10 Realities of Running an Adventure Travel Company with ADHD
This summer, on our final trip of the season, I found myself chatting to Chris — the very first guide I ever asked to run a Sidetracked trip. We were sitting together reflecting on how the season had gone, and I realised something big: this has been one of the loveliest summers yet.
Why? Because around 90% of the trips I guided or joined were Sidetracked ones. And when I’m out there with our community — brilliant guides, wonderful people, wild places — I feel like the best version of myself.
But behind the mountain views, the wilderness cabins, and the dreamy photos, running your own adventure travel company (with ADHD in the mix) is a lot messier, funnier, and more complicated than it looks.
Here are 10 realities I’ve learned along the way:
1. I’m an ideas machine 💡
Creativity is my superpower. Give me one coffee and suddenly I’ve mapped out a whole new Arctic expedition or dreamed up a wild cooking ski tour. Of course, not every idea is practical (or even remotely good 😂), but the flow of ideas is what keeps Sidetracked moving.
2. The “FUCK It” Fund 💸
I screw up. A lot. Sometimes things cost way more than expected, and sometimes I miss something important. Having a little buffer fund — my “fuck it” fund — has been the only way to stay calm when chaos hits.
3. Six years in… and still learning
It’s taken me six winters to finally feel like I’m actually good at this. Before that? A lot of winging it, doubting myself, and quietly waiting for someone to tap me on the shoulder and say: “You don’t know what you’re doing.”
4. Feedback hits hard
One tough review can feel like being hit by a truck. That’s why I care so much about making sure everyone has the best possible time. It’s exhausting, but also deeply rewarding. I have learnt that I can’t always control how everything goes and that feedback can be constructive and really help push us forward.
5. Inconsistent drive vs. consistency needed
Some days I can work 14 hours straight without blinking, other days I can barely answer an email. But travel businesses demand consistency — guests, partners, guides all rely on it. Balancing my ADHD rhythms with the needs of the business is still very much a work in progress.
6. A 9–5 was never going to work for me
I’ve always known that a “normal” office job wouldn’t suit me. Building Sidetracked around my unique skills and ways of working was the only option. That doesn’t mean I knew what the hell I was doing — far from it — but it was the right fit. Being in charge of my own schedule is amazing… though it also means there’s no real switch-off. And that’s okay.
7. It’s not always about money
I’ve got to run this business my way. Sometimes that means saying yes to trips or projects that won’t make big profits — simply because I love them. Passion doesn’t always show up in a spreadsheet, and that’s fine with me.
8. Building a team has been the biggest game-changer
In the early years it was just me (and my doubtful brain), constantly second-guessing if I could pull this off. What’s made the difference is surrounding myself with amazing people — guides I looked up to, respected, and wanted to create work for. Building Sidetracked has never just been about me; it’s about creating something meaningful for others too.
9. Leadership can be soft
You don’t need to shout the loudest or act the bossiest to be a leader. I’ve learned that leadership can be quiet, supportive, and rooted in trust — and still be powerful. Sometimes the softest kind of leadership is the most impactful.
10. It’s personal, always ❤️
This business isn’t just my job, it’s part of me. The highs are euphoric, the lows feel crushing. But the people I’ve met, the wild places we’ve explored, and the community we’ve built make every challenge worth it.
A final reflection
If I could go back and talk to the version of me who started Sidetracked, I’d tell her this: you’re not broken. The quirks you’re embarrassed about are the same reasons you’re running a successful business today.
And maybe that’s the real reality of it all — we don’t need to “fix” ourselves to build something meaningful. We just need to build it in a way that works for us.