From Fear to the Stage:

ADHD-Friendly Public Speaking Strategies for Entrepreneurs and Coaches

I never wanted to be a speaker. The fact that I am one still sometimes makes me stop and scratch my head.

I Never Wanted to Be a Speaker—Maybe You Feel the Same?

Are you suddenly feeling the call to get on stage when just a few years ago, the thought of public speaking made you want to throw up? Maybe you’re an ADHD entrepreneur with so many ideas but no clear direction when it comes to writing a speech.

You want it to be easy, but you’re sure it will be hard. And the last thing you want is to look stupid on stage.

I get it. That’s exactly how I felt when I was first an adult.

The Fear of Public Speaking: How I Literally Ran Away From My First Speech

I got asked to speak, and I literally turned around, ran out of the building, got in my car, and drove home.

I didn’t even answer the person who asked me to speak. It was at church. It was only a 20-minute speech, but I didn’t even let them finish the question before I bolted because I was so terrified of public speaking.

That was about the year 2000.

Obviously, I got over that fear because now I’ve spoken all over the world. I’ve spoken in London, on cruise ships, and across the United States.

And now? I love it. I’m addicted to it.

How I Overcame Public Speaking Anxiety & Found My Passion for the Stage

So, how did that happen?

Maybe you’re going through your own journey of being terrified of speaking to suddenly feeling the call to the stage. Maybe you’ve secretly dreamed of doing a TED Talk, but you haven’t told anyone.

For me, the transformation was fast and unexpected.

In January 2017, I got fired from my job due to severe depression. I went home and wallowed for three months.

Then, I got invited to a three-day life-changing seminar.

I thought, Ew, gross, no way.

When you’re in ADHD burnout or depression, the last thing you want to do is sit in a room with happy, motivated people.

But something kept nagging at me:
"Kelly, don’t you think you could use some life-changing?"

Finally, I gave in.

And that event completely changed my life.

The Event That Changed My Life

By the end of the seminar, I was crying that it was over and wanted more. I found out there was another speaker who did these personal development events every month, so I started attending two per month for the next eight months.

And something clicked.

I realized that I didn’t want to go back to a traditional job. Instead, I wanted to get up on stage and change lives.

That was completely insane and out of character for me, but I pursued it because I couldn’t stop thinking about it.

My Unexpected Journey from Speaker to Speaking Coach

I joined a one-year training program to learn the art of speaking. I got certified as a life coach. I started teaching people how to manifest.

I wrote a book, The Drive-Thru Method of Manifesting, which became an Amazon bestseller.

I launched my first podcast, The Queen of Manifesting, which you can still find on every podcast platform.

Within a year of attending those personal development seminars, I found myself on stage.

I entered a speaking contest—and won. Then, I emceed my friend’s event.

I hosted my own first two events, which were tiny. But my third event was big—I rented out a room at the Expo Center, had 45 attendees, and made $15,000 in one day.

That’s when I knew… this is for me.

The Biggest Challenges ADHD Entrepreneurs Face in Public Speaking

At first, my audience was asking about manifesting. But then, the questions changed:

• How do I write a speech when I have ADHD?

• How do I stop rambling on stage?

• How do I get out of the audience and onto the stage?

I realized my true calling was to teach others how to speak.

Writing a Speech with ADHD: How to Organize Your Ideas Without Overwhelm

One of the biggest struggles for ADHD entrepreneurs is organizing ideas into a structured speech.

But here’s the secret:
🧠 Mind Mapping for Speech Writing makes the process so much easier.

Instead of writing your speech line by line, you brain-dump ideas onto paper, then connect them visually. This reduces overwhelm and makes speechwriting ADHD-friendly.

How to Stop Rambling and Stay Focused on Stage

Do you go off on tangents? Do you forget what you were going to say? Or maybe you tend to firehose your audience with every single thing you know?

🎯 Solution: Use "The Bookend Method." Start your speech with a strong opening and loop back to it at the end. This keeps your message tight and prevents rambling.

TED Talks & ADHD: Secretly Dreaming of the Stage? Here's How to Make It Happen

Many of my ADHD clients secretly want to do a TED Talk—but they feel unqualified.

Guess what? Every TED speaker once felt that way.

🔥 Action step: Start by getting involved in local TEDx events and building your network.

Advice for ADHD Entrepreneurs Who Want to Speak

If you’re feeling the call to speak, don’t ignore it. If you have a message in your heart, people need to hear it.

Yes, your fears will creep in. You might think:

• I have so many ideas—I don’t know which one to choose!

• I’ll sound like an idiot.

• I’ll forget what to say.

• What if I ramble?

• What if my family thinks I’m crazy?

Let me tell you something:

Your fears are normal. But they don’t define you.

You Were Meant to Shine

If you’re still hesitating, let me share a quote that changed my life. It’s from Marianne Williamson, in her book A Return to Love:

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.”

“Your playing small does not serve the world.”

“As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.”

You were born to speak. You were born to change lives.

If you’re feeling the call to get on stage, I encourage you to take action.

Need Help Writing Your Speech? Download My Free Workbook

Feeling stuck on what to speak about or how to structure your talk?

🎤 I’ve created a free workbook just for you!

✔️ Step-by-step guide for finding your life stories
✔️ Exercises to narrow down who your ideal audience is
✔️ Strategies for matching your stories to your audience for the biggest impact

👉 Download it for FREE here: speakingcoachkelly.com/workbook