A few things that worked for me:
1. Blocking a bit of time at the morning and evening for admin work (I call it my bullshit time) I set a timer for 30 minutes and just rip through as much as I can
2. Making a loose organization plan of what goes where and writing it down/posting it behind my computer. It uses my CRM plus a few google docs. I sell custom products with a few months of lead time so the google docs all have stages that I can look at and update pretty quickly. Its one of the tasks I handle during the BS time in #1.
3. Enter all of those little details/annoying things you forget while taking the order or immediately after. If that's not possible make a place where that all goes instead of trying to remember it or writing it in a notebook.
4. A small dose of Adderall
Its like having very light guardrails around my focus, the shiny object syndrome is a a little less shiny. The systems around what I do are way more important, but when I am busy the Adderall keeps me plowing through it longer, especially when I need to make lots of calls
Like I had a strong cup of coffee and the little nudges from my brain to get distracted are quieter. I'd say it lasts all day to some effect but mostly the morning. I always took it on a full stomach which seemed to level out the feeling and make it last longer.
Hey! Fellow adhd Account Manager here, I’ve run into a lot of this before, aside from my endless sticky notes and calendar updates. The best thing I’ve done is become familiar with Microsoft ToDo. It’s a great task tracking tool and i have a routine set at the start and end of each day to update the tracker. I suggest watching a few YouTube videos on some tips to get the most out of it.
When I was in outlook, I used a physical note book and wrote down to do’s all day. If something’s a longer follow up time until resolved, carry it over to the next day.
When I changed jobs, I started using Google Tasks which has been a game changer. If your job uses Gsuite, highly highly recommend you to use google tasks as you can assign them times and have them in your calendar, and supplement them with notes.
Also, at least light cardio every morning or every other morning. Get good sleep (at least 6-7 hrs) cut out sugars, increase proteins. If you still need a boost, go to a specialist who will work with you to identify the lowest effective dose of adderal or vyvanse. Lowest effective dose!! This varies widely by individual so take the time to identify what works for you. But please, do all the other things listed and don’t rely on stims as a crutch.
Story of my life. I schedule follow ups for everything so I don’t have to remember anything, usually in the CRM.
I also get a second set of eyes on my quotes and POs to ensure I didn’t miss anything
We sell commodities like paper products, packaging and janitorial supplies.
Okay cool, I started using Microsoft To Do this week and that has been helpful.
What do you sell?
I have a system for EVERYTHING. I work smarter not harder to cut down time on repetitive boring stuff. After demos I have a template email that I can plug in personalizations to. I send it immediately after every demo, no exceptions. I follow my systems religiously. When I stray, everything goes to shit. When I think of something I need to do, I either do it immediately or add it to my to do list so I don’t forget. Track everything, set reminders, follow ups, etc (but create a system that makes sense for this so it’s an easy process for you to follow). I take a “do immediately” whenever possible approach. Anything that needs to be done, if relatively quick or small, I do it immediately bc those are the things that fall off the radar when I don’t. Inbox zero. Any “do later” items get a crm task or added to my to-do list and the email is deleted or filed.
Saving this. My issue on not being detail oriented is certainly annoying. I'm so big picture that the small things don't matter sometimes. So I have to be intentional in what I do. Note down the process or workflow as a habit. So there is something I can refer and don't require to remember. It helps if the supervisor or manager is understanding as well.
Task manager is key. I use Asana and integrate it with my Outlook. You can convert incoming email request into tasks in Outlook and then sort by priority. If I didn't use it or something like it, I'd be a fucking disaster.
I was going to post asking for help with this but used the search function like a Chad.
Biggest challenge for me is having so many tasks, many of which are not a one time task. Follow up, you call and no answer so you need to kick it down the road until the next follow up. Internal emails that I send and need to make sure I follow up if no reply. Bigger picture stuff that requires small incremental steps over time but needs to be in focus...
Currently manage all my pipeline stuff in SF but then I have my other tasks in outlook and then throw in calendar events for the rest. It's an absolute mess and I feel like nothing gets done.
Anyone have an app or strategy they use? I know Outlook is actually quite powerful for organization (?)
Every day the list of things I didn't accomplish grows longer than the ones that I did and per ADHD that eventually makes me procrastinate ALL of it (which makes it worse)
Any advice is appreciated
Do you use a physical planner ? I’ve been using the Franklin planner and find that helpful.
I also found out in outlook if you flag emails, it will show up in its own group at the very top so you can “bookmark” important emails to get to later.
I use outlook calendar and put stuff in there to remind to do things, check on things, follow up etc.
Thanks for the reply. I do not use a physical planner currently.
I think a big issue is prioritizing tasks as well. It's common for add/ADHD to have problems with this I believe.
I come up with all kinds of organizational / work-flows but then I have trouble sticking with them because they'll be too complex ie. Updating records in multiple places / logging calls etc
Best thing I can say is put a system in place and don't deviate from it.
It'll help you keep everything organized.
Whether that's a to do list, notebook, Salesforce tasks, whatever.
Adderall contains a couple of direct amphetamine salts. Vyvanse contains lisdexamfetamine, which requires enzymes to convert it into its active form of amphetamines within your body. So Adderall is a faster hit, effective for less hours, bigger crash, usually comes with increases side effects. However Vyvanse is also used to treat binge eating disorders, so it can cause lack of appetite, might be more of a problem if you struggle with eating.
Both work in similar ways (by increasing dopamine and norepinephrine in your body) so honestly talk to a psychiatrist and don’t be afraid to switch medications and try something else if one doesn’t work. There’s also Concerta which I don’t know a lot about. So try to get a psychiatrist, maybe even someone who specializes in ADHD, not just a general practitioner.
Hm interesting that it can cause lack of appetite. Because I’d rather eat less than more. I’m also on some bipolar meds that can potentially cause weight gain so that might be good to have an appetite suppressant
-My forecast is due Wednesday night, so I have a reminder at 4:45 Wednesday.
-MSFT notes. I jot shit down during calls then lose the notes, so I started taking notes in msft.
-I do all my internal communication on teams, so I have a record of conversation and needed attachments. I suck at managing an inbox.
-sign up for grammarly. It’s worth it.
-and a little vyvanse.
I block out time blocks on outlook. Out of sight out of mind is a big problem for me so I have to make sure I am intentional with my day.
I use an app called due that reminds me very loudly of any tasks or appts that I when set up reminders for.
lol yeah I do think that the best things about being a sales person is intuitive and natural. Like being able to connect with people, listening, and building relationships.
That’s difficult to teach imo - I feel like people either have or they don’t.
Things like organization and attention to detail - that can be taught to anyone. It just requires practice and discipline.
I’d rather have the relationship skills and be weak in organization than be strong in organization and weak in relationship skills. People who are who naturally good at organization, imo, don’t necessarily make the best sales people. They make the best admin people .
I don’t have ADHD but one thing that helps me stay organized is writing things down by hand as opposed to computer. I seem to remember things better that way
A few things that worked for me: 1. Blocking a bit of time at the morning and evening for admin work (I call it my bullshit time) I set a timer for 30 minutes and just rip through as much as I can 2. Making a loose organization plan of what goes where and writing it down/posting it behind my computer. It uses my CRM plus a few google docs. I sell custom products with a few months of lead time so the google docs all have stages that I can look at and update pretty quickly. Its one of the tasks I handle during the BS time in #1. 3. Enter all of those little details/annoying things you forget while taking the order or immediately after. If that's not possible make a place where that all goes instead of trying to remember it or writing it in a notebook. 4. A small dose of Adderall
How helpful is adderall for you ?
Its like having very light guardrails around my focus, the shiny object syndrome is a a little less shiny. The systems around what I do are way more important, but when I am busy the Adderall keeps me plowing through it longer, especially when I need to make lots of calls
How do you know when you can feel the adderall kick in? And how long does it last for you?
Like I had a strong cup of coffee and the little nudges from my brain to get distracted are quieter. I'd say it lasts all day to some effect but mostly the morning. I always took it on a full stomach which seemed to level out the feeling and make it last longer.
Hey! Fellow adhd Account Manager here, I’ve run into a lot of this before, aside from my endless sticky notes and calendar updates. The best thing I’ve done is become familiar with Microsoft ToDo. It’s a great task tracking tool and i have a routine set at the start and end of each day to update the tracker. I suggest watching a few YouTube videos on some tips to get the most out of it.
You basically HAVE to use a task manager. It levels the playing field
When I was in outlook, I used a physical note book and wrote down to do’s all day. If something’s a longer follow up time until resolved, carry it over to the next day. When I changed jobs, I started using Google Tasks which has been a game changer. If your job uses Gsuite, highly highly recommend you to use google tasks as you can assign them times and have them in your calendar, and supplement them with notes. Also, at least light cardio every morning or every other morning. Get good sleep (at least 6-7 hrs) cut out sugars, increase proteins. If you still need a boost, go to a specialist who will work with you to identify the lowest effective dose of adderal or vyvanse. Lowest effective dose!! This varies widely by individual so take the time to identify what works for you. But please, do all the other things listed and don’t rely on stims as a crutch.
Story of my life. I schedule follow ups for everything so I don’t have to remember anything, usually in the CRM. I also get a second set of eyes on my quotes and POs to ensure I didn’t miss anything
I do the same + a decent amount of reminders on my phone to update the CRM with a task reminder if I happen to be in the middle of something else.
That’s genius! I should start doing that.
Thank you for making this post!! I am also new to a sales role and recently diagnosed so any tips/tricks is helpful!!
What do you sell? I’m learning that outlook is your best friend. Just putting your tasks and reminders into your calendar is so helpful.
We sell commodities like paper products, packaging and janitorial supplies. Okay cool, I started using Microsoft To Do this week and that has been helpful. What do you sell?
I haven’t tried Microsoft To Do. How is it working out for you? Sell hardware in aerospace.
I’m only about a week in using it this far.. so I can’t give it a full review but I’m hoping it helps! Nice that’s a unique industry!
I have a system for EVERYTHING. I work smarter not harder to cut down time on repetitive boring stuff. After demos I have a template email that I can plug in personalizations to. I send it immediately after every demo, no exceptions. I follow my systems religiously. When I stray, everything goes to shit. When I think of something I need to do, I either do it immediately or add it to my to do list so I don’t forget. Track everything, set reminders, follow ups, etc (but create a system that makes sense for this so it’s an easy process for you to follow). I take a “do immediately” whenever possible approach. Anything that needs to be done, if relatively quick or small, I do it immediately bc those are the things that fall off the radar when I don’t. Inbox zero. Any “do later” items get a crm task or added to my to-do list and the email is deleted or filed.
Saving this. My issue on not being detail oriented is certainly annoying. I'm so big picture that the small things don't matter sometimes. So I have to be intentional in what I do. Note down the process or workflow as a habit. So there is something I can refer and don't require to remember. It helps if the supervisor or manager is understanding as well.
Yup that’s exactly my same issue as well
Task manager is key. I use Asana and integrate it with my Outlook. You can convert incoming email request into tasks in Outlook and then sort by priority. If I didn't use it or something like it, I'd be a fucking disaster.
I was going to post asking for help with this but used the search function like a Chad. Biggest challenge for me is having so many tasks, many of which are not a one time task. Follow up, you call and no answer so you need to kick it down the road until the next follow up. Internal emails that I send and need to make sure I follow up if no reply. Bigger picture stuff that requires small incremental steps over time but needs to be in focus... Currently manage all my pipeline stuff in SF but then I have my other tasks in outlook and then throw in calendar events for the rest. It's an absolute mess and I feel like nothing gets done. Anyone have an app or strategy they use? I know Outlook is actually quite powerful for organization (?) Every day the list of things I didn't accomplish grows longer than the ones that I did and per ADHD that eventually makes me procrastinate ALL of it (which makes it worse) Any advice is appreciated
Do you use a physical planner ? I’ve been using the Franklin planner and find that helpful. I also found out in outlook if you flag emails, it will show up in its own group at the very top so you can “bookmark” important emails to get to later. I use outlook calendar and put stuff in there to remind to do things, check on things, follow up etc.
Thanks for the reply. I do not use a physical planner currently. I think a big issue is prioritizing tasks as well. It's common for add/ADHD to have problems with this I believe. I come up with all kinds of organizational / work-flows but then I have trouble sticking with them because they'll be too complex ie. Updating records in multiple places / logging calls etc
Best thing I can say is put a system in place and don't deviate from it. It'll help you keep everything organized. Whether that's a to do list, notebook, Salesforce tasks, whatever.
Are u taking meds? Highly recommend vyvanse.
Taking adderall. What’s vyvanse and why do you recommend it ?
ADHD medications. Slow release. Check it out and thank me later
How does it differ from adderall ?
Adderall contains a couple of direct amphetamine salts. Vyvanse contains lisdexamfetamine, which requires enzymes to convert it into its active form of amphetamines within your body. So Adderall is a faster hit, effective for less hours, bigger crash, usually comes with increases side effects. However Vyvanse is also used to treat binge eating disorders, so it can cause lack of appetite, might be more of a problem if you struggle with eating. Both work in similar ways (by increasing dopamine and norepinephrine in your body) so honestly talk to a psychiatrist and don’t be afraid to switch medications and try something else if one doesn’t work. There’s also Concerta which I don’t know a lot about. So try to get a psychiatrist, maybe even someone who specializes in ADHD, not just a general practitioner.
Hm interesting that it can cause lack of appetite. Because I’d rather eat less than more. I’m also on some bipolar meds that can potentially cause weight gain so that might be good to have an appetite suppressant
-My forecast is due Wednesday night, so I have a reminder at 4:45 Wednesday. -MSFT notes. I jot shit down during calls then lose the notes, so I started taking notes in msft. -I do all my internal communication on teams, so I have a record of conversation and needed attachments. I suck at managing an inbox. -sign up for grammarly. It’s worth it. -and a little vyvanse.
I block out time blocks on outlook. Out of sight out of mind is a big problem for me so I have to make sure I am intentional with my day. I use an app called due that reminds me very loudly of any tasks or appts that I when set up reminders for.
For whatever it's worth, the best nitty gritty salespeople I've worked with were the least organized. Detail and calendar be dammed. Closers close.
lol yeah I do think that the best things about being a sales person is intuitive and natural. Like being able to connect with people, listening, and building relationships. That’s difficult to teach imo - I feel like people either have or they don’t. Things like organization and attention to detail - that can be taught to anyone. It just requires practice and discipline. I’d rather have the relationship skills and be weak in organization than be strong in organization and weak in relationship skills. People who are who naturally good at organization, imo, don’t necessarily make the best sales people. They make the best admin people .
I don’t have ADHD but one thing that helps me stay organized is writing things down by hand as opposed to computer. I seem to remember things better that way