what sort of jobs do you have? | ADHD Information
I'm probably going to lose my job because of my condition, and because I do not have it under control. I'd really like to find something I can be sucessful at, any suggestions?I write computer programs for a machine that makes cutting tools. i then run the machine...I get anywhere from 10 min to 30 min of distractability time my mind can wander in between parts. Thank God for the Internet. I was lucky to land here. I outproduce most others even if I cant ever find where I put anything.Wow. That's what my ex-husband does.... If you're him, I swear I'll freak.
nah, my ex wife was anally organized she even wrote the dates she paid bills on them.Boy, I've always written the date I paid it on the bill...that way I know I've paid it. I never thought of that being anal. ?? But that's about the extent of my organization.
Jobs...well, I did best as a word processor operator, where I usually had my own little room or cubby hole, where no one would bother me. I didn't need to talk on the phone or interact much with co-workers. But it's hard to find such a job now; people have their own PCs and do their own WPing. Boo hoo.
I've lost many a job (most, in fact) because of my condition. But I wasn't dx'd then and not on meds. Perhaps it would have been different. Not working at all now, I like that best.
GypsyWomyn38363.8141666667i'm an early primary teacher. LOVE IT!!! I can actually compete with attention span. LOL.
I do rely on 6 year olds to find my stapler and tape on a daily basis. I've even had offers for them to clean off my desk. Life really is kind of fun.
I don't have to sit at desk. I do have one, but I can't sit there. There are usually books and other items that "i don't want to lose" in the chair.
[QUOTE=BOBEL] nah, my ex wife was anally organized she even wrotethe dates she paid bills on them.[/QUOTE]
Yeah, I do that too, and there is NO WAY anyone would ever accuse me of
being "anally organized"!
As for profession, I play music, which my ADD adds to, except for my
severe procrastination & disorganization.....
I have been hanging around here a short while....and I just thought I would jump in on this thread.
I am self employed because I have always needed to be. I have done this most of my life (now 48) I have always had trouble dealing with working either for or with other folks. Always best on my own. Even my business is built just for me. I work 100% alone. Arts related as I tend to be a creative sort. A guitarmaker. I gotta say though...my shop can be a disaster zone. I am embarrased when folks pop in. And if it was not for two very worn note books....I would have had to re-learn what I do a hundred times over.LOL.
Saxman.....I have been told that some of the greats have been ADD....but, for me (I am a serious player) it is not a blessing except in the creation aspect. Or jamming situations...totally off the cuff jams suit me perfectly...because I don't have to remember anything, just play from the heart.
Actually learning music to be replayed...even MY OWN music...is almost impossible for me. I can play a lick or long run...and not be able to play it again immediately after. I drives me nuts and always has...but I keep playing anyway. I am fairly new to this add game and have not medicated yet. I am hoping to improve my musical life....along with a million other things.
I have gotten a lot of good info from you folks so far....I like what you have done with the place.
TB 
I was reading a university study last weekend (I know, I know... get a life!) that had some interesting stuff in it. The study was done for a thesis at the Stockholm School of Economics. http://www.esbri.se/uppsats2_2001.pdf
Normal IQ tests aren't very good at predicting success outside of the academic arena so they were looking for cognitive characteristics that could be used to better predict if a person would be a good entrepreneur.
They chose three groups of people; a group of academics (professors, graduate students, etc.), a group of managers (executive level), and a group of successful entrepreneurs (they chose serial entrepreneurs -- people who had started several successful companies -- just to make sure they were successful.)
They found that while in the general population we would normally find 3% to 7% with ADD/ADHD, in their group of entrepreneurs they found 18% of them were definitely ADD/ADHD, and many others exhibited sysmptoms though they weren't diagnosed.
They found a couple of interesting things as well. The cognitive factor that most affected success for the entrepreneurs was the ability to hyperfocus. Most of us have experienced that at one time or another. We can focus on something that interests us and that we feel passionate about to the exclusion of all external factors. People without ADD/ADHD weren't able to do this.
Other factors included:
We tend to overestimate our abilities before strating a task, so whereas other people see potential problems, we only see opportunities. We are not flexible and don't learn from our mistakes. When our strategy doesn't work, we don't try anything else; we just keep going. In a way, we're just too dumb to quit!You can check it our yourself. I included the link to the Adobe Acrobat file above. I had to read it in little spurts because it's a scientific study and a little dry, but it does give you hope that there is something for which we are better suited than most... entrepreneurship.
WiteKnite
Wow Toy Brain, I've made a couple of guitars. I imagined it to be a very difficult way to make a living. Nobody seems to want anything that's not exactly like a Strat or Les Paul.Weren't you so super happy when you found out why?
I was so relieved.
I am in school for engineering. I do a Co-op where I go to school one semester work the next. I am at work now and am obviously distracted. I have had the plan for awhile (even before I was diagnosed) to only do engineering for 10 or so years after school until I have enough money to open my own businesses.
As far as the study done from Stockholm, I hear that. In highschool I was placed in the gifted program for scoring perfectly on the Cognitive test... 130 out of 130 which I guess was unheard of at my school. Anyways, back to day dreaming I go... I mean work.
I find that what matters most is having work that includes a variety of things to do and lets me combine my talents rather than choose between them. I didn't realize this until I read the Renaissance Soul section of www.ToGetUnstuck.com. That really clarified a lot of my issues for me. It may not apply to you, but then again, it might.
[QUOTE=floofthegoof]Wow Toy Brain, I've made a couple of guitars. I imagined it to be a very difficult way to make a living. Nobody seems to want anything that's not exactly like a Strat or Les Paul.
[/QUOTE]
...or a Martin
I am in medical school. I am going into radiology, I think, or maybe internal medicine. I am looking for a field that will keep it interesting. I am lucky, because in this field, nothing is ever the same and EVERYONE is different.
I got diagnosed for ADD my 1st year of medical school. After D's and C's in college, and A's and B's in a graduate program. I am now costing fine. I just had to find out what I had, and how to manage it. I have timers and post-it notes all around my house!
Cheers
.P
I am a computer programmer. I write code. Run code, and have quite a bit of Internet Time inbetween, kinda like right now. It works well for me. Interestingly enough, I have to say that this is only my current job though... I have had issues in keeping interest in my careers... , prior to knowing I had ADHD. I am also a Nurse, and I maintain my licensure, though I do not practice anymore, I have been in Law Enforcement as well, but wanted to do something new. I am also a Sexual Assualt Counselor, and I'm in the Miltary Reserves as a Military Police Officer. I like to keep busy, huh? Seriously I hate to sblame my vastness of careers on my ADHD, but now knowing that I do indeed have it, and now that I am not only under medical treatment, but also understanding how it effects me, I hope to finally settle down, and figure out what I want to be when i grow up. LOL I'm 34 BTW. :)I just realized that I didn't answer the question. I told you all about that study on entrepreneurs, but forgot that there was a point... I wonder if I have ADD?
What do I do? I guess the closest thing would be to say I'm a serial entrepreneur. I love to work with startup companies. I've started quite a few of my own and been one of the first employees in a couple of others.
My biggest challenge, like you, ADDitup, is sticking with something once I've mastered it. I change careers a lot. Boredom sets in, or worse, I get promotions and the company grows until I've got to do too much administration. I hate that!
I owned my own computer training company (successful), office supply store (successful), computer consulting business (successful) and multimedia development company(failed). I might be forgetting some...
I worked for a private career college (I was hired when we had 12 students, but left when I had built up a department of over 120 students and had four teachers and two lab assistants in my department.)
In the last company I started (before the one I'm starting now) I finally figured out how to get it all together. It was a Web development company and I was hired as a programmer (employee number 3). I went through a rough patch when I moved up to project manager! (Can you imagine!)
But I figured out how to systemize (or automate or delegate) everything that didn't play to my strengths and made it to VP, Application Development and an ownership position in the company. I was having a ball! And it was during the dot com rush, which I'm sure was invented just for us ADDers!
Unfortunately, we sold that company to a much bigger company (52 employees to 4,000) but I was able to work directly with the president for a couple of years expanding into new technologies, so that was exciting. Unfortunately, there was a hostile take over and then I was just a cog in the machine at a company with 25,000 employees.
Back to entrepreneurship, I guess.
Hi
I work in schools .. special needs .. well they are when they get me .. not sure who has the most ..
I love the job because it in never the same work any day..
I have a strength that I did not know and its when the (or other teachers) puts the head around the door and says ahhh we need a worksheet on romans etc and I know where it is and have it photocopies with extra work and have all the craft materiel ready in 5 mins ..
The teachers LOVE me ..I can do this even in a new school its just something I am good at ... But don`t ask me to spell of times tables because I cannot do that .. but if I have in front of me I can teach the kids ..odd that .. I can have a wacky teaching style .. kids love it and they learn ...
The kids have been know to get reward stickers for finding my `lost` pens, folders,coat, handbag, car keys etc .. Bless them
... Moon6
Definately a hard way to make a living. Great life/lousy living.
I have been at it 14 years now and if it was not for two very worn and thick note books...I would be building my designs different every time. Seriously. The work is exhausting, but gratifying. I think one of the reasons I always have work (a long waiting list in fact...) is that I do totally custom work. One at a time...and one of a kind. That is the only way I can keep doing this. If I have to do any more than two of anything...I get bored right away. And when I am bored I get radical.
Hi HypnoticHue.... ( i appologize now this is wordy and my spelling is awfu, yes i realize there is a spell check...but that aint gonna happen ....lol)
I am ADHD with hi stim seeking behaviors. I love to be in the middle of the storm ....any storm...if there isn't one...I go nuts...sitting at my desk all day alone is a thought I cannot bear to handle..
I have worked in property management for about 13 years (off and on of corse)
I love the sales aspect of my job. Not to sound braggy but I am stellar at sales...customer service...anything where I get to deal with people. It is the paperwork part of my job that I seem to have the most problem. I have to do long reports, lost of numbers and, and then fixing accounting issues..AHHHH!!! I wondered why I couldn't excell past my position, complete my education, or stay with one company or property very long. I wondered, that is, until a few weeks ago.....when I was diagnosed with ADHD.
I was about to loose my job too....see I always sense that comming and quit first...this time...I just said NO not quiting...something is wrong with me this isn't normal....went to Pshychiatrist...took adhd test (aced it..lol...tested as SEVER ADHD)
So I told my employer of my diagnosis..and then learned later (I really had no idea) that ADHD is covered under the disabilities act (Fed Law). So, my employer can not fired me...knows I am starting meds and therapy and we have a meeting next week. The HR person called and asked if there was anything they could do to accomodate me, and they wanted to discuss diagnosis to gain information. I am not asking for any accomodations...just a little education and understanding on their part. My direct supervisor had become very angry and cruel to me...He went as far as to say "Idon't think you are a good manager, I don't like you and don't want to work with you"...WOW...that is what really sent me into therepy....I couldn't loose my job...I am going thru divorce (x3) and I cannot handle these ups and downs these inconsitancies in my life any more...I hate them...
I was blown away...OMG...for the first time in my life I get to stick to something and feel safe...feel secure that my boss isn't going to show up any minute and fire me (you know what I am talking bout..lol) I have been an extremely successful manager....they give me a property that no one else can turn around...a property with NO income.....30% vacant...people not paying rent...blah blah and I can turn it around..I have reccomendations to this fact, however, each time I am successful...I think deep inside that there is no way I did it...maybe it happened by accident....like even my successes are a sham....
WRONG...we add'rs are not a sham....we just usually have poor self esteem..cause of all the side issues this disorder has caused....I just now got diagnossed at 31..and from what I have been reading...it sounds like I am lucky to have cought it now...
Anyway....If you think you are going to get fired or are having probs at work ....you should let your employer know of your ADHD. They cannot fire you for something related to your disorder....I know it has really been a break thru for me, I hope this helps good luck...and let me know what happens... Oh, just wondering...did you actually get all the way thru this post with out skipping around...LOL.....LOL
june
Boy, this has turned into a great thread and a real eye opener.
I just did my first 'meeting' with a councilor and will be assessed by a psychiatrist in three weeks or so.
If they think I needs meds, then I will get them then. It has been really hard to remain patient while this process takes place. Once I became very aware of who I am (about 2 months ago)...and who I have been, it actually made everything seem harder and worse. Not only is my toy brain all over the map (as it always has been), but it is all over the map X 2, re-thinking every thought and tieing things together. ~:0) I am hoping a chemical aid will eliminate some of the holes in my shop floor caused by me continually spinning in circles. Nice to see another music person here. Lots of great posts,Toy Brain38379.3892708333I am 7th grade special education teacher. (I know - it's like the blind leading the blind) There are lots of positives to having chosen this career path. I think I understand the kids better because I've walked in their shoes. My attention span is as short as the attention span of my students, so the fact that I tend to keep my lessons short and as interesting as possible is a good thing. I am very thankful for my job, it seems to be one of the few things in my life that I have not screwed up.
Like Toy Brain, I'm in the music business as well. I'm a full time Piano Technician. (tuner, rebuilder, etc) There seem to be a disproportionate number of us in the field, or at least a lot of borderline ones. I've been through self-employment and employment, and I can tell you that the Self is much better for me. Although the pitfalls are bigger, the rewards are better and the chance to cover up and correct for organizational deficiencies rather than account for them is also better. I have frustrated several employers by doing great work but being a difficult member of the "team". Yes, my shop is also intolerable, and it's another full time job to keep after it.
Is stand-up considered a job?
yeah...I didn't think so.
I used to think about writing a book about the Adhd teacher- even if I
finished it, I never thought there'd be much of an audience. Maybe I was
wrong...
I teach high school. I find my energy and curiousity are a great match for
adolescents. I have developed all sorts of strategies to deal with the times
and dates and flood of paper. Some of them actually work, too.
While sometimes I forget what I promised, I can compensate by changing
strategies mid-lesson when I see kids aren't getting it. I will get an idea
mid sentence and implement it minutes later. I like that.
I also use kite's strategy- I arrange technology to compensate for my
weaknesses. I have the kids name their digital files in a specific format.
Then when they "turn them in" the files sort themselves by period/
assignment/lastname automatically. Clearly, I'd never do it! I love
thinking up ways to make work organize itself.
nickled&dimed38367.9530324074I am in sales. Every day is different...every customer is different and I when I am not meeting with customers, I work from home. I learned the hard way that I couldn't (I MEAN COULD NOT AS IN WAS SO STRESSED OUT I ENDED UP IN THE HOSPITAL TWICE) do a 9 to 5 monotonous gee my boss is sitting in the cube next to me kind of job. It was during this particular job 9-5 when I tried to do something other than sales that I finally went in for the ADD diagnosis. I used to just beat the heck out of myself over losing everything...chronic Now I am a stay at home mom to little kids. Kinda crazy, but you make your own hours, do whatever you want when you want and have fun etc. There are some scheduled activities, but we get to pick them and can attend or not according to how things are going.
Before that I was in horticulture- also great. I was outdoors all the time, moving around a lot (lots of physical activity), made my own schedule, got to do things with my hands and I could see immediate results with any project.
The downside to both of these- no $$$! But lots of fun.