By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – May 11, 2026
Often, I hear clients say, “I just need to pick up the phone, sit down and write, stick to my schedule,” etc., but they don’t follow through. My guess is, if it was as simple as taking the next obvious step, they would have done it by now. At this point I usually ask them to pause and reflect on what’s holding them back. What’s hard about what they’re trying to accomplish?
Sometimes the way we look at a situation prevents us from seeing an effective solution because we don’t understand what the challenge actually is.
To explain what I mean, I thought I’d share an exchange I had with an individual who was seeking coaching services. After an exploratory phone call, this person followed up by sending me an email:
Still mulling it around… I’m pensive in my decision making here. Part of me feels I know what to do already to be more effective in business; part of me feels there may be value beyond what I think I know needs to happen in engaging you….
I replied with:
My sense is you know what you need to do on paper and think you should be able to do it. Kind of like a teenage boy who wants to ask a girl on a date for the first time. He thinks (it’s obvious to him)… all he has to do is pick up the phone, call the girl, and ask her out. The issue here is that it isn’t that easy. There is more to it… hence the teenager is pensive. In a way, he is pensive like you are.
Deep down, the teenager knows he is capable but doesn’t know how to approach the situation. He doesn’t know what the girl is paying attention to. Does she see him as an acquaintance? A friend? Or something more? Intuitively, he knows he can use some help but doesn’t recognize his own uncertainty: How does she feel about him?
Like the teenager, my sense is, you know you are capable but intuitively know you could use some help. You are pensive because you are not sure what help looks like.
It is hard to communicate what coaching looks like, but I’ll give it a shot. Let me begin by sharing an experience. I once witnessed an art teacher teaching a first-grade class how to draw. A picture of just the front of a horse was posted in the front of the classroom.
In other words, you could NOT see the south end of the northbound horse. The art teacher walked around the room, repeating to the students, “Look at the picture and draw only what you can see.” Sounds simple, right?
After some time had passed, the art teacher approached one of the students. She asked him, “Are you drawing just what you see?”
“Yes,” the student replied.
“Are you sure?” she asked.
Again, the student answered, “Yes.”
The teacher asked, “Can you see the tail of the horse?”
The student was silent for a moment and then said, “No.”
The teacher asked, “Then why does your drawing of the horse have a tail? Remember, I told you to draw only what you see.”
I questioned the teacher afterwards. She explained the student was NOT drawing what he saw but rather what he believed the horse looked like. Simplistically, the drawing exercise was designed as a tool for the child to discover a new way of observing the horse to draw the picture more accurately.
Without the discovery, any drawing would be consistently inaccurate. Put differently, the child needed to change his mental model of a horse to draw it accurately. In this instance, the teacher was shifting the child’s paradigm.
Think about the art teacher and how she helped the kids learn how to draw. In the end she was helping the kids pay attention to how things actually are OVER how they BELIEVE them to be.
The same would hold true if I coached the teenager. Does the girl like him more than just as an acquaintance or friend… or does he just believe she does? After all, if he was 100% sure she liked him, it would be as simple as picking up the phone and calling her. In fact, he would have already done it by now.
The fact that he is procrastinating is a clear symptom that he is not clear. He isn’t sure what to pay attention to.
My point here is this. If something is supposed to be easy (i.e., pick up the phone and call) and you are procrastinating, chances are the obvious approach isn’t so easy. Many times, the hard part is the challenge around figuring out what to pay attention to, like reading the interactions of the opposite sex or drawing an accurate picture of a horse.
For many people with ADHD, getting diagnosed is only the first hurdle. The next challenge—often just as overwhelming—is figuring out how to afford medication, especially if you don’t have insurance or don’t qualify for public assistance programs.
When people with ADHD say they “struggle with planning,” they often assume it’s a problem with organization, time, or motivation. But according to ADHD and Attention Coach Jeff Copper, the real challenge runs much deeper. and understanding it can change how you approach planning altogether.
As we move into 2026, ADHD is getting a lot of attention in the media, in public conversation, and in policy discussions. Anytime that happens, I pay close attention. Not because attention is a bad thing, but because how ADHD is talked about really matters.
A strategy is an overarching vision or path. A plan is the detailed execution of the strategy. Executive functions are used to problem-solve around specific tasks in the plan. Put differently, executive functions are used at point of performance in the plan where many variables must be organized. In other words, things that are multifaceted and ambiguous must be resolved. 
When we talk about ADHD, we often focus on distractions, missed deadlines, or poor time management. But underneath it all lies something more subtle—and far more powerful. That is the stories (or the lies) we tell ourselves. These are rationalizations and internal dialogues that shape our actions, often without us even noticing.
As an ADHD and attention coach, I’m often approached by my clients with their concerns about job searching. Of course, I have my own lived experience with job hunting, but I wanted to learn some winning strategies to be able to answer their concerns more specifically. That’s why I reached out to career counselor Wilma Fellman for her perspective. So, today, we’re taking a look at the job interview process and identifying some of the mistakes commonly made and how to avoid them. 
As an ADHD and attention coach, I’m often asked what ADHD coaching is all about or how it works. Here’s my perspective:
Just like physical fitness requires consistent exercise to strengthen the body, mental fitness involves training the mind to enhance focus, emotional regulation, and resilience. Mental fitness is crucial for maintaining a healthy, balanced life, and it relies on regular mental exercises.
When it comes to getting organized and getting things done, I believe what works depends on individual differences. Still, the best place to start is to work your way through the list of obvious solutions and then make adjustments based on what works for you. The purpose of this writing is to list many of the most common solutions in the context of getting organized, staying on task, and moving past procrastination. So here goes. 
I recently did some work with a tradesman who wanted to reengage in the workforce. He had been stuck for some time and couldn’t seem to move forward. During our work together, we focused on removing the obstacles that were getting in his way. As we did, HIS obvious solution revealed itself, and he was able to move forward in a way that was most inspirational. Let’s see how he did it . . . .
Emotional dysregulation was removed from the clinical conceptualization and diagnostic criteria for ADHD back in the 1970s. At the 2010 Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) conference, Dr. Russell Barkley reviewed the evidence and argued for its return. He went on to explain how the addition of emotion points to six things people can do to manage their ADHD. 
When it comes to coaching those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), interest isn’t just something; it is everything. In reading this article, you will understand why interest is such an important part of coaching those with ADHD and how it can serve as a window to what is instinctive—or how those with ADHD are hardwired. 
Much has been written about Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). Some of it is consistent; other things are confusing. Today, I’d like to clarify a few things.
You may be reading this because the idea of organizing caught your eye. Many of those with ADHD label themselves as disorganized when they see the clutter around them or think of the odd ways they manage tasks. The truth is, however, that much of their “disorganization” is simply based on how it looks. 
As an ADHD and attention coach, it is my job to bring clarity to my clients by listening to what they are NOT saying (i.e., the unasked questions). I do this by asking questions that lead them through five simple steps designed to take them from stuck to aha. My goal today is to take the mystery out of the coaching process by showing you how my techniques move my clients forward by helping them choose their focus. 
I stumbled into ADHD coaching as a profession 15 years ago. Daily, most people go to work, but I go to fun! Two things I like most about the job is the creativity and helping people. It is even more rewarding to help those who struggle with limiting beliefs or the reflexive urge to focus on emotions. (Often, judgment is what keeps a person down.) 
If you’re like me, you’ve probably heard countless people use the phrase, “Every individual has a unique set of gifts, talents, or abilities at which they excel.” And, in my experience, this is definitely true. However, you’d be surprised to learn the number of people who can’t articulate their own unique set when asked; in fact, many of them find the answer to this question to be difficult and even intimidating. 
Sara has ADHD. She has struggled to pay attention throughout her life. Before coming to coaching, she was easily distracted and stressed out in crowds. It was only after she came to coaching that she discovered how to be effective at managing her attention and stress. 
Those with ADHD struggle with boredom more than neurotypicals do. This especially applies to bedtime. Boredom has been defined as the physical discomfort where one is motivated to escape it. In other words, if those with ADHD are uncomfortable or bored, they will seek comfort, even if what is comforting is something they shouldn’t do. It takes an enormous amount of cognitive energy to sit in pain when all we want is to seek relief. And when it’s time to go to sleep, those with ADHD have a tough time dealing with that boredom even for a few minutes.
We live in a society that fosters negativity and self-limiting beliefs. Just look at the daily news, the endless array of advertisements for things to “fix us,” or the fascination with the mishaps of celebrities as just a few examples.
The word “how” is an interesting word when you think about it. “How” can be used as a noun, a conjunction, an idiom, or an adverb. As an attention coach, I use “how” as an adverb. Adverbs work as adjectives to modify verbs. For example, “How do I pay attention to something?” To illustrate, let’s substitute “attend” as the verb in the following sentence: “How does one address the president?” becomes, “How does one attend to the president?” 
What is obvious to you? To me, what is obvious is a function of what you pay attention to. Not sure if you agree with me? Then pay attention to most jokes, parables, quotes, and metaphors. They all illustrate my point. Each one is designed to shift your attention to what is obvious. 
Those with ADHD often go through life with challenges that make them feel like they’re living in a maze where there’s an obstacle at every turn. But there is hope, because we now have a way to shed some light on what’s holding them back. Through a special lens I’ve developed over many years, we can look at our thoughts and beliefs to see what’s actually there. It’s called AttentionScope® and it’s incorporated into my new systematic program, Cognitive Ergonomics from the Inside Out™. 
As an ADHD and attention coach, I frequently have individuals come to me for coaching because they are not getting the outcome they want. The majority of the time they are “stuck” because they are paying attention to how they believe something works (or how they believe it is supposed to work).
Frustrated by your weaknesses? Why not look at the opposite end of the spectrum?
I’m a fan of what I call insightful thinking, and I’m sharing a simple example that I think beautifully illustrates the difference between insightful thinking and methodical thinking as a way to help delineate the different types of problem-solving strategies. Let’s begin by defining a few terms so we are paying attention to the same thing.
The placebo effect has been documented to positively impact physical and mental health. How can this be? After all, a placebo is benign. It’s a sham or simulated intervention designed to produce a perceived or actual improvement. Many times, a placebo is used to reinforce a person’s expectation of getting well or moving forward. Studies show this phenomenon is pervasive. But, if a placebo is benign, how can it have positive effects? I’m calling this to your attention as evidence of the power of what you pay attention to. 
I’d like to share an old parable used by Mark Twain that I feel illustrates the dangers of searching for, or succumbing to, the control of others regarding what you should do in life.
“If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” Isn’t that what they say? But trying harder is impossible if you are already trying as hard as you can and getting no results. So, what can you do?
Jane, a woman with attention deficit disorder (ADD), came to coaching, wanting help with organization, specifically, getting things done. So, we focused our work on paying attention to what she pays attention to. Now, understand that this means we focused on her natural tendencies and habits, not necessarily on what she was consciously thinking of.
The first written record of the concept of ADHD coaching was in the book, Driven to Distraction, by Dr. Ned Hallowell and Dr. John Ratey in 1994. Little did they know at that time, the entire coaching industry would grow into a new ADHD intervention. In the late 1990s, a handful of individuals became life coaches that had ADHD and began touting the concept. In 2004, we saw the official formation of the ADHD Coaches Organization (ACO) as a means for coaches to come together and share best practices and competencies. 
What is insightful thinking, and why should it be understood as an alternative to methodical thinking or other problem-resolution strategies? Insight, or insightful thinking, is the sudden and immediate comprehension or understanding that takes place without overt trial-and-error testing. 
Self-awareness is an executive function, and success in life is highly correlated with self- awareness. Executive functioning (EF) is a set of mental faculties that enable us to identify, organize, and sequence relevant information over time towards a goal. In short, executive functioning is what we use to engineer a plan to achieve a goal. 
These days, there is so much competition for our attention. At times, it can feel like we are pulled in a hundred directions with all different mediums vying for emotional control of our hearts and minds (and let’s be honest, our wallets). It can feel overwhelming. 
Do you control what you pay attention to? Think about it! On the one hand, we have politicians, marketers, and corporate America all fighting to gain control of what we pay attention to for their own self-serving benefit. On the other hand, we have our pets, friends, parents, kids, and significant others all desperately vying for us to pay attention to them. Let’s face it, paying attention is hard work! It takes effort… and lots of it. 
Time and again, I have written about attention, and time and again, I have tried to illustrate that whatever seems to be obvious to you is a function of what you are paying attention to. So, if you want to pay attention to the right thing, then you need to pay attention to how things work by focusing on the process, not the result. To demonstrate that I really do practice what I preach, I will share with you an experience of how I put these principles into play a few days ago in my own life. 
Since the early 19th century ushered in the Industrial Revolution, we as a society have evolved from a one-size-fits-all way of doing things to a more highly customizable system of producing consumer goods. Now, humankind itself is finally starting to develop a better understanding of, and appreciation for, the diverse makeup of its people. More and more advocates are focusing on differences in ethnicity, sexuality, and gender. When it comes to neurodiversity, however, for the most part, many are still silent.
In preparing for ADHD Awareness Month in 2014, I realized that ADHD coaching first appeared in print in the book Driven to Distraction by Dr. Ned Hallowell and Dr. John Ratey. This book has been the best-selling book on ADHD of all time. To bring awareness to the public, I reached out to Dr. Ned Hallowell. Together, we did a podcast on Attention Talk Radio, acknowledging the 20th anniversary of the birth of ADHD coaching as an intervention.
If you’ve got ADHD and truly observe your behavior, you might come to realize that thinking is effortful. It’s very challenging for people with ADHD to actually pause and engage their thinking mind to override their automatic responses. There is value in doing that if you actually make that happen. 
Organizing your miscellaneous thoughts and ideas? UGH! The topic of getting organized comes up frequently in coaching, and I can relate to that personally. For instance, there’s a miscellaneous drawer in my kitchen. It’s the depository for things that don’t have a home. The top drawer of my bedroom chest serves the same purpose. Ditto my workbench in the garage. 
What is self-awareness? Is it just being aware of your own internal emotions and feelings? Is it being able to see yourself in the third person? Or is it being able to see life and situations at a higher level, not just awareness of yourself, but awareness of others? Many people with ADHD struggle with self-awareness.
In my talks, podcasts, and videos, I relate information and helpful advice on various topics concerning ADHD and attention. From time to time, I receive comments and questions from folks disagreeing with what I say, because they “feel” what they are doing works for them. 
The common theme to all of my newsletters is how paying attention to the wrong belief leads us to the wrong solution, and how being stuck is a symptom of paying attention to an inaccurate belief. As an attention coach, I find that, for most of my clients, the hardest part is not paying attention to the right things, but rather unlearning, letting go, or not paying attention to what the Ego believes it should pay attention to. 
The band Three Dog Night sang it best in their song titled “One,” with the lyrics that go like this:
Untangling a knotted fishing line because it was miscast might be frustrating, but it will pass. Being miscast as a fisherman? Now, that is a problem! As an ADHD and attention coach, I define “miscasting” as placing someone in a role and asking them to do something with an expectation of performance that is not supported by their underlying abilities. To better understand miscasting, let’s use horse racing as a metaphor.