Have you ever had a really important task on your to-do list—one that could significantly move your business forward—but despite knowing exactly what to do, you just… couldn’t start?
That feeling of being stuck, of watching yourself not do the thing you know you need to do, isn’t laziness or a lack of discipline. For many business owners (especially those with ADHD, autism, or other neurodivergent traits), it’s executive dysfunction—and it can be a major roadblock to business growth.
Last Thursday, this exact scenario played out in our afternoon workroom.
The Project That Wouldn’t Start
“I’ve been trying to create my course outline for three weeks,” a member confessed as they joined our virtual workspace. Their frustration was palpable even through the screen. “I know exactly what needs to be in it. I’ve thought about it constantly. But every time I sit down to work on it, I end up doing literally anything else.”
Our neurodiversity-informed facilitator nodded knowingly. This wasn’t procrastination in the traditional sense—it was a classic case of executive dysfunction, where the brain struggles to convert intentions into actions.
“Instead of just talking about what you should do, let’s actually do it together, right now,” the facilitator suggested. “I’ll stay with you the whole time.”
The Power of Body Doubling
What happened next wasn’t complicated or revolutionary—but it was transformative.
The facilitator started by simply being present. This technique, called “body doubling,” leverages the brain’s social wiring to help activate executive function. Just having another person there (even virtually) can help the brain engage in tasks it’s been resisting.
“Let’s start super small,” the facilitator suggested. “Can you open a blank document and just type the title of your course at the top?”
That tiny, manageable first step was enough to break the paralysis. The member shared their screen and typed the title.
“Great! Now let’s set a timer for just 10 minutes. During that time, we’re just going to brainstorm module ideas—no organizing, no judging, just getting ideas out.”
Breaking Down the Wall
As they worked together in short, focused intervals, something remarkable happened. The invisible wall that had been preventing action for weeks began to crumble. With each small win, the member’s energy and confidence visibly increased.
The facilitator used several strategies specific to executive dysfunction:
- Breaking the overwhelming project into tiny, concrete next actions
- Creating external accountability through shared focus
- Using timers to contain the work and make it feel manageable
- Providing a structure for getting started when the brain couldn’t create one
- Celebrating small wins to activate the brain’s reward system
Other members in the room occasionally offered supportive comments or shared their own experiences with executive dysfunction, creating a judgment-free environment.
“I thought I was just terrible at follow-through until I learned about executive dysfunction,” one member commented. “Now I build support like this into my workflow all the time.”
From Stuck to Flowing
By the end of the session, something that had seemed impossible for weeks had suddenly become not just possible, but almost easy. Together, they had:
- Created a complete course outline with modules and lessons
- Set up a project management board with specific next actions
- Identified potential roadblocks and created strategies to navigate them
- Scheduled focused work sessions with built-in accountability
- Established a realistic timeline that accounted for energy fluctuations
“I can’t believe we did all this in 90 minutes when I couldn’t make myself start for three weeks,” the member said, visibly relieved. “And the weird thing is, once we got going, it wasn’t even that hard. My brain just needed help getting over that initial hump.”
The Follow-Through
But the story doesn’t end there. A week later, the member was back in a morning workroom with exciting news: not only had they continued working on the course between sessions, but they’d completed the first module’s content.
“Having that initial breakthrough made such a difference,” they shared. “And knowing I can come back here for support when I get stuck again has completely changed how I approach big projects.”
This Is Done-WITH-You in Action
Traditional business support often falls into two categories: being told what to do (through courses or coaching) or having someone do things for you (through hiring). But neither addresses the unique challenges of executive dysfunction, where the gap isn’t knowledge or skill—it’s activation and follow-through.
The Catalyst’s Done-WITH-You approach fills this gap. We don’t just tell you what to do and send you off to struggle alone. We don’t take over and do it for you either. Instead, we sit with you in that difficult space where intention meets action, providing the structure, accountability, and support your brain needs to bridge that gap.
For business owners with ADHD, autism, or other neurodivergent traits, this approach can be game-changing. It honors your vision and capabilities while acknowledging that sometimes your brain needs external scaffolding to execute on what you already know.
Because working for yourself shouldn’t mean struggling by yourself—especially when your brain works a little differently.
Experience this level of neurodiversity-affirming support in your business. Join the Catalyst and get access to our virtual workrooms with experts who understand executive dysfunction and can help you move from idea to implementation, together.
