Running a business today means dealing with a constant flow of ideas, tasks, and opportunities. For many entrepreneurs, this can quickly become a long, crowded list where everything feels urgent. 

Deciding what to do first becomes harder, and progress slows. The pressure to respond to every demand often leaves little room for clear planning. Even important work can get lost in the noise without a way to filter and focus.

I’m Steve August, founder of the ADHD Entrepreneur Accelerator, a program and community designed to help entrepreneurs with ADHD build focus, structure, and lasting success. 

I’ve lived the overwhelm, the scattered attention, and the struggle to prioritize. I’ve also learned how to turn those challenges into strengths by using systems that fit the way our brains work.

He uses his strengths while managing common hurdles like being overwhelmed, having scattered attention, and having difficulty prioritizing. Through his accelerator, workshops, and content, he helps business owners set clear goals, focus their energy, and take steady action toward growth.

In this article, I’ll break down what I call the “Great Wall of Everything Now.” You’ll see why it happens, how it impacts focus, and how your mission and vision can cut through the noise. I’ll also share practical steps you can use to turn clarity into action, so you move forward with purpose and make real progress.

Why ADHD Entrepreneurs Face the “Great Wall of Everything Now”

Many ADHD entrepreneurs know the feeling of having too much to do all at once. Ideas, tasks, and to-dos pile up until everything is urgent and equally important. The list keeps growing, and starting becomes harder. Often, nothing moves forward until a deadline or urgent consequence forces action.

Why It Happens

ADHD is less about a lack of attention and more about how the brain manages it. People with ADHD often pay attention to too many things at the same time. 

They notice what is happening around them and what their mind is constantly producing. This steady flow of ideas and reminders creates an ever-growing list of tasks.

The Struggle with Choosing Priorities

When executive function is lower, deciding what matters most is harder. People may use planners, sticky notes, or digital tools, but everything still feels equally important. The brain struggles to sort tasks into a clear order, which makes it easy to stall.

Two things usually get an ADHD brain moving:

• Strong Interest – The task is exciting or personally meaningful.

• Strong Consequences – A clear deadline or risk pushes immediate action.

Why Awareness Matters

Recognizing the “Great Wall” is the first step to dealing with it. Without this awareness, staying in a cycle of avoidance is easy until pressure forces a decision. Once you see the pattern, you can build systems that help you focus on what matters most.

Moreover, using genuine interest or clear consequences as motivators can help break through the wall. Over time, this approach makes it easier to set priorities, tackle tasks in sequence, and reduce the stress of having everything feel urgent at once.

How ADHD Entrepreneurs Can Set Priorities Beyond Interest and Deadlines

Relying only on interest or looming deadlines often keeps you reacting instead of planning. A stronger approach starts with knowing where you want to go and why.

Find Your “Magnetic North”

Your “magnetic north” is your clear direction. It answers two questions:

• What do I want my life and work to look like?

• Why am I doing this?

This vision gives purpose to your actions. Without it, distractions and side projects can easily pull you off track.

Keep Your Vision Where You Can See It

Many people lose focus because their goals live only in their heads. With limited working memory, those goals quickly fade. Write them down or place them somewhere visible. This simple habit keeps your direction in front of mind and makes it easier to resist distractions.

Use Your Vision to Sort Your Tasks

Once your vision is clear and visible, use it to filter your to-do list. For each task, ask:

1. Does this move me closer to my goal?

2. Is this the most important next step?

3. Will another task move me forward faster?

These questions help you choose what matters most instead of treating everything equally.

Clarity Builds Focus

When you know where you are heading, clarity follows. That clarity naturally turns into focus. You can then arrange your work correctly, starting with the tasks that matter most.

Moreover, this process helps you make deliberate choices instead of reacting to every new idea or urgent request. Over time, you chip away at your workload purposefully, knowing each step brings you closer to your bigger vision. This shift turns a wall of overwhelming tasks into a clear path forward.

How ADHD Entrepreneurs Can Turn Clarity into Focus and Action

Once you know your “magnetic north,” the next step is choosing what matters most. Not everything important is urgent, and not every urgent task will move you forward.

Some projects may have no deadline, yet still hold high value. For example, updating a key page, refining your offer, or collecting strong testimonials can create a lasting impact. 

When you spot such a task, compare it with everything else pulling at your attention. If it supports your bigger vision more than the rest, prioritize it and let lower-value work wait.

The Importance of Deciding

You will not always know the perfect next step. That is fine. Often, deciding is what breaks the cycle of hesitation. Once you choose, you create movement. Action builds momentum, teaches what works, and helps you trust yourself to follow through.

A Simple Sequence for Progress

1. Clarity: Know where you want to go and keep that vision visible.

2. Focus: Use your clarity to decide where to put your energy first.

3. Action: Take the first step, even if it feels small.

As you act, you move from feeling trapped behind the “Great Wall of Everything Now” to making real progress. Each completed step proves you can move forward and builds confidence to keep going.

When you feel overwhelmed, pause and look back to your magnetic north. Use it to guide your choice. Then commit to one step and start. That single action can turn a wall of competing priorities into a clear path forward.

Why Mission and Vision Are Essential for ADHD Entrepreneurs

To get past the “Great Wall of Everything Now,” you need a mission and a vision. Your mission defines what is worth doing. Your vision shows what you want the result to look like. 

Without them, focus becomes unclear. When focus is unclear, it is harder to start, or you end up busy with tasks that do not move you forward.

How Mission and Vision Work Together

Your mission gives you purpose and guides your choices. Your vision paints the picture of the life or business you want to build. When they work together, they help you:

• Decide what to work on first

• Stay focused on what matters most

• Avoid wasting time on tasks that do not support your goals

• Filter out distractions and ideas that pull you off track

• Keep motivation steady, even when progress feels slow

• Say yes or no to new opportunities with confidence

Using Them as a Filter

When you feel pulled in too many directions, pause and ask yourself two questions: Does this task align with my mission? Will it move my vision forward? If the answer is no, it can wait or be removed from your list.

Returning to the Basics

Revisiting your mission and vision often keeps them fresh in your mind. This makes it easier to order your tasks, focus on what truly matters, and see steady progress.

When every action connects to your mission and vision, you begin to unstack the wall of competing priorities. Progress becomes deliberate, and momentum is easier to maintain. 

Over time, this habit ensures that the work you do each day brings you closer to your desired future.

Conclusion

Getting past the “Great Wall of Everything Now” starts with a clear mission and vision. Your mission tells you why the work matters. Your vision shows what you want the result to look like. 

They guide your choices and help you focus on the most important tasks. Moreover, keeping them visible ensures they stay fresh in your mind.

When you use your mission and vision to filter decisions, you avoid wasting time on work that does not move you forward. You choose what supports your bigger picture instead of reacting to every new idea or request. This makes it easier to act with purpose and see steady progress.

For ADHD entrepreneurs, this approach turns overwhelmingly into a clear direction. You stop trying to do everything at once and start doing the right things in the right order. Each small, focused action builds trust in yourself and keeps momentum going. 

Over time, the wall of competing tasks becomes smaller because your energy goes toward what matters most. That is how you create lasting progress and build the business and life you want.

FAQs

What daily habits help ADHD Entrepreneurs stay focused?

Simple habits like setting a short daily priority list, taking regular breaks, and working in timed sessions can help keep focus strong.

How can ADHD Entrepreneurs avoid burnout?

Schedule regular rest, set realistic goals, and avoid overloading your task list. Protecting energy is as important as completing tasks.

Do ADHD Entrepreneurs benefit from delegating tasks?

Yes. Passing on tasks others can do frees your time and mental space for higher-value work.

Can technology help ADHD Entrepreneurs stay organized?

Yes. Tools like task managers, reminders, and calendar apps help track priorities and reduce mental clutter.

How can ADHD Entrepreneurs handle sudden new ideas?

Write them down in a dedicated “idea list” so they don’t distract from current priorities, but can be reviewed later.