The Rule of Three for Neurodivergent Creatives (and for everyone else!)

It was early morning and I was sitting by a lake in Maine, a cup of coffee in hand when one of those bolt-from-the-blue moments of clarity struck me. Before I share my a-ha moment, let me give you some context. I am a business coach for creative entrepreneurs and freelancers, dedicating my entire career to helping creative professionals build profitable and successful businesses and careers.

I am also a neurotypical parent of a neurodivergent child.

Until I had my son, I had no idea how different neurocognitive styles impacted everything from time management and planning to motivation and focus (yep, some neurotypical privilege right there!). It was only with this new insight that I realized just how much everything - from the school system to work environments and expectations were created for neurotypical folks. Operating within those structures not only put additional pressure on already taxed neurodivergent brains, but also compounded the feelings of shame around being “different.”

It was during this time that I started to realize that several of my coaching clients also had ADHD. And just like that, I saw what had been there all along - an observable relationship between creativity, entrepreneurship, and ADHD. 

Fast forward a couple of years and I graduated as a certified ADHD coach, equipped with the understanding, compassion, and tools needed to support ADHD creatives working and building businesses in a neurotypical world. I continue to work with creatives of all stripes and neurotypes, just working with an expanded view and grab bag of tools.

If you’re reading this with a diagnosis or suspicion that you might have ADHD, you’re probably very aware that you think differently.

As a creative professional, thinking differently is a good thing! When your brain is working its magic, you:

• are an idea-generating powerhouse
• are not limited by constraints (thinking outside the proverbial box)
• are relentlessly curious and dive deep into researching new topics

And while all that ideating and creating is your sweet spot, you may also struggle with: 
 

• Feeling overwhelmed by everything you “should” be doing
• Getting motivated (especially if the task at hand is boring)
• Juggling priorities and time

Finding a balance between your gifts and the challenges of ADHD can be tough. What worked yesterday may not work today, so rather than share the latest strategy or app (because I know you’ve got plenty of those already!), I’d like to share a golden rule that I hope will help you return your focus to what matters.
 

The beauty of this golden rule is that it works for everyone. 

The Rule of Three

The Rule of Three is a commitment to define and focus on no more than three things at a time. Put differently, there are three and there are too many. Here are three areas (see what I did there?) to apply to the Rule of Three.

Have no more than 3 goals you are actively working towards
Do you have a million goals and priorities? Or, maybe your goals look more like a never-ending to-do list. Or, perhaps you’re so busy working in your business, that you forget to set any goals, priorities, or commitments in the first place. Wherever you land, it’s all good. Take the opportunity now to either review your goals or set some. This exercise can be as simple or as involved as you want (my vote is simple). Just be sure to have no more than three things you will devote your precious resources of time, creativity, and energy. 

Have no more than 3 ideal client segments 
Whether you have clear client profiles or have operated under the premise of “any client is a good client,” a regular review of the clients you’ve worked with over the last year or so is always a great idea. Here’s how: list them any way you want to (spreadsheet, notebook - just keep it simple) and write down what the project entailed, how much you got paid, what you enjoyed, and what you didn't. Now give each client or project a grade. What do the A’s and B’s have in common? What do the C’s, D’s, and F’s have in common? Congratulations, you now have a clearer idea about who makes an ideal client. Focus ALL your time, energy, and brainpower to connect with those people from now on!

Have no more than 3 core services or offerings
Do you have a services page that reads like a diner menu? You’re not alone! In my opinion, having too many services is what puts the biggest strain on our focus, energy, operations, and boundaries. Using the insight you gleaned from #2, identify the projects where you were (a) most creatively engaged (b) most respected and valued by the client, and (c) paid for the value you deliver. Now look for the opposite: the projects where you were (a) creatively unfulfilled (b) driven bananas by the client (c) paid based upon hours rather than value. Offer ONLY the services where you are in your zone of genius, can deliver outstanding results, and are most profitable.

OK, we covered a lot here, so feel free to pick and choose the area you’d like to focus on. There is no right order, and you can’t get it wrong, just start where you are. You’ve got this!

Check out Justine Clay's latest Business & Career Center event recordings here:

• Growing Your Creative Business, Part 1: Marketing for Creatives Who Hate Marketing

• Growing Your Creative Business, Part 2: How to Turn Prospects into Paying Clients

   

Justine Clay is a business coach, writer, speaker, and ADHD coach for creative freelancers and entrepreneurs. Using her actionable Profitable by Design framework, Justine helps creative freelancers and entrepreneurs of all stripes and neurocognitive styles identify and articulate their unique value and build a fulfilling, efficient, and profitable creative business.

Download Justine’s free guide Pricing Creativity: Creative Business Pricing Guide for Freelancers and Small Agencies here and start making monumental changes in your creative business or career today.