1. Break the Cycle of Overwhelm: Some ADDers continually function, or desperately try to function, in an overwhelmed state. They frantically try to get on top,  until overwhelm dumps them into a burnout state, which leads to more overwhelm. They find they are either going at high speed or paralyzed from the burnout. Living at the high speed, leads to the burnout.
2.  
   Work WITH Your AD/HD Instead of Against it: Because of ADHD, you may have to do things differently. Discover your learning style. Some people actually need to be moving to pay attention; moving may be what turns on their “attention.” Fidgeting has always been associated with NOT paying attention, but for some, it’s what helps them attend.
3. Adjust Your Attitude: To be successful, stop looking at all you do wrong and the fixes you have to make, and look at what you do right!  If you know details can derail you, then try to delegate whenever possible or accept what you can do as “good enough”. No one is perfect, so let go of it, and become OK with yourself. Enjoy being creative and an idea generator!
4. Become Organized Enough to Reach Your Goals: Time management and organization are often THE big challenges for people with ADHD, but the successful ADD'er can manage well enough to be organized on the really important stuff, i.e. his or her desk might be messy most days, but as long as she/he can manage time well enough to reach goals, he/she's okay.
5. Live out Loud!  Successful people with ADHD take risks.  When they want something, they go for it!  For example, some people are intimidated at the thought of taking up a new hobby late in life, while some people with ADHD DO it.  They eagerly and often try new things, and succeed often.  What is challenging excites them, and they push through the challenges.

Those with ADHD who are often not successful, are too often focusing on character flaws and miss yet another opportunity. They are engaging in the negative self-talk that debilitates them, stressing over never completed “to do”  lists. Successful, “recovered” ADDers have DO lists!