Episode 003: ADHD Entrepreneurship Success with Kristina Proctor - Energy Management & Community Support
What if everything you've been told about entrepreneurship with ADHD is only half the story? While most people focus on the challenges, there's an empowering side that rarely gets discussed - and it might just change how you view your neurodivergent brain in business.
In this episode of Trailblazers Rising, I sit down with Kristina Proctor (known as KTina in our neuro-spicy world), an ADHD coach who helps corporate women thrive with their neurodivergent brains. As one of the founding members of the Neuro-Spicy Academy, KTina brings a unique perspective on what it really takes to succeed as an ADHD entrepreneur.
From Childhood Dreams to Corporate Reality
KTina's entrepreneurial journey began early - at nine years old, she was already buying "how to manage your money" and business books from the library. That calling never left her, even as she followed the traditional path into corporate America after college. But something never felt quite right.
The pivotal moment came after a series of life changes: a divorce, a preventative mastectomy, and the sudden death of her father. Her dad had followed the "right" protocol - work hard, pay bills, save for retirement - but died just two weeks after his cancer diagnosis, never getting to hike the Appalachian Trail or pursue the dreams he'd deferred.
"What that taught me is that tomorrow isn't guaranteed," KTina explains. "If I want to spend time with my kiddo and people I love doing things I enjoy, now is the time to step out and do what I've always felt called to do."
The Energy Management Game-Changer
One of our most intensive coaching focuses was energy management - something many ADHD entrepreneurs struggle with but few address systematically. KTina discovered a simple but powerful strategy: mapping tasks to energy levels.
The breakthrough came when we categorized her work into:
High-energy tasks: Creative strategy, deep thinking work, content creation
Low-energy tasks: Administrative work, logging hours, financial management, creating graphics in Canva
This system allowed her to maintain business momentum even during low-energy periods. Instead of fighting against her natural rhythms, she learned to work with them.
"I was able to not really miss a beat when it came to my audience and my clients," she shares, describing how this approach kept her business moving forward consistently.
Simple Accommodations, Massive Impact
When helping corporate women with ADHD, KTina always starts with home accommodations before workplace requests. Her reasoning? If you're using all your executive functioning just to get to work, workplace accommodations won't help much.
One game-changing example: putting socks with shoes by the front door. This simple change eliminated morning friction points and visual cues when supplies were running low. These aren't expensive or fancy solutions - they're strategic supports that honor how ADHD brains actually function.
Other home accommodations include:
Strategic hamper placement (bathroom and hallway, not just bedrooms)
Evening routines that set up morning success
Sensory-friendly environments
Systems that work with, not against, ADHD traits
The Neuro-Spicy Academy Advantage
As a founding member of the Neuro-Spicy Academy, KTina emphasizes what sets our community apart: daily access to expert coaches who actually understand neurodivergent brains. Unlike traditional coaching programs that require you to translate neurotypical advice for your ADHD brain, we design everything specifically for how neurodivergent entrepreneurs think and work.
Her favorite feature? Gather Town's virtual campus, where members can co-work, brainstorm, and support each other in real-time. "Sometimes I sit there silently for an hour and then we'll talk about our businesses and get ideas from each other. The entrepreneurial journey can be very lonely sometimes, and if you're not surrounded by people who understand those challenges, it can really make you doubt yourself."
The academy provides three core support pillars:
Mindset work (my specialty) - getting in the right headspace for success
Business design (Christina's expertise) - structuring your business effectively
Team building (Victoria's focus) - scaling with the right people
What Nobody Tells You About ADHD Entrepreneurship
Here's the surprising truth: KTina absolutely loves being an entrepreneur, despite all the warnings about loneliness, uncertainty, and self-doubt.
"What I didn't hear enough was how great it is and how empowering it is and how entrepreneurship can really change your brain. For me as an ADHD-er, entrepreneurship really allowed me to shine because I am problem solving. I am putting puzzles together, I am creating, and I am empowering other people."
This mirrors my own experience. When people asked if I was afraid of failing when I left my restaurant job, the question felt irrelevant. Failure wasn't an option because I knew I was meant to impact my community and help aligned clients.
The Power of the Right People
One insight that keeps appearing on my TikTok feed lately involves the profound impact of who you surround yourself with. As KTina puts it, you can't ask for directions from someone who's never been where you're going.
The matador in the arena can't hear - and wouldn't care about - what people in the nosebleed section are shouting. This is why community matters so much for neurodivergent entrepreneurs. We need people who understand rejection sensitivity, energy fluctuations, and the unique challenges and opportunities of ADHD brains.
Getting Started: When You're Ready for Coaching
If you're wondering whether you need coaching support, KTina offers this guidance: "You know you're ready to invest in a coach when what you're doing is not working and you're ready to make movement and aren't sure where or how."
The key isn't getting a cookie-cutter solution - it's working with someone who helps you figure out what tools and strategies work for your specific brain and situation. A good coach provides the framework while empowering you to customize the implementation.
Lightning Round Insights
In our rapid-fire ADHD questions, KTina revealed:
Favorite platform: TikTok (naturally!)
Recent rabbit hole: Behavioral economics, including fascinating indicators like the lipstick index and men's underwear sales as recession predictors
Emotional support shows: Friends, Big Bang Theory, and Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Dopamine snack: Usually carrots or pretzels for the crunch, but Easter chocolate lately
Connect with KTina
Ready to learn more about working with your ADHD instead of against it? Find KTina at:
TikTok & Instagram: @adhdcoachktina
Website: Check her link in bio for consultation booking
Consultation booking: https://calendly.com/kristinaeproctor/45min
KTina offers three ways to work with her:
One-hour consultations for those exploring their options
Three-month container covering foundations, goal-setting, and implementation
Monthly membership with weekly group coaching and body-doubling co-working sessions
The Bottom Line
Entrepreneurship with ADHD isn't just about overcoming challenges - it's about discovering how your neurodivergent brain can become your greatest business asset. When you have the right support, systems, and community, those ADHD traits of creativity, problem-solving, and innovative thinking become superpowers.
Want more strategies and insights for thriving with ADHD? Sign up for my newsletter to get regular tips and stories that actually work for neurodivergent brains like ours.
Remember: you don't need to change your brain to succeed in business. You need to change your approach to honor how your brilliant, neurodivergent mind actually works.
