ADHD at Work

Tip #3: Put Ideas Into Action

Symptoms of ADHD shouldn’t stop you from landing your dream job. Learn how to find confidence, ignore distractions, and put ideas into action with these quick tips for climbing to the top of your profession.

Shine at work to get that promotion
Shine at work to get that promotion

People at the top of every profession share one quality: They get things done. This ability supersedes intelligence, talent, and connections in determining the size of your salary and the speed of your advancement.

Have you ever sat down at your computer to tackle Job X and found that you’ve lost three hours doing nothing? Break out of this funk with these tips:

Don’t Wait Until Conditions Are Perfect to Begin

There will always be something that isn’t right – the timing is off, the market is down, there’s too much competition. The best time to start was last year. The second best time is now.

[Download This Free Guide to Managing Your Time at Work]

Be A Doer

Practice doing things rather than thinking about them. Do you have a great idea to pitch your boss? Do it today. The longer an idea sits in your head without being acted on, the dimmer it becomes. After a few days, the details get hazy. After a week, it’s forgotten completely.

Put Ideas into Action

One ordinary idea that’s been put into action is more valuable than a dozen brilliant ideas that you’re saving for the “right opportunity.” Have a good idea? Do something about it.

Have Confidence in Your Own Voice

Have you ever noticed that the most difficult part of public speaking is waiting for your turn to speak? Even professional speakers and actors experience pre-performance anxiety. Once they get started, the fear disappears and things get easier.

Don’t Wait for Inspiration to Strike

If you wait for that brilliant idea to slap you in the face, your work sessions will be few and far between. Instead of waiting, start your creative motor. If you need to write something, force yourself to sit down and write. Put pen to paper. Brainstorm. Doodle. By moving your hands, you’ll stimulate the flow of ideas.

[Read: 8 ADHD Dream Jobs]

Focus on the Present

Live in the present. Focus on what you can do now. Don’t worry about what you should have done last week or what you might be able to do tomorrow. Tomorrow or next week frequently means never.

Ignore Distractions and Start Working!

Get down to business. How often do you check e-mail or RSS feeds before doing your work? These distractions take up serious time. Bypass them and get down to business.

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