What I Did Differently at NASMM This Year (and Why It Worked)

I just got back from the NASMM conference, my first since completing my ADHD coach certification. October is ADHD Awareness Month, so this felt like the right time to share something personal: understanding how my brain works changed how I showed up, and it changed the results I came home with.

What the old me would have done

A few years ago, I would have gone from session to session and felt guilty about skipping anything. I would have bought several vendor programs on the spot to grab the conference discount. I would have squeezed every minute out of the socials and the expo, worried I'd miss the one connection that mattered. I would have come home with a stack of business cards and dropped the ball on follow-up.

I also would have forced myself up early to exercise, even though I had a big role in leading the conference and needed to protect my energy. And when I presented, I would have panicked the moment a word or thought slipped away.

If you're an entrepreneur, some of this probably sounds familiar. We're wired to believe that more effort equals more results. Often, it just equals burnout.

What I did instead

When a room got too crowded and I felt overstimulated, I left. When I hit my wall, I skipped the session or slipped out early to recharge. I didn't book dinner plans most nights so I could check in with my energy first. One night, I stayed in my room alone, and it was exactly what I needed.

Instead of buying new products on impulse, I brought all the information home for Dawn Miskulin, our manager, to evaluate what we actually need.

I followed up with every single business card I collected because I went with a plan AND I worked the plan.

I gave myself an extra night at the hotel and flew home Monday, with a day out of the office to transition back.

And when I couldn't remember someone's name, I didn't fake it. I told them my memory works like Swiss cheese, and that forgetting their name had nothing to do with how much they mattered to me.

The best part

The highlight wasn't anything on that list. It was standing in a learning session, being fully myself, describing how ADHD shows up in my life, and watching people in the room nod their heads recognizing themselves. 

The takeaway for business owners

Working with your brain instead of against it isn't doing less. It's doing what matters. I attended fewer sessions and came home with more follow-through, better decisions, and more energy than I've ever had after a conference.

If you're building a business and constantly feel like you're pushing uphill, it might not be a discipline problem. It might be a design problem. I'd love to talk about it. Schedule a consultation today.