Adult ADD and Money

"Attention deficit disorder: Not just for kids"

Here is an excerpt from an interesting article by Andy Halloway that gives employers information on how to deal with employees with ADHD. This is a good read for both adults with ADHD and for people who have to work with ADHD adults.

Threatening an ADHD-affected employee might work, if the threat is immediate, the consequence severe enough and the task inescapable. But that’s a horrible way for someone to live — and to manage. Yet some with ADHD do that themselves as a form of motivation. They effectively create an artificial sense of urgency by waiting until the deadline before springing into action.

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What type of business should you start?

Owning a small business can be a great career path for an ADD adult. However not all new business opportunities are ideal for adults with ADD. Many ADD entrepreneurs make the mistake of impulsively jumping into a business opportunity that they are truly not passionate about.

Owning a business where you create or manufacture a product could be a good fit for ADD adults.   In this type of business you have more flexibility with your schedule. There is also a lot of room for creativity with the products that you can create. The process of creating your product can also be stimulating. The potential downside of this type of business is that it typically involves higher start up costs and more initial planning. The penalty for not making a production deadline can be costly and ultimately ruin your business.

Owning a service business ( landscaping, consulting, disc jockey, etc.) works well for many ADD adults. This type of business has more flexibility than your typical nine to five job. You do not need a lot of start up capital, this allows more room to experiment without fearing the repercussions of failure. It also allows you to have several service businesses at one time, which can be very stimulating. The downside of owning a service business, is that you only make money when you are actually working.  ADD adults sometimes struggle with creating structure and doing the behind the scenes work to get and keep the customers that allow you to work on your passion. Since you do not need a lot of start up capital, there is often intense competition for work, this can be discouraging.

Owning a retail business can have mixed results for ADD adults. If you own a traditional brick and mortar store you have the ability to be creative with the design and the merchandise that you are going to sell. However that feeling can be fleeting, the schedule involved in operating a retail store can be very overwhelming. Many people find that dealing with the public all day, every day can be frustrating.

You can also use a web based business as your main focus of dealing with your customers. Selling you product using the web as your primary source for customers can be difficult unless you have a unique or rare product.  Using the Internet for a service business (consulting, web site development, marketing) can be beneficial as your business does not require face to face interaction.

I think a major goal of owning a small business is to be able to fit your passions, strengths and work style into something that you enjoy doing.  All of the creativity and fresh ideas involved in starting a business can be so stimulating that you often overlook whether the business itself is a good fit for you.

Why ADD Adults make great entrepreneurs

The idea of being an entrepreneur can seem pretty daunting to an ADD adult. Often the fear of failure holds potential ADD entrepreneurs back from achieving their dream of opening their own business.

Here are three examples of successful businesses founded by ADD entrepreneurs. The reason why I put The Peanut Cupboard first is that success should not be completely defined by how much money you make, success is measured by the individual who owns the business. Sometimes just keeping to your vision can be the definition of success.

1.  The Peanut Cupboard

2. Jet Blue

3. Kinko's

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Pay attention! Adult ADHD makes job difficult

Here is an interesting article I found on (Your ADD/ADHD News). The article is about ADHD in the workplace it was written by Czerne M. Reid in The State. What I like most about the article is the short sidebar about "coping with ADHD in the workplace".

I have attached a short excerpt:

At work, adults with ADHD tend to be either “frustrated and struggling,” or “successful and struggling,” Sussman said. It’s not that they get bored more easily — they just don’t tolerate boredom. In addition, people with ADHD don’t do well at taking orders — but tend to be good entrepreneurs.

Best of ADD Small Business Tips

Owning a small business can be a very good fit someone with ADD.  Here are a few of my best tips for ADD Entrepreneurs:

Flaunt Your Strengths

Delegation a Challenge for the ADD/ADHD  Entrepreneur

Structure: the Double Edged Sword

Finding right position key for employees with ADHD

I came across an intersting article by Andrea Kay. It is a short article about getting help and being accountable for finding the right job when you have ADHD.

" "I've got ADD," Daniel told me, when he called to talk about his career. "I need help, but I've got ADD," he repeated. He must have told me 10 times. He's not the only one. There was Janice and Jane and Mark and others. And they insist they have problems in their careers because of their condition. "

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ADHD can bring on self-doubts despite ability

I have attached a small excrept from an article by Jane M. Von Bergen at The Philadelphia Inquirer.  What I liked about the article is the examples of people who have set up systems to help them overcome some of the challenges of dealing with ADHD.

The only thing good that career salesman Alan Currie could say about himself on the day he accepted a high-stakes sales job five years ago was that at least he managed to sell himself into a job.

He didn't deserve it, he told himself.

"I'm a complete fraud."

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The Brilliance Of An ADHD / ADD Entrepreneur

Brad Williamson at Small Business Branding wrote a excellent article titled: The Brilliance Of An ADHD / ADD Entrepreneur. I have attached a small excerpt from the article:

However, I want to point out a few things that ENCOURAGE the ACCEPTANCE of ADHD within an entrepreneur.

How can ADHD be considered a POSITIVE thing, you ask?

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Flaunt your Strengths

One thing that I have noticed when dealing with adults with ADD, is that sometimes there is a reluctance to highlight their strengths and achievements. Letting other people know about your strengths and achievements is crucial in order to advance in your career or to grow your business. If you are doing a terrific job and your boss doesn't know what you have accomplished you are not going to get the raise or promotion that you deserve. If you offer an excellent product or service and no one knows about it you are not going to be in business for too long.

I think that there are two reasons why some adults with ADD have problems with telling others about their strengths and achievements.

1. Adults with ADD tend to hyper-focus on the day to day responsibilities of their job or business, and often do not take the time to fully understand or appreciate their strengths and achievements.

2. Throughout their lives many adults with ADD have been forced to focus on their weaknesses and what they have not accomplished. This has left many ADD adults unable to properly focus on their strengths or accomplishments.

In order to understand your strengths and achievements it is important to talk with several supportive people (OK just start with one) who can tell you what they think your strengths are, and can help you in discovering your achievements. What might seem ordinary to you, may be extraordinary to others. It can also be helpful to write down on paper all of your strengths and accomplishment.

ADD @ About - ADD/ADHD in the Workplace

Your career has the biggest impact on Personal Finances. Adults with ADD often have difficulties coping in a traditional work environment. The ADD / ADHD in the Workplace section of ADD @ ABOUT.COM is the most comprehensive library of career articles that adults with ADD should read if they have any concerns or questions about workplace issues.

Your career has the biggest impact on Personal Finances. Adults with ADD often have difficulties coping in a traditional work environment. The ADD / ADHD in the Workplace section of ADD @ ABOUT.COM is the most comprehensive library of career articles that adults with ADD should read if they have any concerns or questions about workplace issues.