Do You Have ADHD -- Most Chiropractic Entrepreneurs Show the Signs

If you own a chiropractic practice, or any other type of service business you likely have some degree of ADHD.

How do I know this? Experience!

We have worked with business owners, and especially chiropractors, for 40 years. You all have the American entrepreneurial spirit our ancestors had — go West, homestead, start a business, make a claim!

WHAT IS ADHD?

ADHD — Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder — is officially defined as a condition characterized by persistent patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that interfere with daily functioning.

That's the clinical version. But I wouldn't call it a "disorder." In fact, for many entrepreneurs, it might be closer to a gift.

Research consistently finds ADHD traits at significantly higher rates among entrepreneurs than in the general population.* Here are a few you may recognize:

• You can see the big picture, but become impatient with the details.

• You get excited about starting things, but follow-through is weak — "shiny" new programs and equipment draw your attention, while maintaining systems and procedures drift away.

• You struggle with time management and organization.

• You get bored easily, especially with tasks that require prolonged mental effort.

ADHD and the Chiropractic and Healthcare Entrepreneur

On the plus side, these same characteristics often help a business owner:

• High risk tolerance lets you bet on yourself and act before all the information is in.

• Creativity — I have been genuinely impressed by the sometimes genius-level solutions of many chiropractors.

• High energy and urgency create a driven intensity that people find both exhausting and magnetic.

• Comfort with chaos makes the startup environment feel natural rather than threatening.

But these same traits can stall the growth of a practice:

• Starting things is easy — finishing them is hard.

• Detail and administration are not strong suits.

• Structure, routine, and repetition are exactly what the ADHD brain resists — yet consistency is what a growing business requires.

• Impulsivity and changing directions can confuse and demoralize staff who need steadiness from leadership.

• The practice remains dependent on the owner's daily presence and energy.

Whether you have an ADHD brain or not, you are still an entrepreneur, and some of these traits just come with the job.

I am sure this is why Michael Gerber wrote The E-Myth, and it is why I wrote The Goal Driven Business. There are plenty of other books and researched solutions to this business dilemma.

The big question is — who is going to implement the solutions? The entrepreneur?

Doubt it.

THE ENTREPRENEURIAL BRAIN — AND WHY IT NEEDS A MANAGER

Gallup put it plainly in It's the Manager — the quality of managers and team leaders is the single biggest factor in an organization's long-term success.

Many of the traits associated with ADHD are noble and admirable, and I applaud the courage it takes to build something.

But passion without structure stalls. And structure -- is management — putting systems in place, keeping them in place, and steadily improving them.

The most honest advice I can give you is this: get a trained manager — someone whose brain complements yours — who loves the structure you resist and maintains what you build.

This September, I'm opening a small cohort of 20 managers and their entrepreneur doctors for our next Practice MBA Program – our 4th.

If that interests you, stay tuned. We will be putting up a Waitlist next week with more information.

Ed

* Research on ADHD traits among entrepreneurs has been documented extensively, including studies by Johan Wiklund et al., published in the Journal of Business Venturing. Wiklund et al., Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 2025. Estimated 29% of entrepreneurs meet ADHD criteria versus 4-5% of the general adult population.