ADD people are high energy and incredibly good brainstormers. They will often happily work 12 to 15 hours by choice. The business community should not fear ADD. Instead, they should see that they have a potential gold mine here.
--DR. KATHLEEN NADEAU, psychologist with ADHD, appearing on "ABC News"
If you have been diagnosed as having ADHD, this post is for you! We want you to read this ADD blog post every time you have the desperate thought that you are not going to make it, that you don't fit in with the rest of the world, that you are one odd duck in a lake full of swans. These are the "rules for survival" for anyone with Attention Deficit, no matter the specific diagnosis.
Learn To Delegate
This is the key to success. You cannot change the way your brain functions, so learn to involve other people in your projects who have the gifts for detail and order that you lack. For example, Dennis has always been the visionary, the one with the creative dreams. But he employs a lot of people who take care of the details of making those dreams a reality. He has the fun part - entertaining folks all across the country. But he has an accountant, a manager, a road manager, and a scheduler. Most important of all, though, is Lauree, his wife and executive vice president of their ministry, who takes care of the details of his life so nothing gets dropped.
It's a Balancing Act
What makes you unique is your ability to juggle many tasks at the same time. You are like those performers who spin plates on tall poles. First one plate, then another, and another ... and they are all spinning at the same time! Do you remember Danielle's friend Athena who was mentioned previously? She made it through college despite having ADHD, and writes:
I am now working in the corporate world for a large consulting firm and having ADD has almost been a blessing! My work requires me to keep a high level of energy for sometimes as long as 12 hours a day and to be able to do 15 things at once. I have received outstanding evaluations for my ability to maintain a high level of energy while still remaining organized and for my ability to solve problems in the fast-paced business environment.
Guess what? That's what you can do too!
Make the Most of Your Creativity
Is your mind always dreaming, thinking of a new idea, or creating a new project? When you see a need or hear of a problem, does your mind kick into gear to solve it? You are an individual "Internet" with the potential for a million and one Web sites of your own invention. Your type of mind is what gives the world movies, great music, new inventions, and original ideas about the way to conduct business. So relish your creativity and continue to dream big dreams!
You Can Show Others a Huge Heart
You have the potential to love others and to empathize with pain. Because your empathy is genuine, you have those qualities that endear you to others. You can be a very good friend. This is one area where your tendency to be easily distracted is a benefit, for you are more observant of what is happening around you and the emotions that others are feeling.
Do you remember Danielle's experience on the bench in college softball? She knew she could play better than the other shortstop on the team, but God had a different plan for her: She was the encourager for all the girls who didn't get a chance to play.
You Have All the Ingredients to Be Successful
Don't be ashamed of your failures, for by facing them, you have taken the first step toward being successful in what you want to do. Don't hesitate to take the help offered by your parents, teachers, pastor, friends, supervisor, mentor, counselor, siblings, and others. ADHD kids need to learn how to live within the structure of their home and school. You have a lot to learn and many people who want desperately for you to succeed, so listen to their advice.
Do You See the Big Picture?
Remember Dennis telling about his experience with Dusty at the Super Bowl? Dusty "saw what the blimp saw." Many people with ADHD share that characteristic. You see life through a different set of lenses than the rest of us, so rejoice in it! You have a better view of life than people who are so focused that they don't notice anything around them. You can see the rainbow God has painted across the sky after a thunderstorm, while others are only focused on the pavement.
This ability allows you to problem solve in unique ways. You may be in the lower percentile when you take the SAT or ACT exams, but your mind does not follow the same set of rules as everybody else's. So don't get discouraged by test scores. There are many very talented people who have gone before you who've made it, despite the test scores. You're in good company.
Think Sports
Though it's not a hard and fast rule, many people with ADHD have great success in sports, whether in school or in recreation leagues. Sports and ADHD go together like hot fudge and vanilla ice cream because there is perpetual motion involved.
The mind has to constantly refocus to keep up with the continuous activity involved, so there is little opportunity for boredom. Dennis, Dusty, and Danielle have all been most at home on an athletic field because the environment fits their temperaments so perfectly. That is not to say, however, that everyone with ADHD is a natural athlete. If you are not, you may enjoy walking, running, hiking, or other leisure sports in which you can use up some of your energy, yet not worry about being especially coordinated or competitive.
Hope these few points can brighten your day. To know more about ADD and ADHD, you can get What Is ADD And ADHD right away!
