How To Overcome Any ADD-related Setback

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Dear !fname,

It doesn't matter if you were diagnosed with ADD years ago or just recently. When you've lived a life with adult ADD, you've no doubt encountered many setbacks.

The "wiring" of adult ADD makes it difficult to become and stay organized, concentrate when necessary, and manage time and projects effectively, among other things. You've probably tried to improve upon at least one of these areas many times in your life with little or no success.

Standard advice and strategies for things like organization and time management don't always work for adults with ADD. "Help" that comes from someone or something (like a book) that doesn't take your ADD into account can be worse than no help at all because, if you are unable to make the advice work for you, it feels like failure. It feels like there is something wrong with you. It's yet another setback after trying really hard to make the wrong advice work.

And even when you do find good help from an ADD coach, therapist, or resource, change and improvement don't always come as quickly as you'd like. It takes time to overcome years of working against your ADD. Learning new patterns and strategies is a process. Feeling like you're finally on track doesn't mean that you won't experience setbacks. You will. Everyone does. It doesn't mean that you've failed. 

The real challenge is not learning the new, ADD-friendly patterns and strategies, because that can be done. The real challenge is moving beyond the inevitable setbacks.

Setbacks have a tendency to lower your self-esteem. And low self-esteem can rob you of the motivation you need to make improvements and stay on track.

The best way I know to overcome a setback--in any area--is to build success in another area. Here are some examples:

If you experience a setback in your organizing goals, then you might choose to work on maintaining an exercise routine.

If you experience a setback in time management, then you might choose to work on strengthening a friendship.

If you experience a setback in getting 7 or 8 solid hours of sleep each night, then you might choose to focus on making healthy meal choices.

It really doesn't matter which area you choose to build success in, as long as you choose something that you know you can make progress in. Success in any area will pump up your self-esteem. Then, when you feel good about your success and accomplishments again, you'll have the necessary energy and motivation to pick up where you left off when you experienced that setback.

Setbacks don't have to lead to failure. Setbacks can be temporary. You can overcome any ADD-related setback by building your self-esteem.

What are your thoughts on setbacks and self-esteem? I'd love to hear them! Please post your thoughts and comments on my blog at http://www.experiencingaddvantages.com/2008/02/how-to-overcome.html#comments.

Who Else Wants to Be Happy and Successful
by Breaking the Rules?

Do you have an inner maverick dying to bust out and take over?

Are you tired of trying to fit in and longing to just be yourself?

Are you ready to learn practical ADD management skills that will help you get to the next level in your life?

I'm accepting 10 new members in the Odd One Out Coaching Program next month, and spaces are filling up.

This ADD coaching program is not for everyone. I'm looking for a very specific group of adults with ADD who:

• Have read, related to, and enjoyed my book, Odd One One: The Maverick's Guide to Adult ADD
• Want to improve ADD management skills and embrace the maverick within to increase successes in life
• Are willing to commit to the coaching process by attending teleclasses, completing homework assignments, and practicing techniques and strategies

In the Odd One Out Coaching Program, we'll take an in-depth look at the strategies in the book, and delve even deeper into advanced strategies for building the 5 Essential Skills for Managing Adult ADD with a maverick approach.

My private coaching practice is currently full (and much more expensive), so this is a great way to get coached by me on how to apply the 5 Essential Skills to your life.

The program begins Tuesday March 11. Teleclasses run for 6 consecutive weeks from 8-9.30 pm EST. Additional resources are included.

Due to other commitments, I won't be running this program again for a while. Three of the 10 spaces have already been filled so if you'd like to join us, now is the time. A payment plan is available.

Please visit the program website at www.ADDmanagement.com/coaching/oddoneoutprogram.html to register or get more information.

All My Best , Jennifer Koretsky, Founder, Head Coach & Chief Visionary Officer ADD Management Group, LLC

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