professions/areas of interest | ADHD Information

I manage twenty-eight employees and I have noticed that the ones that
(in my totally non-professional opinion) seem to have ADHD tendencies
are all in sales. Both of my outside salesmen (one actually cannot sit in a
chair at meetings, but is allowed to pace around the back of the room)
and two out of three inside salespeople. The "pacer" is older and has
figured out very well how to keep himself organized, and he can handle a
huge volume of calls, react very quickly and creatively, and deal with
many different types of personalities. The two inside guys are younger,
and are still figuring themselves out. They don't finish non-priority
projects, don't follow through on all the details, and get distracted at the
drop of a hat, but they can handle four customers at a time with six
phone lines going and they don't freeze up and panic, like my "steady and
responsible" worker. They need the adrenaline rush to accomplish
anything at all, and the more pressure there is, the better they do.

We use a personality test when hiring sales and management personnel,
and the desirable profile for sales reads a bit like a description of ADHD.

I think your daughter is at a good age to start considering her strengths,
before the peer pressure and distractions get worse. Good for you!

Do not rule out the sciences. Many of the people I work with have ADHD tendencies (and ADHD diagnosed kids ).

It takes creative problem solving,  thinking "out of the box" and some hyperfocus to get new and inovative therapies/devices to clinical practice. Also, the quirky (or geeky) behaviors are part of the package (unless it gets offensive or really irritating).

 i'm not sure where this topic should go, so i'll put it here and will take no offense if it is moved:)  i realize that my adhd child is only 9 but i have been thinking lately of trying to help her focus in areas where she has strong points and interests.  i recently had my haircut by my male hairstylist and we got to talking and he had adhd as a child and he said he was medicated.  he said that he knew that he had to choose a profession in which he could move around and talk to people.  he said that he believes that at least 50% of the stylists in his salon have some form of add/adhd.  he just said that he is so happy doing what he is doing...he would not be able to do a "desk job". 

my daughter is rather crafty...and i "professionally" scrapbook...i keep thinking i should be signing her up for more craft type classes.  my one neighbor with add is a graphic artist...and another is an awesome painter. 

anyways...it's just something to think about:) my dd just doesn't seem to have a competitive drive in her like my son.  i keep hoping that some of this will come once we figure the whole med situation out.  i guess i've been thinking of what she might be when she grows up:)  take into account her personality...her academic struggles...and her drive. (at the age of 9, which could very well change).  my husband thinks she end up being a very good salesman, because she's persistent and doesn't take "no" for an answer:)

shelley    

My daughter was not diagnosed until she reached adulthood, and she went through several jobs before she had the idea of starting her own dance studio in our small town.  She hasn't had college training in dance, but I drove her to innumerable dance classes, from the time she was 6, and she is a very good dancer.

Who knew that the dance classes would someday be the foundation of a successful dance studio/career,now in its 3rd year of operation, and growing each year.  She is now thinking of going to college for business, to help her in that side of running things.

Before she started this studio, parents would have to drive for at least 1/2 hour (20-25 miles) to get to a dance studio...one way.  Now parents can drive 5 minutes, drop off their child, run errands, or go back home, then pick them up.  There are many people who would not have their child in dance if not for Jonna.

Before the studio, I wondered what she would do with her life, nothing seemed to suit her for long.

Just keep doing what you are doing, offer her many choices, until she decides on what she loves, then make it available to her....that is what I (unknowingly) did!  And be there for support when she decides as an adult what her "niche" is...my husband and I helped her to buy a large, long empty building just off the square, and helped to build her family an apartment upstairs, and the studio downstairs, so her expenses are less than if she had a mortgage for a home and a studio. 

It is much easier for her than when she had to load up things for the nights classes, and the kids, then drop the kids at a babysitters, go and teach, then load up all the stuff to go home and go pick up the kids...now she has a sitter come to the studio, and she is right there and just walks downstairs to go to work!