How One ADHD Diagnosis Sparked a New Career Helping Creative Entrepreneurs Thrive | #193

After 19 years in education and an ADHD diagnosis, Cindy Baker made a bold pivot—leaving the classroom to launch her own business as a productivity coach for entrepreneurs. In this inspiring episode of the Second Act Success Career Podcast, host Shannon Russell sits down with Cindy to discuss her career evolution, her late-in-life ADHD diagnosis, and how she turned her challenges into a business that helps others.

Cindy retired early from teaching career to venture into coaching to help other entrepreneurs with her proven productivity strategies and focus techniques. She is now teaching creative professionals and neurodivergent entrepreneurs how to approach their work in a more productive way.

Whether you're exploring a second act, starting a business, or learning to manage ADHD as an adult, Cindy’s story will leave you empowered to move forward with purpose.

SHOW NOTES:

https://secondactsuccess.co/193

Connect with Cindy Baker:

https://www.instagram.com/cbc_cindybakercoaching/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/productivityforprofits

https://www.linkedin.com/in/productivitycoachcindybaker/

https://cindybakercoaching.com/

bit.ly/procrastinationcourse

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Transcript

Second Act Success Career Podcast

Season 1 - How One ADHD Diagnosis Sparked a New Career Helping Creative Entrepreneurs Thrive | #193

Episode - #193

Host: Shannon Russell

Guest: Cindy Baker

Transcription (*created by Descript and may not be perfectly accurate) 

[00:00:00] 

Cindy Baker: There are a lot of really successful people with A DHD. I joined a business coaching program and started this business on the side while I was teaching. And it was challenging. . But, , I thought, gosh, you know, if I can do this while I have a DHD, I can really help people because if I can figure out how to manage my time and stay focused I figured out what worked, what didn't, and finally I put together this framework of kind of routines and structures and. It was a game changer. I mean, I went from being all over the place, chaos, overwhelmed to not just having that one master degree, but I got two master degrees.

, long term successful career as a level five teacher. I'm married. The love of my life. I'm a grandma now, a dog mom. and I'm running a successful business all while having a DHD and got it to the point where I could retire a little bit early.

Shannon Russell: Are you ready to quit your nine to five job and start a business of your own? Well, you're in the right place, my friend. Welcome to the second Act Success [00:01:00] Career podcast. I am your host Shannon Russell. I am a former television producer, turned business owner, career transition coach, and boy mom. My mission is to help you produce your best life.

This podcast will teach you how to get from where you are now to where you want to be, and how to build a business that fits your life and lights you up. Let's get started.

Hey there. Welcome back to the second Act Success Career podcast. I am your host Shannon Russell. Now, before we dive into this week's second act success story, I want to read a review left on Apple Podcast,

this review is left by Jess one, MSW. It says this is a must listen. Shannon is an incredible resource for anyone looking to transition to a new career, start their own business, or simply take control of their life and pursue their passions. As someone who was in the middle of a career pivot, this podcast has been a [00:02:00] game changer for me.

Each episode is filled with insightful interviews, practical tips, and inspiring stories that will motivate you to take the leap and create the life you've always dreamed of.

Oh, thank you so much. It is so nice for me to go on and read the comments, , and the reviews that you as a listener leave. Thank you so much to Jess for leaving that. For anyone who's listening, if you have not yet subscribed to the podcast or left a review, you can go leave a review over on Apple Podcast and now on Spotify as well.

 Now it's time to introduce you to Cindy Baker. She has a master's in counseling in over 19 years as a teacher. in the midst of teaching and counseling her students, she started to see the signs of A DHD in herself.

Cindy decided to retire early from education and start Cindy Baker coaching.

Through her business, she shares her success secrets that she has discovered in [00:03:00] her own journey as an entrepreneur with A DHD to inspire other creative professionals to leverage their brain's superpowers to become positive, prepared, and productive.

This is Cindy Baker.

Shannon Russell: Welcome to Second Act Success. Cindy Baker. I'm so glad to have you here. Thank you for having me. It's good to be here. I'm so glad to get the chance to talk to you and really hear about your second ACT success story. You began your career as a teacher,

and tell me about how your career, , evolved from there. 

Cindy Baker: Yeah, actually this is third act. started in youth ministry, when I was single, I lived in Germany and worked for, An organization called Young Life, which is an international youth ministry. 

 And they have a branch that, reaches out to military kids. So I was living in Germany, working with US kids whose parents were stationed in the army. And those kids move every three years, you know, so it was just a great program [00:04:00] for them.

We took 'em on service projects and all that stuff. So and then I did, , start as a school counselor. I have a master's in counseling and so I just switched over, took some classes to get certified as a school counselor and, then I got in a grant program to get certified to teach English as a second language in order to get the real license, you had to.

Teach and they wouldn't count school counseling. So I kind of transitioned over to teaching and I ended up getting, , different jobs along the way. It all ended up in middle school, so a little crazy. 

Shannon Russell: Oh yeah. I have a middle schooler, so I know that's a tricky age. 

Cindy Baker: So 19 years, I just retired. 

The last thing I did was I taught seventh grade ELA. Mm. So, but about, five years ago, I guess, or actually before the pandemic, I started to think, you know, I really just wanna work for myself. And, um, I've always kind of had that entrepreneurial spirit. I started a, a lifestyle and travel blog, and then the [00:05:00] pandemic hit and people stopped traveling and I stopped traveling.

That kind of went on hold and I sort of evolved into coaching. As I was working with adolescents, I was working with a lot of kids that had a DHD and their parents. And I, I kept thinking. I recognize all these symptoms I only knew about kids getting diagnosed. Nowadays it's pretty common. You hear adults getting diagnosed a lot. When I was growing up, nobody talked about it except, , in reference to boys. Hyper boys and you put 'em on Ritalin and stick 'em in a corner, you know.

But, a quiet, smart girl just wasn't on anybody's radar. , I was a high achiever, but I was struggling, you know, because I, I think I was trying to overcompensate for all these. Challenges that I had, which now I understand are because of A DHD and. You know, it takes a toll on your self-esteem, because you get criticized for different things.

You know, why can't you just get it together? And I'm like, I dunno. [00:06:00] So I finally, , as an adult just figured out, Hey, I can go to a psychologist or at least get tested to see. And, and they were like, yeah, textbook. You have A-D-H-D-I was like, really? You know, 'cause I, I always thought, again, as a teacher, I, I'm thinking of kids who are struggling, 

Shannon Russell: right?

And 

Cindy Baker: I, I always made good grades, so I didn't fit my stereotype, you know? And now, uh, I realize that there are a lot of really successful people with A DHD. So, I joined a business coaching program and started this business on the side while I was teaching. And it was challenging. . But, , I thought, gosh, you know, if I can do this while I have a DHD, I can really help people because if I can figure out how to manage my time and stay focused and, and I did, I tried, I knew about kids, but I thought, you know, I gotta learn everything I can about adult A DHD. 

Shannon Russell: Mm-hmm. So I 

Cindy Baker: read books and went to seminars and I tried things. I figured out what [00:07:00] worked, what didn't, and finally I put together this framework of kind of routines and structures and. It was a game changer. I mean, I went from being all over the place, chaos, overwhelmed to not just having that one master degree, but I got two master degrees.

, long term successful career as a level five teacher. It's the highest rated you could be for 19 years. It's the longest I've done anything, you know? Right. I'm married. The love of my life. I'm a grandma now, a dog mom. and I'm running a successful business all while having a DHD and got it to the point where I could retire a little bit early.

 I'm making it sound simple. It was not simple, but, , I was working nights and weekends and I tried very hard to give my all to my employer because, you know, that's an ethical thing to do. 

Shannon Russell: Mm-hmm. 

Cindy Baker: , so I wouldn't work on things. Except for maybe my lunch break or something like that wouldn't work on my business at school.

Which just made it pile [00:08:00] up. And so I had to be very intentional about my time , so I'm very happy to not be doing both now, 

 So many questions, but once you got your diagnosis, did you feel like it changed anything in you because you didn't seem to struggle in your career?

Shannon Russell: Obviously going for your master's degrees and being so involved and such a high level teacher, did you ever find your routine as a teacher or a counselor? , difficult for you? 

Cindy Baker: Yes. I didn't know. Why. I think I just worked 10 times harder than everyone else, you know?

Yeah. But definitely changed the way that I did things. And so even though I was on successful outwardly. Before I got my diagnosis, there was a cost, you know, and there's, there's a high cost, , stress mostly.

 Because you're, you're constantly, you're feeling like you're a little hamster on, you're wearing yourself out, running, running, running, running, but you're not getting anywhere. And I kept feeling like. [00:09:00] And not to say teaching's not, I mean, it's a great profession, but for me, I felt like I wasn't meeting my potential.

And so I was frustrated. You know, I kept thinking, there's, there's something more out there. Especially after living overseas and being part of the military, there's big things that are bigger than me, you know? I just was antsy for something, something else, and so. you know, a DHD people are not good at long-term planning.

Mm-hmm. Because everything's kinda like now or not now in their brain. Yeah. You know, that's why you, you know, you tell a kid is this is doing a week, and their brain says, oh, not now. I don't have to think about it. I'm right. And then the night before, they're like. Oh shoot. 

Shannon Russell: Yeah. 

Cindy Baker: Do tomorrow. You know, and they go crazy at the last minute.

Well, that's a stressful way to live and it's not as effective. And a lot of, I work with a lot of entrepreneurs and a lot of them do that. They live from emergency to emergency. They procrastinate and they wait until there's this imminent [00:10:00] deadline that kind of gives 'em that dopamine hit and kicks 'em outta gear.

And then they, they, you know, they'll lie about it and say, oh, I work better under pressure. 

Shannon Russell: So you have all this experience working with children who have a DHD.

Then you get diagnosed, and what made you think that you wanted to start working with adults? Was it just your own education, learning yourself, what it meant to be or to have that diagnosis and how you could better your life, and then you started thinking about how you could maybe help others. 

Cindy Baker: Yeah, I mean, it was a combination.

 Once I did start to figure out what, what works 

Shannon Russell: mm-hmm. 

Cindy Baker: I would give other people suggestions or whatever and I'm like, wait, this works for them too. And, and they don't even have to have a DHD. These are just great productivity hacks and 

we can all use. Yeah. And then, you know, part of it too was just a, a business decision.

There's so many people already doing things for adolescents that I thought, you know, [00:11:00] I wanna do something different. Now, you hear about a whole lot of A DHD coaches online, but when I started the business. It really was, was not a thing, you know? , the market wasn't as crowded and I was trying to find something that's different that would make me stand out so I could make money, you know?

 I didn't wanna be a beginner doing what everybody else is doing. , but all of that experience, working with kids, it comes into play in the counseling degree and all of that. Has has put me way ahead right. Than I would've been if I'd just started from 

Shannon Russell: scratch.

 It's a nice thread through all of your experience, all of your education leading to leading you to where you were. Yeah. I've always been in 

Cindy Baker: helping professions, so it's, 

Shannon Russell: yes, 

Cindy Baker: You know, I'm not gonna get rich off of this business probably. I mean, who knows? But it gives me satisfaction to know. That I'm helping somebody. There's no reason for anybody else to have to go through what I went through. I've already done all the trial and error for them, and so when people come [00:12:00] into my coaching program, I. You know, I can, I could catch 'em up really quickly.

Yeah. And they could get results faster and easier with help, you know, because a lot of people just, they get down on themselves and they think, well, I don't have what it takes. I think they do. That's just, nobody's shown 'em how before. 

Shannon Russell: They need the tools that you can share. 

Cindy Baker: Yeah. And it's, it's inspiring, you know, to see that the hope.

Pop up in their face when they realize there's another way to live. I don't have to be stressed out all the time, you know?

Shannon Russell: And you started the business while you were still teaching. While you were still working. When did you actually decide to get out of the school building altogether? Yeah. This, 

Cindy Baker: this is my first year. To not be teaching. 

Shannon Russell: Oh, congratulations. Retired 

Cindy Baker: at the end of last May. So yeah, it was a little bit early. I'm gonna give away my age on your podcast. I just turned 60, which would've been full retirement age, but, so I was 59 and a half.

So it really didn't, , didn't [00:13:00] hurt me that much. But I cut my income in half, which kinda lit a fire under me. I'm like, okay. So now instead of just coaching, I've branched out into speaking.

And that's really something that I like doing. And, I wrote my first book, 

Shannon Russell: congrats 

 So that I was able to do these things that I kind of had on hold while I was teaching and while I was teaching I could, do a webinar, I could lead a zoom call, things like that.

Cindy Baker: But I couldn't, I wouldn't be able to have this podcast in the middle of the day. Mm-hmm. You know, I missed, I missed a lot of things, but most of the time I can pick my hours now don't work at night. I cook dinner for my husband and I might. Post on social media or something like that while we're watching tv, and so that's, that's been, that's been really good.

And the speaking, I think is, is just an extension of teaching. 

Shannon Russell: Yes. 

Cindy Baker: You know, I'm, I'm a pretty good speaker. I just want a speaking [00:14:00] contest. So won first place. So I've been really practicing trying to go in that, and of course that's not the only thing I'm gonna do, but it would get the word out about my coaching.

That way I can help more people. 

Shannon Russell: What do you speak on, Cindy? Is it productivity hacks for A DHD entrepreneurs specifically, or do you speak in other topics? 

Cindy Baker: It's just for, mostly entrepreneurs that are struggling with distraction, including A DHD people, but it's not specifically they're a DHD friendly strategies.

I teach people how to work with the way their brain is wired, but it's not, just for people with A DHD now, a lot of entrepreneurs have those symptoms. That out of the box thinking, the creativity, the hyper focus, you know, problem solving, taking risks, all of that. My keynote, speech is called Focusing Your Way to Fortunes. About how to leverage your brain for business success. If you can [00:15:00] manage your attention and your focus, you can make more money in your business 'cause you'll have clarity.

 It's kind of a, a cross between, , time management, productivity and business tips, you know? 

Shannon Russell: Well, as an entrepreneur, I feel like we are so creative that we get one idea and wanna go after it.

And the other idea, I wanna go after it, that I see even in my own experience of having so many different projects, I wanna work on that it is hard to focus mm-hmm. On what. You want to do at the moment, and therefore nothing gets done. Right. Right. Because you're just all over the place. So I'm sure that what you're teaching and what your framework, teaches people is to focus, okay, you might have all these ideas, but focus on this one so that you get it done, can make money off of it, and then move on to the next.

Is that right? 

Cindy Baker: Absolutely right. When you dilute your focus and you're trying to do too many things, you don't do anything well. 

Shannon Russell: Right? 

Cindy Baker: I have a, A method, , which is this focused sprint method it's called focus, [00:16:00] F-O-C-U-S. And it's really three steps. You find your energy.

 Zone. So you kind of notice maybe for a couple of days when, when am I the most mentally alert? When am I the most physically, energetic feeling, and when am I not? And, write that down and you wanna work on your most important tasks when you have the most energy, right?

Shannon Russell: Mm-hmm. 

Cindy Baker: do that first and then you, you pick your tasks. And I did not make up this analogy, but I love the, the illustration of seeing your life like a jar and your tasks or the rocks, the pebbles in the sand.

Shannon Russell: Mm-hmm. 

Cindy Baker: And so you, you pick three big rocks. Just three, that's it. Every day. And I like to write 'em down, the day before and put 'em on my desk. So when I come in. I can focus right away, but you do those things first and all the other stuff can come later.

 And then I teach people how to, just to focus, sprint.

Cindy Baker: I suggest 25 minutes to start, which is kinda like [00:17:00] the Pomodora method. 

Shannon Russell: Yes. 

Cindy Baker: So you set a timer and you get rid of all your distractions, put your phone in the other room, and then you just, you pick. One of those rocks and you just focus intensely for 25 minutes. 

Shannon Russell: Mm-hmm. And 

Cindy Baker: you might have to put noise canceling headphones.

You might have to tell your family to leave you alone. Whatever you gotta do. And you'll be amazed at how much you get done. And just 25 minutes when you're focused and not distracted. And then you take a little break, get up, walk around, and just do several cycles of that.

Once you get into the habit of doing it, it gets kind of addictive. 'cause you're like, gosh, I got so much done. And it's motivating. 

Shannon Russell: Cindy, I wrote my book and my coach, the group I was in to write my book, did that 25 minute writing sprints. And I'm telling you, like you said, it is, it was so great to actually at the end of that feel like, wow, I got a chapter done.

 So I agree with you. You had 

Cindy Baker: a double whammy because you had accountability as well. Yes, you're [00:18:00] right. So if you can do this with another person, even if it's virtually, I. Yep. That's even more effective. 

Shannon Russell: Yeah, you're absolutely right. 

Cindy Baker: I always tell people waiting for motivation is never a good strategy, right? Because it's not gonna just descend upon you when the wind blows a certain way.

 You have to learn how to. Do stuff when you're not feeling like it. And when you're uncomfortable. And when you have a DHD, it's not a lack of willpower or laziness or whatever. We actually have a neurological condition where the dopamine is not released like it is in everyone else's brain. And so other people can be like, okay, I gotta do this.

I'm, I'm just gonna do it. But a DHD person, it's like, , trying to trudge through, , quicksand. Oh yeah. You know, it just feels like, oh my gosh. You know, so, sometimes you just have to do the next right thing in front of you. Just a tiny little thing. 

 Know, that's a win. 

Shannon Russell: That brings me to really starting a second act and when someone is ready to make that leap [00:19:00] or leave the classroom or create that business and it's uncomfortable, I.

And it holds a lot of people in that quicksand and just, , I know I wanna do it. I know I don't like where I am, but I am afraid I'm stuck. What if I'm not successful? A lot of your productivity tips can help that person get just a little further over that, that starting line to start taking those steps to create that second act for themselves.

Just like you did when starting the business while you were working is let me test the waters and. See, so what advice would you have for someone who's thinking about maybe leaving their job and starting a business, but they have that really crazy fear and they're just not sure that they can get it going?

Cindy Baker: That's a great question because, , it's different for everybody. 

Shannon Russell: Mm-hmm. 

Cindy Baker: But I do think there are a lot of. Gurus out there that encourage people to quit too soon. Yes. Thank you. You know, there's no safety net, in today's economy. [00:20:00] that that's not a good idea. 

Shannon Russell: No. 

Cindy Baker: And so, but what you can do, especially like if you're in a toxic work environment, you can take that negative energy and use it as fuel to.

Push towards your goal, now I was in a good school system, but I really didn't wanna be there forever. 

Shannon Russell: Yeah. 

Cindy Baker: And I, I was frustrated they changed my job all the time and every time you change a grade or change a subject you're teaching, it's stressful.

And I was like, I'm tired of this, you know? Yeah. Um. Now they just saw it as, oh, great, Cindy can teach everything. And, but it was taking a toll on me. But instead of getting bitter and irritated, I just used that. And I'm like, the sooner I can get my business profitable, the sooner I can quit teaching. You know?

And of course part of that too was that I have a very, supportive husband. I know I couldn't have done it without him, , but, you do have to just kinda weigh the, 

the pros and cons, and you need some success, financial [00:21:00] success and, and people in your world before you quit your job. Mm-hmm. So if you've not made any sales in your business, and it's still just an idea, don't quit your job. 

But what could we live on, and maybe, if we get it to this point, then you can quit. We can try it for a year. And if it doesn't work, then you, you'll have to get a part-time job or something like that. Mm-hmm. You know? That's the thing too.

If you have marketable skills, you can always go back to work. I mean, I. Take teaching. There's a teacher shortage all across the country. If you left on good terms and you keep good relationships, you didn't burn any bridges, right?

Then if things don't work out. You can go back to work. I mean, I know you don't want to, but you can. 

Shannon Russell: I, I appreciate you saying that so much because I think a lot of people don't wanna think about that as an option. But I always say if you're flexible and you don't burn a bridge, that is an option.

And you know what, say that happened knocking on wood, [00:22:00] Cindy, but say a year from now you really feel like your business hasn't grown to where you want it to be. If that was the case, you can say, you know what? I tried it, so check that box. I tried it.

I'll never have regrets, but you know what, I can go back and teach for another couple years and it's not going to kill me. So it's kind of, if you can look at taking that leap with those glasses on saying, you know what, yeah, I wanna know if I can make it work and if I can't, it's okay. You leave.

You're one profession to go into something else, you still have those skills and that experience. Mm-hmm. I was a television producer, I can still go back and produce TV tomorrow. So you are still that person and can get that job again if you, if you want to. For some people, I think that gives them some reassurance to take the leap and, and start their second act.

Cindy Baker: Yeah. And there's a lot of different, combinations of scenarios too. Let's say you quit your job and you can't really make enough money in your entrepreneur endeavor or whatever you're [00:23:00] doing, that doesn't mean you have to stop your business.

You could go back to work and just do it part-time again but you've learned a lot along the way. And, and you don't have to stay in the same job from, you know, college till retirement, you don't have to say where you don't feel good because you can still try that.

Shannon Russell: You have to see what fits you and your family and your lifestyle too. 

Cindy Baker: Yeah. Because the best thing you can give other people is a healthy you. Mm-hmm. So you have to look out for yourself. And, and I'm not gonna say I was a hundred percent healthy while I was working two jobs.

I was hired, you know, I also knew it was temporary. You know, it was a means to an end. 

Shannon Russell: Well, great advice that you're giving. And so you've made this transition, you've got this business. You're speaking, you have a book coming out.

What's next for you? If you can look ahead, five years from now, where, where will you be in your business? 

Cindy Baker: Yeah, well, I really, wanna develop the speaking. I wanna have more opportunities for paid, , live speaking events. You know, I do a lot of virtual summits and [00:24:00] things like that, but I really want more opportunities, uh, live.

Shannon Russell: Yes. 

Cindy Baker: My plan is that that's book one of a three part series, what's the name of the book? focus to Fortune, which is also the name of my coaching program. 

 I would see that continuing and growing and helping more people. 

Shannon Russell: Great. I love it. Well, where are all the places that my listeners can connect with you? 

Cindy Baker: I'll give you the link to a free course. I'll let your listeners have on how to beat procrastination. It's, wait no more.net, but you can put that in the show notes.

Fantastic. , my website is cindy baker coaching.com. It's also my email cindy@cindybakercoaching.com. I'm on socials, Instagram. I'm CBC underscore Cindy Baker Coaching. I have a free Facebook group I'll give the link to as well.

 I do training for free every week in the Facebook group. 

Shannon Russell: Oh, wonderful. Oh 

Cindy Baker: yeah. 

Shannon Russell: Great. I'll link to everything. This was such a fascinating conversation. I [00:25:00] think everything that you've gone through, everything that you teach really can be applied to every entrepreneur, every employee out there, , to really better their lives and their work.

So thank you so much, Cindy, for all that you've shared. Thank you for having me. I've enjoyed it. 

Thank you for joining us. I hope you found some gems of inspiration and some takeaways to help you on your path to second act, success. To view show notes from this episode, visit second act success.co. Before you go, don't forget to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a single episode. Reviews only take a few moments and they really do mean so much.

Thank you again for listening. I'm Shannon Russell. And this is second act success.