ADHD: Try Harder? Why Not Try Different?

By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – September 11, 2023

“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?

Should you keep trying harder, repeating the same action and getting the same outcome? Of course not! According to Albert Einstein, doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results is the definition of insanity. Continue reading “ADHD: Try Harder? Why Not Try Different?”

Why ADHD Tips and Solutions Don’t Work

By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – August 28, 2023

ADHD is an issue of self-regulation. As an ADHD and attention coach, I know that many of the tips, tricks, and strategies on the Web don’t typically work for those with ADHD. Often, these tips tell you there is a logic behind using a weakness to overcome a weakness, but this sets you up for failure. And that’s why good ideas or good solutions don’t work in the world of ADHD.

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Not All To-Do Lists Look the Same

By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – August 14, 2023

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.

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How to Study with ADHD

By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – July 31, 2023

Those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder typically procrastinate when something is unclear. Are you clear on your specific, methodical process of studying? As an ADHD and attention coach, I find that the more you understand your process with specificity, the higher the probability you will study and be successful.

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ADHD: When the Dream Becomes the Obstacle

By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – July 17, 2023

A Lesson from Professor Dumbledore,
Headmaster at Hogwart’s School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

In the movie Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry Potter finds himself gazing into the Mirror of Erised. In his reflection, he sees the image of himself with his parents standing behind him, both of whom are deceased. Puzzled, Harry looks behind himself only to find his parents are not there. As he gazes into the mirror and dreams, Professor Dumbledore walks in:

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Hurtful Conversations in ADHD Relationships

By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – July 3, 2023

ADHD relationships can spiral out of control and end up in hurtful conversations. Is that an outcome you will really want? How do you stop these interactions that only end up damaging your relationships? Once the damage is done, how do you repair or rebuild the trust? It’s not just by saying you’ll do better or you’ll try harder. You really have to get at the dynamics of the relationship and then work to understand each other. That’s what you need to develop conflict intimacy. Continue reading “Hurtful Conversations in ADHD Relationships”

ADHD Is Hard. Can a Coach Help?

By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – June 19, 2023

Jeff Copper & Aha BobThe 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. Continue reading “ADHD Is Hard. Can a Coach Help?”

ADHD Insight: Impact of Distractions on Executive Functioning

By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – Published June 5, 2023

What is it like for someone with ADHD when their executive functioning brain is being taxed and becomes a distraction? It’s like starting the task all over again. If you have ADHD, it’s just like rebooting your laptop; you have to reboot your brain. That’s why I’m using a computer as a metaphor to understand what happens when you get distracted while engaged in an activity that requires your executive functioning brain. Continue reading “ADHD Insight: Impact of Distractions on Executive Functioning”