We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Trá R. Harriott. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Trá below.
Trá, we are so appreciative of you taking the time to open up about the extremely important, albeit personal, topic of mental health. Can you talk to us about your journey and how you were able to overcome the challenges related to mental issues? For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.
I received an ADHD diagnosis in the middle of me completing my master’s degree. Dead set middle. Worst timing EVER. Especially when the diagnosis is neurodevelopmental and I really needed my brain to function to complete school. Noticing there was a change in my executive functioning is what lead me to get assessed for ADHD. Once I received my diagnosis, I immediately began ADHD management therapy and have been consistently doing so. It helps greatly that my therapist is also someone who has ADHD, so there’s an instant rapport and level of understanding and relatability that’s comforting. After starting therapy, my school was very flexible with working with me in completing my master’s program. And with those accommodations, along with continued therapy, continued self-care, and family support, I’m proud to say that I have “MAstered It”! #classof2023.
Overcoming symptoms of mental disorders is no easy feat. The mind controls the body, so if the mind is disordered, then so will the body and by extension, your actions be. It’s even more challenging when it’s a late diagnosis. So there’s an internal struggle of who you were and doing things a certain way vs who are with this disorder and learning something new. Accepting my ADHD diagnosis meant accepting the fact that my brain no longer functioned the way it used to. The longer I rejected the new needs of my brain, the harder I was making my life. Understanding my diagnosis also meant re-learning myself. I had to understand that my diagnosis didn’t mean “I can’t”. It meant, “I can’t in that way, or the way I used to because my brain can no longer accommodate to that functioning”. Learning how to work with my brain and how it functions versus against it has made my life more manageable, in conjunction with therapy, family support, and building a community of other neurodivergent/ADHD individuals.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am a life and business coach and I specifically work with ADHD entrepreneurs in starting, managing, coaching, and supporting them in their business and entrepreneurship journey. Essentially, I get the opportunity to be who I needed to be when I started my entrepreneurship journey. I am an entrepreneur, but the start of my journey was difficult to manage because of the ADHD. Losing interest, prolonging things, feeling overwhelmed and understimulated, struggling with managing tasks, disorganization, keeping focus, etc. I completely understand those struggles and I am here to say there’s help! There’s resources. You can absolutely run a business successfully despite having ADHD.
My company, Grow & Glow Coaching Services helps ADHD entrepreneurs with the following services: vendor research (comprehensive), 1:1 coaching, accountability partnership, and more. I also offer free discovery calls so you can speak with me to see if we’re a good fit to work together. I’m really excited about what I do and it brings me joy to help others overcome their hurdles and be successful.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Looking back, the three most impactful qualities that helped me in my journey: resiliency, creativity, and perseverance. Definitely needed all three to get to where I am today. The best advice I can give to start-up entrepreneurs is to definitely invest in hiring a business coach. A business coach has been where you as entrepreneur are trying to get to. They’re helpful in advising and directing you to where you need to go as an entrepreneur as well as holding you accountable to your goals and objectives and giving you an objective, realistic perspective. Definitely don’t try to do it all unguided or by yourself. Seek mentorship.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
When I’m overwhelmed, I will step away from whatever is overwhelming me no matter what it is. I will create a space for me to decompress, which could be listening to music, going for a walk, watching funny movies, take a nap, or whatever activity I know will reset my system or make me feel better. I would advise people to pay attention to what ‘overwhelm’ looks like on them so you can acknowledge when you are and proceed to change the situation. Get in touch with what brings you peace, happiness, and enjoyment and spend more time doing what you enjoy, rather than sitting in or around what you don’t enjoy or brings stress and/or unrest.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.growandglowcoachingservices.com
- Instagram: @growandglowcoaching
- Facebook: @growandglowcoaching
