FAQs: Anchored Leadership
for ADHD Operators
Your Questions, Answered.
Find Clarity for Your Operational Leadership.
Welcome to the Anchored for Growth FAQ page.
Here, we answer common questions about our approach, our programs,
and how we help startup COOs and operational leaders with ADHD transform chaos into clarity.
About Anchored for Growth
This section covers the “big picture” of Anchored for Growth — our mission, our unique philosophy, and the core concepts you’ll see across our programs and content.
Anchored for Growth is dedicated to empowering startup COOs, Integrators, and Heads of Operations who have (or suspect they have) ADHD.
We provide battle-tested systems, strategic guidance, and a supportive framework to help you master your role, align with your founder, and lead with confidence, turning your neurodiversity into your greatest advantage.
Anchored Leadership is our philosophy for operational leaders. It means consistently providing stability, clarity, and focus for your team and organization. It’s about building resilient systems, driving strategic execution, and cultivating a calm, confident mindset, enabling you to be the bedrock for sustainable growth. We embody this through our Anchor & Balloon metaphor for the ideal Founder/CEO and COO partnership.
My approach is unique because it blends deep experience as a startup Co-Founder & COO with an expertise in ADHD-friendly strategies.
Most executive coaches don’t truly understand the neurodivergent brain, and most ADHD coaches haven’t sat in the high-pressure operator’s seat. I’ve done both. I provide hands-on mentorship and co-create systems specifically designed to leverage ADHD strengths and mitigate its challenges.
About ADHD & Leadership
Here, we dive into our specialized focus. These questions address how we view ADHD in a leadership context and the specific challenges we help neurodivergent operators overcome.
No, not at all. While many of my clients have a formal diagnosis, many others strongly suspect they have ADHD or simply resonate deeply with the challenges we address—like Time Optimism, Shiny Object Syndrome, or difficulties with Task Initiation and Emotional Dysregulation. Our programs are designed for brains that struggle with traditional productivity methods, regardless of a formal label.
We focus on practical, real-world challenges such as managing founder friction and idea tornadoes, overcoming the Fixer’s Trap, improving focus amidst constant distractions, building sustainable systems for delegation and accountability, and navigating intense emotions like RSD (Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria).
We leverage the inherent strengths often associated with ADHD—like hyperfocus, intense creativity, rapid problem-solving, and resilience (see the glossary)—by building ADHD-friendly systems.
This allows you to channel your unique energy into strategic leadership, rather than getting bogged down by common executive function challenges. We view your brain wiring as an asset to be understood and optimized, not a deficit.
Because I have lived it. My entire career as a co-founder and COO was spent navigating my own inattentive-type ADHD while partnering with a brilliant, hyperactive-impulsive visionary. I know the specific friction that arises—the “idea tornado,” the challenge of translating creative chaos into a linear plan, and the intense pressure on the operator to be the grounding force.
I don’t just “coach” this dynamic; I built a playbook from a decade of real-world experience. I focus here because I know I am one of the few people uniquely qualified to help this exact type of leader succeed.
This is a common and valid fear. Traditional coaching often relies on willpower and memory, which are executive function challenges for those with ADHD. My approach is different. We don’t just talk; we build. We co-create simple, visual, and external systems, checklists, and frameworks that you can rely on when your brain feels scattered. We build the “scaffolding” outside of your head, so your success isn’t dependent on “just remembering” or “trying harder.”
Apps and books are excellent tools, but they are not a system. You can have the best tools in the world, but I wouldn’t want to live in a house that was built without a blueprint.
The problem for most overwhelmed operators isn’t a lack of tools; it’s the lack of a simple, reliable operating system to plug those tools into. My coaching provides the blueprint and the hands-on guidance to build that system, tailored to your brain and your business.
Do you want to spend YOUR time reading or implementing? Do you spend more time making your Notion look amazing instead of actually using it?
About 1-on-1 Executive Coaching
This section details our high-touch, fully customized private coaching. It’s for leaders who need a dedicated, confidential strategic partner to solve their most complex challenges.
My private 1-on-1 coaching is for experienced COOs and Operations Managers who need a dedicated, confidential, and highly customized strategic partner. It’s ideal if you have highly specific, complex challenges, prefer intensive personalized attention, or are looking for long-term strategic advisory and thought partnership.
My 1-on-1 engagements are typically a minimum of 3-6 months, often extending into longer-term partnerships. This allows us to build deep trust, implement lasting systems, and ensure sustainable transformation in your leadership and company operations.
Often, in the beginning, we may meet weekly and as time goes on we may extend to bi-weekly or even monthly, depending on your needs.
It’s best to start with a Clarity Call and we can go from there.
Let’s be honest, this is my favorite question!
The first step is to schedule a Clarity Call. This complimentary 30-minute session allows us to discuss your current challenges, clarify your goals, and determine if a 1-on-1 partnership is the right fit for your unique needs.
A truly great operational leader is a force multiplier for the entire organization. This private coaching partnership is the most direct path to unlocking that potential.
Short Answer: Given the customized nature, direct access, and tailored results, a typical 3-month engagement starts at $5,000.
Because every engagement is fully customized to your specific needs and goals, I do not have a flat rate. The investment is discussed after our initial Clarity Call, once we have mutually agreed that a partnership is the right fit.
This investment reflects the dedicated, personalized attention you receive, ensuring every session and strategy is crafted to your unique needs.
Executive coaching is important because the COO/Operator role is one of the most isolating jobs in a company. You have no true peers. A coach provides a confidential, objective space to solve your toughest problems without judgment. It’s a tool to break through plateaus, gain new perspectives, and hold you accountable to the high-level strategic work you know you should be doing, instead of just fighting fires.
A successful coaching partnership will give you tangible results. My clients move from being overwhelmed and reactive to being anchored and strategic. You will get:
- Clarity: A clear, aligned plan with your Founder/CEO.
- Systems: A simple, reliable operating system for your team and yourself.
- Time: More time to focus on strategic work by learning to delegate effectively.
- Confidence: The tools and mindset to manage your ADHD, lead your team, navigate challenges with less stress, and overcome Imposter Syndrome.
- Leverage: You will become a force multiplier for your organization, not a bottleneck. Learn how to delegate and lead effectively.
It’s a simple, structured process. It starts with a complimentary Clarity Call to see if we’re a good fit.
If we move forward, we begin with a 90-minute “Deep Dive” session to build your personalized roadmap. From there, we typically meet for 1-on-1 coaching calls every one or two weeks to tackle your specific challenges, build your systems, and ensure you are making consistent progress toward your goals. You also have ongoing access to me between sessions for support.
About The Anchored Operators Accelerator (Group Coaching)
Learn about our 12-week group cohort program. This is for operators who want a proven, structured curriculum and the power of a supportive peer community.
This 12-week live group coaching program is for startup COOs, Integrators, or Heads of Operations (generally at companies under $10M ARR) who have ADHD or strongly resonate with its traits. It’s for leaders ready to implement a structured operating system, leverage the power of a peer community, and receive direct coaching in a high-impact group setting.
Learn More: The Anchored Operators Accelerator
The Anchored Operators Accelerator is a live, cohort-based program, not a passive, self-study course. You’ll participate in weekly live coaching calls, get direct feedback from me, and be part of a private community with other neurodivergent operators facing similar challenges. It’s designed for active implementation and peer support, leading to real, measurable change.
Yes, each cohort of the Anchored Operators Accelerator is intentionally kept small (typically limited to 10 participants) to ensure a high-touch experience, personalized attention, and a strong sense of community. This allows for in-depth hot-seat coaching and robust peer interaction.
To join the next cohort, please apply for a Discovery Call through the program’s sales page. This short conversation ensures the Anchored Operators Accelerator is the perfect fit for your goals and helps us maintain the quality of the cohort.
- Private Executive Coaching (1-on-1) is a deep, intensive, and highly personalized experience tailored completely to your specific challenges and goals. It’s the fastest path to transformation.
- The Anchored Operators Accelerator (Group) provides the benefit of peer learning and community. You get expert-led coaching on core AFG principles while sharing challenges and gaining diverse perspectives from other operational leaders in similar situations.
About Josh Massey (Your Coach)
You’re not just investing in a program; you’re investing in a partnership. These answers give you insight into my background, my philosophy, and why I am uniquely qualified to help you succeed.
Founder: Anchored For Growth &
Your New Coach
My qualifications come from a unique blend of over two decades of real-world experience, academic training, and personal journey.
I’ve been a full-time founder, a multi-time COO, and an expat entrepreneur.
I earned a Master’s degree in Entrepreneurship, Leadership, and Innovation and was a college professor teaching entrepreneurship. I also earned a 3rd degree black belt in martial arts, which laid the foundation for for my self-discipline and persistence and has made me a better COO.
Crucially, my later-in-life ADHD diagnosis gives me a deep, firsthand understanding of the unique challenges and strengths of the visionary leaders I serve.
I do not have a traditional coaching certification, and that is a deliberate choice. While many coaching programs offer a high-quality framework, my value as a coach isn’t theoretical; it comes from real-world, lived experience.
I am a co-founder and former startup COO who has actually built a company, raised venture funding, and managed a team—all while navigating my own ADHD.
I coach from a playbook I built in the trenches, not just one I learned in a classroom. My clients choose me because they want to learn from someone who has already walked their path and successfully solved their exact problems.
I focus on this dynamic because I’ve lived it from both sides—as an operator with ADHD and as a coach to visionary, often ADHD-driven, CEOs. Generic advice often fails in these environments. My firsthand experience allows me to provide empathetic, practical, and tailored strategies that work with neurodivergent wiring, not against it. I help leaders harness the creative superpowers of ADHD while building the anchored systems needed for sustainable focus and growth.
My philosophy is “let’s build it together.” This is not the kind of coaching where I just ask you vague questions and wait for you to find the answers. I am a hands-on mentor and a strategic partner.
My goal is to work with you to co-create and implement the practical, ADHD-friendly systems your leadership needs. I share my experience, my playbooks, and my insights from years of being in the operator’s seat.
My decades of martial arts training are the bedrock of my coaching philosophy. As a 3rd-degree black belt in HapKiDo, I learned that mastery comes from disciplined, consistent practice of the fundamentals—the same is true for business systems. Styles like HapKiDo and Jeet Kun Do taught me to “be like water,” redirecting chaotic energy (from a founder or a crisis) rather than just resisting it.
This, combined with overcoming my own physical limitations, has given me a deep understanding of resilience, adaptability, and the power of building a system that works with your natural strengths, not against them.
Coaching Logistics & Next Step FAQs
Ready to take the next step? This section explains how to get in touch, what to expect, and how to access our free resources.
Titles vary, especially in growing companies. If you are the person responsible for translating vision into execution, managing day-to-day operations, and acting as the second-in-command or operational backbone of the company, this coaching is for you, regardless of your official title.
I work with new managers, established managers, operations managers, assistant managers, heads of operations, COO’s…
For the 1-on-1 program, expect to commit to a 60-minute coaching session each week for 12 weeks. You should also plan for 1-2 hours per week between sessions to reflect on and implement the actionable steps we develop together. Growth happens when you apply the learning.
You are ready for coaching if you are:
- View coaching as a valuable investment, not just an expense.
- Aware that there’s a gap between where you are and where you want to be.
- Willing to be open, honest, and vulnerable about your challenges.
- Ready to take action and be held accountable for your growth.
I personally review every application. If it seems like we might be a good fit, I’ll email you a link to schedule your complimentary 15-30 minute Clarity Call. On that call, we’ll discuss your goals, you can ask any remaining questions, and we’ll decide together if moving forward is the right next step. There is no pressure or sales pitch.
Of Course! We offer a growing library of blog posts, frameworks, and tools designed specifically for operators with ADHD.
You can also subscribe to Anchored Insights, our monthly newsletter, for one high-value email per month with actionable systems and leadership insights—no fluff, no spam.
The best first step is to schedule a complimentary Clarity Call. We’ll explore your current challenges and goals together, and I can help you determine whether 1-on-1 coaching, the group accelerator, or even starting with some of our free resources would be the best path forward for you.
