“I Don’t Hustle Hard Anymore - I Align”: Jessica Tellian on ADHD, feminine energy & building a business that works with her body
by Shannon Kate Murray, Founder & Editor of High Flying DesignOn paper, Jessica Tellian shouldn’t have been the one to go viral. She was the kid in the basement classroom (basically the extra needs class tucked away downstairs - not exactly a confidence boost), labelled early with ADHD and sensory challenges. She struggled to focus, avoided speaking, and spent years trying to work like everyone else.
Today, she mentors founders across the world, runs a six-figure coaching business, and hosts a nationally recognised podcast, A Stronger You, where she speaks on mindset, self-growth, self-love, manifestation, and entrepreneurship. But more than anything, she’s known for the way she built it: not by pushing harder, but by doing it her way.
We sat down to talk about building a business that fits you, trusting your energy, and why alignment has replaced hustle as her growth strategy.
Let’s start at the beginning. What was your childhood like?
Jessica: “I grew up in New Jersey and was diagnosed young with auditory processing disorder, then ADHD. I was constantly pulled out of class, and ended up in what they literally called the "basement classroom." It made me feel broken. Like I was already behind before I even began.”
And now you're mentoring business owners around the world.
Jessica: “It still blows my mind. I used to be afraid to speak. Now I speak for a living. I don’t see my ADHD as a flaw anymore. It’s how I experience the world. I just had to stop trying to operate like everyone else.
For a long time, I let those labels define me. “You’re too sensitive. You’re too much. You’re distracted.” But those were just other people’s interpretations of something they didn’t understand. Once I realised that, I stopped trying to be ‘less’ and started asking: what if this is actually my superpower?”
You started out in fitness. What made you shift?
Jessica: “Actually, I worked as an Occupational Therapist - helping people recover after life-altering surgery. It taught me a lot about presence and energy. How you show up really matters. From there, I moved into fitness. I was a personal trainer working 14-hour days and totally burned out. I thought that was normal. But when my body hit a wall, I realised something had to change. That’s when I found mindset work, nervous system healing, and feminine energy principles. Everything started to shift.
At the time, I got recruited by Nike. I had offers from Rumble and other major brands - and I walked away. I didn’t want to build someone else’s dream. I wanted to build mine.”
You talk about building a business with your body. What does that actually look like?
Jessica: “It means knowing when you’re in a season to push, and when you’re in a season to rest. I started tracking my cycle, planning around my energy, and building systems that felt natural. Women aren’t meant to operate the same way every day. We’re cyclical. I stopped working against that and leaned into it.
A big part of that shift came from reading In the Flo by Alisa Vitti. It helped me understand my own rhythms - and how to actually work with them, not against them. That book changed how I launch, how I plan, even how I rest. I recommend it to every woman I work with.”
Was that scary at first?
Jessica: “Yes. Because the world rewards the hustle. And I was good at it. But I was also exhausted. So I started experimenting with a different approach. Slower launches. Tapping (EFT) before creating content. Actually resting. And the results didn’t drop - they exploded. My business got clearer, my income went up, and I started attracting clients who actually felt like a match.”
You’re also known for your take on manifestation. What does that mean to you?
Jessica: “It’s not just about visualising a car or a house. It’s about identity. You become the version of you who already has it. That means nervous system work. Self-concept. Deciding what you want and building safety around receiving it. That’s how you collapse time.”
Where did you first come across manifestation?
Jessica: “It was a retreat. I actually thought it was going to be an art retreat - I brought my sketchbook and everything. But it turned out to be mindset work, energy healing, and manifestation. I had no idea what I was walking into, but something in me said go. That space cracked something open in me. I remember thinking: more women need access to this.
And now, years later, I’m hosting my own retreats - most recently in the Dominican Republic. We combine movement, nervous system healing, feminine leadership and real rest.”
Were you always this confident?
Jessica: “Not at all. I used to play small. I didn’t want to make people uncomfortable. But I realised: I was shrinking myself to fit into rooms that weren’t even meant for me. Now I claim what I want. Out loud. And I help other women do the same.”
You’ve invested heavily in coaching yourself. Why was that important?
Jessica: “I’ve spent tens of thousands on coaches. And I’d do it again. It wasn’t about someone giving me answers. It was about being in the energy of someone who saw me as powerful before I saw it in myself. Every time I invested, I stretched. I took myself more seriously. I showed up differently. Coaching changed my life before it ever became my career.”
What do you think makes a good coach?
Jessica: “Someone who’s lived what they teach. Someone who can hold space without rushing to fix. And someone who reminds you of your power - not just their process. That’s what I try to be for my clients.”
You also talk a lot about feminine energy. What does that mean to you in practice?
Jessica: “Feminine energy is about receiving, not chasing. It’s softness, spaciousness, and intuition. But it’s not passive. It’s powerful. I still have structure and strategy - but it’s guided by how I feel, not just what I think I ‘should’ do. Feminine energy reminds me to pause. To listen. To let the vision come to me, not force it into being.”
What’s something you wish more women in business knew?
Jessica: “That you don’t have to trade your health, your nervous system, or your joy to be successful. That rest is a business strategy. That you’re allowed to do things differently. The most aligned businesses I’ve seen weren’t built in spreadsheets - they were built from intuition, courage, and consistency.”
What would you say to someone who doesn’t feel like they belong in the business world?
Jessica: “That makes you the perfect person to lead something new. You don’t need to perform or pretend. Build something that fits your energy. Create offers you actually want to deliver. Let it be honest. That’s what makes it sustainable.”
Jessica Tellian built her business by doing the opposite of what she was told. She stopped proving, stopped pushing, and started trusting what felt true.
Her story is proof that growth doesn’t have to mean burnout. It can mean softness. Cycles. Self-trust. And the bold decision to build a business that works with you - not against you.
