I highly recommend that all of you with ADD out there that are creative and detail oriented consider a career in some discipline in IT related to engineering support or sales. It's not for everyone because I know ADD people that need a lot of direction & structure. However, I happen to be one of those people that had trouble with rules, deadlines, authority, and structure. I am highly motivated to succeed and need to work hard for an outlet for my creative energy or I will go nuts. Work just seems to be my thing. I was diagnosed with ADHD at age 37 after spending all the rest of my life confused and wondering why I felt so different from other people. I struggled with relationships and had all types of issues because of my undiagnosed ADD. I have been on Adderall for the past 3 years and still struggle with adjusting my dose to the right levels so I certainly don't have all the answers. It's still not perfect and I have trouble with hyper focusing and neglecting other areas of my life but, work is one place I excel so this thread I can answer. I personally make more than any of my physician friends or attorneys and am just an IT salesperson. I have shattered every record at my company . I believe this is because I am in a high stress, fast pace environment which totally suits my personality. The days when a crisis happens and I get to be the hero to my customers is the perfect day for me. I was in corporate management in advertising and IT. The problem I have with having ADD and being in management is that as a leader, I was constantly disappointed in others who where not as passionate, hyper productive, and goal oriented as I am. I felt like a constant failure. I really took it personally when my employeees didn't have the same work ethic as me. What happened is while they at first loved the enthusiasm, I wore them out. and they pretty much ended up hating me because my expectations weren't realistic for normal people. I could talk anyone in coming to work for me.... This is much like I do with my relationship partners and friends. I am just too much. So ultimately, I have found my niche. I moved from Department Manager to Sales Manager, then Sales Rep, usually a step down but, I actually made the choice because in sales I control my schedule and my successes. Secondly, I make more money this way and all I have to do is answer to myself. My customers get just the pefect measured dose of me and my enthusiastic personality, that let's them not get burned out by my passion. Sounds weird but I can hyper focus in my home office on doing research and sales reporting analysis and all those things that make me not successful in a regular, office position. Then once a week or so, I can meet with clients and share those ideas. This is the perfect balance for me. I don't know if it helps any of you out there but, find that thing that gives you the outlet for your good ADD qualities, while allowing you to have flexibility to have that down time where it won't impact your life or get you fired. You still have to work hard which I do tend to overwork a lot, as in 14 hour days sometimes. IT is a good field whether it is IT sales or engineering. IT is fast pace, ever changing, and definite mission critical. So to all of you thrill seeking ADDers who can't find their work niche, really consider IT. We need a few good men & women in our field. IT disciplines at colleges nationwide are down considerably because the new generation doesn't want to wear a beeper or be called upon all hours of the day and night. But I know you guys can relate and connect to the crisis management scenario and that is what we deal with every day. It's always something. Certainly never dull.

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