ADHD-ish Podcast Summary

Episode: Stopping Smart with ADHD: Break Free from ADHD Hyperfocus & Perfectionism – Simple Strategies
Host: Diann Wingert
Date: July 8, 2025

Episode Overview

In this candid and insightful episode, Diann Wingert tackles the "Stopping Problem"—a common ADHD entrepreneurial dilemma where brilliant starters get chronically stuck at the almost-finished line. She dissects the perfectionism, fear, and hyperfocus that keep projects perpetually “in progress,” and offers actionable, neurodivergent-friendly strategies for getting work over the finish line. Diann introduces her “Completion Compass,” a tool for diagnosing your specific stuck-point and choosing targeted tactics, all while sharing real-world client stories and hard-won lessons from her own business journey.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Understanding the "Stopping Problem"

• What is it?
  Many ADHD-prone entrepreneurs have a crowded “almost done” folder: courses, websites, books, or marketing campaigns stuck at 85% completion.
• Why does it happen?
  “Good enough” feels like giving up for the ADHD perfectionist mind, so improvement becomes a never-ending quest.
  • (02:00) “The work in that folder is probably already good enough to launch. But good enough feels like giving up when you have a perfectionist for a brain that whispers, ‘Just a little bit more and it will be amazing.’” — Diann

2. Types of Stuck & Their Triggers

• Perfectionist Tweaking Trap

  • Endless improvements, mistaking “different” for “better.”
  • Story of Lenore: Redoing modules based on new frameworks, unable to declare work “done.”

• Rejection Sensitivity Shield

  • Using endless revisions as protection from possible external rejection.
  • Story of David: Refusing to share his completed book for feedback due to fear of criticism.

• Lost in the Woods Syndrome

  • Getting mired in research and theory rather than execution.
  • Story of Marta: Community builder who remained perpetually in “learning mode.”

• All are rooted in fear, disguised as productivity.

  • (08:10) “All three of these feel like responsible perfectionism, and all three are actually fear wearing a productivity suit.” — Diann

3. The "Confidence Crash" & Information Overload

• The Pitfall:
  • Starting strong, but in the middle of a project, confidence collapses.
  • Attempts to “fix” this with more research only worsen self-doubt.
  • Excessive opinion seeking from others leads to confusion, not clarity.
  • (16:20) “Once we are in research mode, it becomes addictive. Dopamine is flowing. We're feeling so smart. Reading about how to do something feels productive, and it feels rewarding. Our brains really like it.”
• The Reality:
  • The more you research and seek opinions, the shabbier your original work appears. This is “analysis paralysis in reverse.”

4. Naming the Real Fear:

• Fear of Rejection:
  • Launching means risking indifference or criticism, and perfectionism is a (false) attempt to ensure safety.
  • (24:10) “Putting your work out there means risking rejection and worst of all, indifference... There is no amount of preparation that equals a guarantee of a positive reception.”
• The Perfectionism Fallacy:
  • No amount of tweaking can guarantee success. Only real-world feedback can guide improvement.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On research rabbit holes:
  • (16:20) “Learning new frameworks is going to feel like progress. But it isn't because you're not creating, you're consuming.”
• On advice overload:
  • (20:55) “Don't collect opinions like souvenirs, thinking that if you just get enough, the right answer will become obvious. Quite the contrary. The more input you get, the more confused you are.”
• On strategic incompletion:
  • (54:30) “Some projects should be abandoned, some should be paused, and some should be released in their current state, even if they don't seem done. This is what I call the art of strategic incompletion.”

Practical Solutions: "The Completion Compass" (36:45)

• Diagnose Your Stuck Type:
  • Perfectionistic Tweaking?
  • Fear-Based Stalling?
  • Research Rabbit Hole?
• Exit Strategies:

  • For Perfectionists:

    • Set completion criteria before you start, detached from emotions.
    • (41:00) “We need to get the feels out of your work.”

  • For Fear-Based Stalling:

    • Reframe ‘done’ as ‘ready for learning,’ not ‘ready for judgment’
    • Launch is data-gathering, not just a test of worth.

  • For Lost in Research:

    • Initiate emergency reset protocols:
      • Stop consuming.
      • Write what you already know.
      • Pick one method.
      • Limit research to 2 days.
      • Resume action.

  • (47:10) “You are not allowed to learn anything new until you've used what you already know.”

Additional Tools:

• Set clear, project-specific “good enough” standards, and write them down before starting.
• Ask: “Will this change materially improve the outcome for my audience, or just make me feel better?”
• Define worst-case scenarios, note specifically what you fear, and evaluate whether you can endure it.
• Test with smallest viable audience (one person, small group) before full public launch.

Emergency Reset Protocol Steps (50:13)

1. Stop consuming new information.
2. Write down all you already know.
3. Pick one source/method and stick to it.
4. Limit further research with a deadline.
5. Return to building/doing.

• (51:10) “Action will restore your confidence faster than more research ever will.”

Strategic Incompletion (54:30)

• Not every project must be finished.
• Learn to distinguish abandoning for the right reasons (changed priorities) from avoidance.

Real-World Applications (58:30)

• Online Courses:
  Release core curriculum to a beta group; add more only as requested.

• Content Marketing:
  Ship when clear and actionable; let audience feedback drive future edits.

• Product Development:
  Launch when it solves the core problem; iterate features post-release.

• Website Creation:
  Go live when the basics are clear, not perfect; optimize based on real user behavior.

• Service Offerings:
  Start with a single clear offer; refine after delivering to a few actual clients.

  • (01:01:00) “Your real clients will teach you far more than theoretical planning ever will.”

Troubleshooting Common Fears (01:03:10)

• Fear of early launch harming your brand:
  • “People respect honesty and improvement far more than they do perfection.”
• Fear of criticism:
  • Criticism from actual users is invaluable; perfection teaches nothing.
• Fear of zero engagement:
  • If nobody responds, that’s essential learning for your next step.
• “But I can always make it better...”
  • Time spent chasing “better” isn’t always justified if it delays learning.

Closing Highlights

• Stopping smart requires identifying your stuck-pattern and choosing the matching exit ramp:

  • Set completion criteria up front.
  • Reframe launch as a chance to learn.
  • Use emergency reset steps for research traps.
  • Accept strategic incompletion when appropriate.

• Teaser for Next Episode:

  • How to transition smoothly between projects and priorities, recover from interruptions, and manage the “chaos” of entrepreneurial ADHD.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00 – Introduction & Overview of "Stopping Problems"
• 04:40 – Stories: Lenore, David, Marta (Types of Stuck)
• 13:30 – The "Confidence Crash" & Research Addiction
• 20:55 – The Opinion-Seeking Trap
• 24:10 – The Underlying Fear of Rejection
• 36:45 – "Completion Compass" Diagnosis & Strategies
• 41:00 – Setting Effective Completion Criteria
• 46:50 – Recognizing Diminishing Returns
• 47:10 – Emergency Reset Protocol Steps
• 54:30 – Strategic Incompletion vs. Avoidance
• 58:30 – Practical, Real-World Application Examples
• 01:03:10 – Troubleshooting Fears & Resistance
• 01:08:00 – Episode Wrap-Up and Next Steps

Diann’s tone throughout is no-nonsense, funny, and reassuring—directly naming the “mental fuckery” of ADHD brains while providing both comfort and tough love. She invites listeners to reflect and take part in shaping future resources, reinforcing ADHD-ish as a collaborative and practical toolkit for neurodivergent business owners.