You've just described my job history in a nutshell. For years, I've been in corporate, and it was an awful experience. At the time, I did not know that I had A.D.D. When I found out that I have it, it explained why I was fired from most jobs. Other jobs, I just quit because I knew that I was going to get fired. I've been on my current job for over ten years because it's not corporate and they really don't pay much attention to what I do. Until I started going to work thirty minutes early, I was always late. And even with medication, I still tend to forget to do things. I want so much to quit this job, but I know that my only option is to go back to corporate, and I can't do that again. I already know that it wouldn't work. I feel that ADD has ruined my life.

Quote

OMG! I thought I was the only one. It's a shame butterfly that your talking this negatively about yourself but, I totally know what you mean. Maybe I'm just to proud to admit what you just did. I need some answers just like you but, I think it has alot to do with self-esteem first.

Quote

To Christine: Yeah, I do sound negative, but it is only recently that I've started to think this way. I feel that I'm limited to what I do for a living, because even with medication, I still make mistakes that would get me fired if I were still in corporate. And the only job skills that I have, are office skills. I have a real estate license, but because the market is low, I can't do that full time. My other option is being an Avon Rep, which I did pretty well with a few years ago. I know that I can do very well working for myself, which is my goal.

Quote

Hello, I'm 24 years old. As young as Elementary School, group work didn't work for me : I've always worked better alone than in group. So what ? Does it mean I'll never be able to get a great job, intellectually stimulant and where I can earn money ? No way ! The first who tells me this receive his greatest pair of slaps he has ever received in his life ;) We knew I have ADHD when I was 23. I function better when I work alone than in a group. But after a great deal of patience, I found something. It's installing Linux and giving assistance for doctors. There is nothing such in France. I found this idea quite by case. A physician, a GP, who works at 10 minutes away by foot from home, had a computer who was soooooooooooooooo slow that opening a Word document took 1 hour (chronometer in a hand ! So it's not absolutely a joke !). Moreover, he installed Windows softwares on Mac OS, whereas Mac OS is not previewed to receive Windows software. So no wonder his Mac OS took all the hard drive (100 Go) and then, became so slow not to be able to even open a Word document ! I installed Ubuntu, a GNU/Linux OS (because there is no one Linux, but more than one) and I set it. Setting was much longer than installing it, but we managed and now, he has a race car instead of having a crappy computer !! He is now so satisfied to get a fast computer (I could even repair his slow Internet connexion by installing the required packages) without having to buy a new one that he wants to give me clients. It'll start at September, summer time is not absolutely the best period for hunting for new clients in my country. I like computer stuff even without a degree, I love medicine, I love languages, so why not doing this job ? Okay, it's out of the beaten tracks, but you have to be able to go out of the beaten tracks to find solutions : otherwise, you'll still be in your own problems and never find a solution to solve them. And don't care too much what the other say : they're not in your life, so they can't solve the problem for you, nor assume the consequences for you.

Don't say you're not smart enough, because it's not true. Try to know how do you work best : in a team or independently ? What do you really like, but really, not like just to please someone else ? And then, you'll find the solution. But as they say in Greek, "good patience", so be patient !

Quote

I also had a couple of office jobs, I'm not really sure what happened, but I do know that I had trouble organizing my work, and that it took double the time for me to do the same job that it took others. Because I was not organized, I lost slips of paper all the time, lost paperwork, tried to find it, all this finding stuff was a waste of companies time. They also said that I didn't know how to multi-task. When I took a class to learn a new software program or become more proficient in it; that didn't work out well either. Then came my horrible review, then I found another job in the same company, but because I became so self consciuous and tried to do everything perfect, I slowed my pace down, and then they complained that I was too slow.

I wasn't diagnosed with ADD or ADHD, but at the time I was so depressed, that they were not able to give me a proper diagnosis, but I am very positive that I do, as I 've always lost stuff ever since I could remember whenI was 4 or so, then in high school, I was always forgetting or losing homework or paperwork. I would get myself organized, only to be disorganized a couple of days later. I do think I tend to work better working alone, although I hate it, I love being among people. when I work alone, I get very bored and lonely and look around for stimulation. That was another thing, when I said I got bored, they took it as an insult, the work wasn't boring, it's just that I get bored very quickly once I learn something, I'm looking for something new all the time.

I just hate it when people or my parents would ask, "don't you remember where you put it"? I'd say, "no, if I did, I wouldn't be looking for it". It's just plain lack of focus or concentration I'm a caregiver now, I'm not crazy about the job, I would rather be in the office, but it pays the bills. Now adays, I guess a person is just plain lucky or fortunate to have a job period. I go along with what butterfly said, it's the anxiety, it's when you know you failed, you feel like you're a failure, it's just very difficult to forget, and as for being hyperfocused, that's the problem, we become hyperfocused on our failures instead of what we are successful in. At least that's the way I am. My therapist says I need to focus or think of what I am good at, which I still am not sure what it is. I also hate distractions. I tolerated them when I was at work, because I didn't want to act like I was a crazy person, but I would also lose track of what I was doing or forget what I was going to do, etc. Yes, I think I do work better working alone, but I dislike it. I presently do not take any meds, nor do I really want to. I'm not sure if my ADD causes my anxiety, or vice versa, but I think it does. I think because of my procrastination and lack or organization, that this is what causes me to be anxious, but also my lack of self-esteem, I also feel anxious about a great many things. My therapist is great, I'm not sure what I would do without her.

I wouldn't say failure at office jobs is a symptom, but the functions that we perform at an office job, whether organizing, filing, etc. if things aren't in an orderly fashion, we waste time finding items, and lack of good time management skills is a big problems today. I think I'm mostly good at researching items, analysing, fixing things like printers and computers. I perform much better being alone and without too many interruptions.

Quote

Nightowl

You and me both - I gave up trying to get a good night sleep.

Don't sell yourself short - you got the coping crutch under control so you've got the gear and ability to tackle more than you think.

As far as failure in the office, that's a two way street between employer and employee. Office or not, finding dedicated and committed employees with integrity is more difficult than finding a job.

Corporate is wrought with those looking to create failure for others as a method to secure their own position. I had a superior who constantly played on other's inability to capture details. I beat this with a 50 cent composition book. Every day I date a fresh page and do all my hand written work in the book. Notes, phone conversations, diagrams, plans, shopping lists, you name it. If my day has a schedule, I list 8 AM through 5 PM in a column on the left of a blank page and fill it in. My pat answer for accepting direction is "Just a second, I have CRS - "Can't remember s##t" - let me make sure I get this" and pull out my book and write down the specifics. This does three things. First, if you can't write it down, it doesn't exist and can't be done. Second, it creates a undeniable record that can't be refuted. Third, it keeps track of everything chronologically. It may take a couple minutes, but I can find every phone number, request or specific comment. Embarrass someone once with their own words and you never have another problem. Since I can't compete with those who spend their days scheming for their own benefit at the cost of all others, I put up good defenses.

Another habit I find easy to keep is save everything on the compute and scan hard copy. Storage is cheap and file searching is easy. Many ADD'ers keep disorganized piles. I don't fight it any more.

All the "how to organize" have similar tools that are good for all and my level of diligence results in an 80% success rate. I'm happy with getting the 80%, create contingencies for 15% and accept the 5% that goes wrong.

While I'm good for a new business card every three years, I'm never without a paycheck. Four basic reasons, I've developed broadly applicable skills within a specific industry that few desire to get their head around, I can write, I sacredly guard the back of who I trust and market and economic cycles open opportunities and collapse situations and keep me interested. They realize putting up with my antics is easier than finding another person they can trust with the work.

Another aspect that I always wrestle with is saying yes. When I say yes to 5, get 4 perfect and fall down on one, I'm a disaster. When I agree to 2 out of 5 and nail them, I'm the "go to guy" who "always gets the job done right" at 40% of a disastrous effort.

Good luck and don't give up.

Quote

I too have been fired from more jobs than i want to count and I agree with throrope. I actually keep to 2 notebooks. One is right next to my mouse and phone and when I get an action item (phone or email) I write it on the notepad (a spiral bound with at least 100 pages). I also do my "on my plate list" - so this notepad is my to do list. I cross out each item as I complete it and once a week i go back and look at the previous notes and lists to make sure I didn't "forget" something. My other notebook goes to me with meetings. Whether it is a formal meeting or someone calls me to meet with them one on one - my notebook goes with me so I can take notes - this also tends to make people think since i wrote it down I won't forget and it derails alot of the backstabbing. We each eventually find our own systems but above is something that for me that keeps things from getting forgotten. Also, if I need to do something in regards to an email - sometimes i print the email and stick in or on top of my notebook.

I remember someone here once did an article - about is anyone else tired of making lists? I gave a definte YES to this one but until they develop post it notes for behind my eyes the list will have to do.

Quote