhat I'm building, I'll create
little videos and be like, allright, this is what it looks
(14:43):
like, this is what's going tohappen, like how you wanted on
the Excel sheet that we didtogether, this is what it looks
like.
And then warm them up there.
And then, once everything's done, we have a super fun
off-boarding call where I showthem everything.
And then that's where I'm likeif you want to make changes here
, you can do this, you can dothat, and then they can opt in
for 30 day support.
And if they want to do that,then they can hop on a call with
(15:04):
whenever with me, and be like,great, can you walk me through
it again, cause that was just alot of information?
And yeah, so that that's theExcel sheet that I have at the
very beginning, where we're likeall right, let's talk through
every your wedding?
All right, great.
Do you offer birthday parties?
Do you offer portrait minisessions?
Whatever Like?
We'll talk about all of that incase if there's custom things
(15:26):
here and there for processes.
But yeah, the little videosthroughout, I try to do it so
they feel comfortable with usingit once we're done.
Yeah, because that can be scary.
Speaker 1 (15:36):
Yeah, Having having the videos, like I know when
you're creating a system forsomething, if you can have those
little videos, just even likefor me to prompt myself.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
Having those little videos to refer back to is such
a helpful thing and it justmeans that with that system, if
you step out of that business,you can give that system to
someone else and go here, you go, this is what needs to happen,
and they can just watch thevideos and they can do it, so
you don't need to be the onemanaging it all all the time.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
So, yeah, I think systems are so important for
this kind of scenario yeah, oreven an assistant, to be like
all right, great, this is how itworks, and then send the videos
to your assistant, and thenthey can send the emails on
behalf of you or whatever.
Speaker 1 (16:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
What about when it comes to tasks that they really
don't want to do but they haveto do?
How do you like massage, likedo you go okay, like let's do it
first thing on a Monday, likewhen you've got the most in it?
I don't know, like, how do youkind of massage that in and make
that happen?
Speaker 2 (16:39):
I mean, it depends on the person, because sometimes
it's more extreme than somebodyelse, but I will, I'll be like
all right.
Something that has helped me isI will like hype myself up for
it and if it's something thathappens like once a month or
whatever, I'll reward myselfwith like a sweet treat.
(17:01):
Be like all right, great, I didthe thing I did not want to do.
I'm going to go get myStarbucks or I'm going to go
take a 20 minute nap or whatever.
Whatever I feel like is reward,that really helps.
But if it's somethingrepetitive, like oh, I hate
sending this one email, blah,blah, blah Usually recommend
like again, everybody's sodifferent.
(17:23):
Usually what I'll say is firstthing in the morning, like you
said, and just don't even thinkabout it, just go through the
motions, blah, blah, blah, andthen hit send or hit blah, blah,
blah and if it's that stressfulfor you, throw your phone like
walk away from your desk Ifyou're like it's a stressful
email and get away from thesituation for a bit and then you
(17:44):
can come back.
But yeah, it depends on the onthe task, depends on the person,
but yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
One of the one of the greatest tools that I found and
I hope this resonates with alot of other people is, if
there's a difficult conversation, that that you need to have a
difficult email, somethingdifficult that you need to do
just bite the bullet and do itfirst, just get it done.
And there was I can't rememberwho the author was, but there
was a book, an audio book, thatwas brought out.
(18:10):
I think it was called Eat thatFrog and it talks about systems
and stuff.
I can't remember who the authorwas, but he's quite famous.
It's called Eat that Frog andit's about taking on that
challenging task first andgetting the tough stuff out of
the way before you step into theother stuff that you want to do
and that sort of thing.
So I think it's important thatif you have something you don't
(18:34):
want to do the tough stuff orthe hard conversations just bite
the bullet and just do it.
I know that's tough and it is ahard thing.
And I guess, if I can go off ona little tangent here, because
that sometimes happens, can Ithat scheduling of things, doing
(18:56):
things, taking the first stepfor things, doing things, taking
the first step for things itkind of leads on to the fact
that a lot of times people withADHD also suffer from anxiety,
depression, crippling,self-doubt, there's a lot of
that.
That goes on and, jack, we dida little podcast-y sort of live
stream and stuff about that awhile back.
(19:19):
All of us feel a little bit ofself-doubt and a bit of anxiety
and stuff going on.
You know, all the time.
I'm sure with people with hd,with adhd, it it tends to uh, it
tends to multiply and becausewe do fixate on things and
there's sometimes you can't getyour brain out of a certain
thing.
So having that and dealing withthat, as well as all the noise
(19:41):
and stuff, is another challengethat people need to take.
And quite often you'll hearpeople say look, come and talk
to me.
I'm here if you need me, mydoor's always open, and that
sort of stuff.
They're basing that comment onthe assumption that you actually
have the courage to walkthrough that door to ask for
help, to go.
Hey, I'm just not coping, I'mdepressed, I'm whatever.
(20:07):
And that then leads into makingsure that if you're feeling
this and if you're struggling toget things done, there's lots
of noise in your head, you'refinding there's little piles of
things to do all around yourhouse and you're just not
productive, that maybe it's timefor you to go and see a doctor
and take that step and go.
Hey, I think I might be ADHD.
Can we go through the processto see if that's a thing,
because, I won't lie to you,pretty much everyone that has
(20:29):
something like this and has beenformally diagnosed, and then,
if you want to do it, it's apersonal choice to have
medication for it that willchange your world, because it
absolutely has for me and itabsolutely has for probably 20
other people that I've comeacross and that I've helped in
this process.
So even my beautiful partnerHayley like she, you know I went
(20:51):
through first and you know shedid the same thing and it's
helped her immensely and itanswers a lot of questions as to
why we do things and what wesay and how we do it exactly the
anxiety, the depression andthat sort of stuff it's, it's a
big part of this as welldefinitely, I think, can we talk
(21:12):
about.
Speaker 3 (21:13):
Like there's people that suspect that they, you know
, have some sort of adhd orneurodivergence or you know,
like me, I've got the complexptsd and and that causes the
depression and the anxiety andthe overwhelm and all of that.
I'm of the opinion it wasreally helpful to get the
(21:34):
diagnosis to kind of go okay,this is what this is.
Let me first understand it.
What's your opinion, ben?
I mean, do you think that'sstep one, like figure out what
it is?
Speaker 1 (21:45):
Yeah, so diagnosis, in my opinion, is not a dirty
word.
Speaker 3 (21:50):
Yeah, me too.
Speaker 1 (21:52):
The label ADHD I don't think is anything
derogatory, negative or anythinglike that, because I can
confidently say to you, had Ihave worked out what this was
and potentially my parentsworked out what this was when I
was a kid, I might have done alot better in school.
I might have been a pilot.
(22:13):
Now, like I couldn't be a pilotbecause my grades weren't high
enough and I didn't go throughyear 12 because I just could not
do any more school.
Like I left in year 10 and Iwent to the military not do any
more school.
I left in year 10 and I went tothe military.
(22:33):
Had I had the help and had theinsight into this that I have
now via a diagnosis, then Ithink that would have
drastically changed my outcomeand my trajectories.
Definitely it's the first step.
Go and see your doctor and gohey, tell them what's going on.
If you're struggling to getthings done, if there's lots of
noise in your head, if you'vegot piles of stuff everywhere,
(22:56):
if you're suffering anxiety,depression, crippling,
self-doubt, all that sort ofstuff, then go and talk to
someone and see if there's someway it can help.
You don't necessarily need tobe medicated.
You don't necessarily and thisis not medical advice.
You don't necessarily need theantidepressants and all that
sort of stuff.
It might be just a case of onestrategic step that can really
(23:22):
help you in managing everythingday to day and elevate you.
Speaker 3 (23:24):
I think too, outside of introducing systems and tools
and things like that, whatabout, like caitlin, have you
suggested any other kind ofhabits you know, like around, um
, if they're having a momentlike that and it's all too much,
or or to just create kind ofbalance or listen to their body
and focus on particular like?
I don't know, like, is theresomething more holistically,
(23:45):
outside of the systems, thatyou've found has helped people
facing this?
Speaker 2 (23:49):
Yeah, and this is something that you can do.
It's really beneficial if youdon't like doing what you're
doing, If you're doing the adminwork when you really want to be
taking the photos right now.
I recommend doing 20, 25minutes of work, set a timer and
then, after that timer, take a10 minute break and go stretch,
go to the bathroom, eat a snack,whatever, and then get back to
(24:13):
it for another 20, 25 minutes.
That helps you reset your brain, get you back in the zone A
little fresh freshness to yourroutine.
Something else you can do isyou can partner that with time
blocking.
That sounds like a scary word,but it's like you go on your
calendar and you say all right,from 9am to 10am I'm going to be
(24:36):
working on sending emails tothe people or responding to
inquiries, and then during thattime, 25 minute timer, 10 minute
break, 25 minute timer, all ofthat.
And then from 10 to 11, minutetimer, 10 minute break, 25
minute timer, all of that.
And then from 10 to 11, I'mgoing to be editing this
client's gallery, and then from11 to 12, I'm going on lunch and
all of that.
So you can time out your day,so you know what's going to be
(24:59):
happening and also so that wayyou don't get like super zoned
in on a project and then sixhours have gone by and you're
like crap, I totally forgot todo this other thing.
And now that client projects isbehind.
So that time blocking helps youstay focused with getting the
tasks done without getting liketoo zoned in and then taking
that break, stepping out.
(25:20):
And yeah, that's what I havefound helpful for me and also
for some of my otherneurodivergent business people.
But, um, test it out,Everybody's different.
It might work great for oneperson because ADHD there's a
lot that's similar, but mysister is so different than my
cousin who also has diagnosedADHD, versus my aunt, versus my
(25:42):
like there's so many people inmy family that have it and
they're all different, butthere's some that habit and
they're all different, butthere's some.
Speaker 3 (25:51):
There's like obviously similarities that help
them.
So um great thank you can.
Speaker 1 (25:54):
I add to that, like breathing exercises are really
good as well, just to to sitback and and just take, you know
, six deep breaths, centeryourself and, and you know that
sort of thing, the, thebreathing really helps as well.
Speaker 3 (26:08):
So yeah, so, Ben, I believe you've got a special
question that you'd like to ask.
Is that right?
Speaker 1 (26:15):
Is it that time already?
Speaker 3 (26:17):
It is.
Why aren't you watching theclock?
Can't you do 20,000 things atonce?
Speaker 1 (26:22):
What With?
Everything else, wow.
So, caitlin, I have a littlequestion I like to ask all.
I guess, if you walked outsidetoday running into an
18-year-old version of yourself,what advice would you give
yourself, knowing what you knownow?
Question.
Speaker 2 (26:37):
I would say just keep going and keep trying, because
entrepreneurship I have done somany different things with.
I didn't start with systems.
I tried social media, I triedcopywriting, I tried blog.
I did a lot and now I've beenwith systems for a year and a
half and I am obsessed with it.
And because I did all thoseother things, I am now great at
(26:57):
what I do.
So just don't give up, justkeep going, keep trying, keep
doing it, scared, like it'll beokay.
Speaker 1 (27:03):
Yeah, and can I just share, like I've asked that
question to so many people, likeeven quite influential people
that I've managed to sit inlarge you know rooms and stuff
with, and a lot of them, a lotof those you know, entrepreneurs
and those big business peoplelike you, richard Branson's and
stuff like that.
Having been asked this question, so many of them have said to
(27:26):
focus on one thing, be great atthat and then move on to the
next.
And I think that's such goodadvice coming from someone with
ADHD, coming from someone likethat, because that's the
simplest thing that we can doJust focus on that one thing,
get great at it and then move onto the next.
(27:47):
So can I tell an ADHD joke?
Do it Go for it?
How many ADHD kids does it taketo change a light bulb?
Want to go swimming?
Speaker 2 (27:56):
Literally like talking to my cousin.
Speaker 1 (28:00):
That's my favorite ADHD joke.
Speaker 3 (28:03):
Well, thank you so much, Caitlin.
Speaker 2 (28:05):
It was really insightful.
Speaker 3 (28:06):
And, yeah, I can see on ben's face that he's got a
bit out of that.
So, um, if anyone would like toconnect with caitlin and work
with her, her business isvirtuallyvitalco.
You can also find her oninstagram and her facebook.
Uh, she's gota facebook page aswell and it's the same
virtually vitalually Vital VA.
(28:26):
Now, don't go anywhere.
If you want to listen to thenext few episodes coming up your
way, we need you to subscribe,whether you're watching us on
YouTube, in the Facebook group,or you can find us on any of
your favourite podcast streamingservices.
So, thanks, guys, thank you,thank you.
Speaker 1 (28:46):
Lovely to meet you, Caitlin.
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (28:48):
Yeah, you guys as well.
That was so fun All.
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.