If you've ever Googled “strategic planning tools” and instantly regretted it, you’re in good company.
There are literally thousands of frameworks, canvases, templates, and systems out there. The One-Page Business Plan. The Business Model Canvas. The Kaleidoscope Method. The 90-Day Plan. Vision Traction Organizers. And some that look like they were built by someone trapped inside a whiteboard factory.
For ADHD entrepreneurs, this is a trap.
Most of us already have more mental tabs open than our brains can comfortably handle. Add 15 planning systems on top of that? It’s no wonder clarity evaporates and follow-through becomes impossible.
So let’s take a breath and simplify. That starts with asking better questions.
Why ADHD Brains Struggle With Too Many Planning Tools
The problem isn’t that strategic planning doesn’t work. It’s that too many frameworks create internal conflict.
Each system pulls your attention in a different direction:
- One wants you to zoom out into vision.
- One wants you to break everything into micro-steps.
- One wants you to track KPIs you’re not even sure matter.
- One wants you to create a color-coded document you will absolutely abandon.
Every added system equals one more layer of emotional and cognitive load. More tabs open. More “shoulds.” Less clarity. ADHD brains don’t thrive under complexity. They thrive under simplicity, structure, and meaning.
Which means the key isn’t adding more tools…it’s subtracting the wrong ones.
Start Here: Three Questions That Reveal the Right Strategic Tool for You
Before you jump into adopting someone else’s planning style, you need to understand your own. These three questions will get you there.
1. What helps me visualize things?
Some ADHD entrepreneurs need visual models like maps, canvases, and diagrams. Others do better with simple lists. Neither is wrong.
Ask yourself:
- Do I think better when I can see the whole picture at once?
- Or do words, lists, and short descriptions help me organize my thoughts?
If visuals help, use frameworks with structure. If text helps, use simple planning prompts and written outlines.
2. What gets me excited enough to take action?
Initiation is one of the biggest ADHD challenges. So if the planning system doesn’t spark interest, it won’t get used.
Reflect on this:
- Do I need a big-picture strategy to feel energized?
- Or do I need the big picture broken down into actionable steps?
- Do I need color, movement, and design, or absolute minimalism?
The right framework should ignite your brain, not drain it.
3. What philosophy makes sense to me?
This is massively overlooked. Every strategic planning framework is built on its own worldview:
- Some are linear.
- Some are cyclical.
- Some are project-based.
- Some are customer-journey based.
- Some are energy-based.
If the philosophy doesn’t match how you think, you’ll feel friction instead of clarity. Think of a mentor or thought leader you naturally resonate with. Ask them what they use.
Chances are, it will translate well for you, with a few ADHD-friendly adaptations.
When in Doubt, Simplify.
If you’ve been layering on tool after tool, stop. Pick one planning framework that aligns with your brain. Then remove everything else.
Clarity doesn’t come from doing more. It comes from streamlining your decision-making ecosystem so your brain has space to execute.
If you’re starting to realize you’ve been muddying your strategic waters, let this be your permission to pare back. Simple is sustainable, and sustainable is successful.
Want Help Choosing the Right Planning Framework?
At the Grow Retreat, business strategist Scott Lesnick takes entrepreneurs through a powerful process for identifying their best-fit strategic planning approach, one tailored to their brain, their business model, and their season of growth.
He doesn’t just hand you a framework. He helps you discover the one that actually works for you and then teaches you how to use it without getting overwhelmed.
If you want clarity instead of confusion, and strategy that actually sticks…
Join us in Galveston on January 15–16 for the next Grow Retreat. You’ll walk away with direction, confidence, and a plan your ADHD brain can actually follow.