PODCAST: Season 6, Episode 24
Pour yourself a coffee and settle in for this incredibly honest conversation with Sophie, where we dive deep into her ADHD diagnosis journey, how she’s built a business that actually works WITH her brain rather than against it, and why being bold enough to repel the wrong clients has transformed everything. If you’ve ever wondered how to create structure while maintaining the freedom to pivot, or how to build a team that supports your unique way of working, this episode is exactly what you need.
Key Topics Covered
In this value-packed conversation, we explore:
The ADHD Discovery Journey:
- How Sophie’s diagnosis came through her daughter starting school, not the other way around
- Why high-achieving women often get missed in ADHD diagnosis
- The burnout cycles that started in childhood and how they make sense now
- How corporate structure actually worked better for her ADHD brain than entrepreneurship initially
Building a Business for Your Brain:
- Why having too big a team (5-6 people) felt like “turning the Titanic” when she wanted to pivot
- The difference between freelancers vs. employees and why she made the switch
- How to find team members who thrive on your “structured sporadicness”
- Creating systems that allow for spontaneity and gut-driven decisions
The Mastermind Journey:
- Sophie’s evolution from ads manager to business strategist
- Why she was frustrated only being able to influence the ads piece of people’s businesses
- The creation of both Mastermind and Mini Mind programs (launched simultaneously!)
- How done-for-you ads removes friction so clients can focus on building their systems
Being Bold in Business:
- Moving beyond just sharing knowledge to sharing herself
- Why deep connection and small numbers matter more than scale
- The real cost of networking and social events for neurodivergent entrepreneurs
- How authentic branding reflects the “beautiful chaos” of her mind
Featured Insights
On ADHD and Business: Sophie shares how she thrived in corporate because she had teams to handle the “boring stuff” while she focused on big-picture strategy and vision-setting. The transition to entrepreneurship was harder because suddenly she had to do all the mundane tasks herself.
On Team Building: After struggling with freelancers who worked on their schedule, Sophie made the bold move to employ someone 20 hours a week. This gave her the flexibility and reliability she needed while maintaining control over the working relationship.
On Mastermind Philosophy: Rather than having 100 people getting minimal attention, Sophie caps her mastermind at 10 people to maintain deep connection. She knows when members have 177 people sign up for their worksheet and exactly how many showed up – that’s the level of involvement she believes in.
On Being Authentically Bold: Sophie’s biggest challenge isn’t talking about ads strategy – it’s sharing herself beyond her expertise. Moving away from always teaching and instead showing up as a whole person, even when that feels vulnerable.
Behind the Scenes Moments
- How they first met at various networking events (Girl Tribe Gang anyone?)
- Sophie’s honest admission about finding social events draining despite appearing social online
- The “champagne problem” of having beautiful branding that sometimes creates posting friction
- Why time has “different meaning” for ADHD brains (cue the confusion about when this episode airs!)
Resources Mentioned
- Audience Builder Course (ABC) – Sophie’s step-by-step ads course with 6 weeks of group coaching
- Mastermind and Mini Mind programs – opening again in July
- Sophie on Instagram @sophiegriffithsco
Take Action
- Evaluate whether your business systems work WITH or against your brain
- Consider if you’re trying to force yourself into someone else’s business model
- Ask yourself: are you being bold enough to repel the wrong-fit clients?
- Review your team structure – do you need employees vs. freelancers for better control?
Remember: Your brain isn’t broken, your business model might just need adjusting to work with how you naturally operate!
Mills’ Take
What I love about Sophie is how she’s created a business that genuinely works for her ADHD brain rather than trying to force herself into a neurotypical business model. Her mastermind isn’t just about ads – it’s about building sustainable systems that honor how different brains work. If you’re feeling like you’re constantly swimming upstream in your business, this conversation will give you permission to do things differently.