i’m 46 years old and i still don’t know what i want to be when i grow up. 🤷♀️ my issue is that i get super interested in something, hyperfocus on learning everything about it’s get bored & burned out, find another career idea that’s sparkly, rinse & repeat.
I was the same, I only found out what I want to do when I was 46 and that was by accident. I still wonder if I should do something else, but deep down I know that at my age my current job is the best thing I can hope for. I still have some freedom on how to do it and creativity is even encouraged within the confines of required outcomes. 😊 I get anxious and stressed and I am doubting myself every day, never feeling like I am on top of my life, but the chance of learning more about the topics and the delivery of that knowledge to my kids all with different backgrounds. There are frequently new theories about the psychology of children and learning disabilities, outside and within the education system, the challenge of differentiation and communication with the parents who might not even know, or accept their child might not be neurotypical. Every year I get a new "set" of kids and mostly new parents, none of whom is ever identical with who came before.. I might have changed schools more often than the average person, disappointed with the limitations by the management, but I have stuck to the actual work for 9 years but I am still learning: the knowledge and expertise is pretty limitless without having to worry about being promoted to a managerial role.
Same for me. I'm 57. I've found higher self-awareness through books about cognitive behavioral therapy ("The Feeling Good Handbook") and a somewhat clearer career path through "What Color is You Parachute?," but I am still in the 'somewhat tolerable' zone. I've never found my calling, or even a long-term tolerable gig. Nowadays, I am just running the clock down to my public pension. 😉😉Life is NOT short: it is long and arduous. If you still feel young enough to have potential and you have access to a high-quality assessment as explained in this video, GET AN ASSESSMENT. Please!
I was an accountant. I'd go into a company, fix all their financial systems, get bored, and leave. I did it over and over again. Always left with excellent references, always got another good job. That combination of structure and freedom.
Ha. I started off as a costume designer, then a motorcycle courier before working as a nursery worker, I then built a farm and became a herb farmer before quitting to become a landscape designer and permaculture designer before building houses, then I got bored of that and became a wildfire management consultant while running a volunteer fire brigade. I think I've settled down now. I actually decided working in emergency services was the best when I was 3. Should have trusted my passion.
By accident i got into police dispatching and 911 phone communications when I was 23yrs old, it saved my life because I had been bumping around some pretty crummy jobs for a year before i found it and i always felt out of place in those jobs. Police dispatching was exciting, fast paced and absolutely new every damn second, when that phone rang you never knew what you were going to get from a cat stuck in a tree to a full on shooting going on in real time, it could get harrowing and very stressful over a long period of time. I did it for 17yrs but i had to let it go because i had difficulty with stress management, I checked out all the classes on stress management that my local department of public safety had to offer, but at the time those classes didn't really address the issue at all and not even for police officers either. What ended up happening was that i would go into freeze mode when it would get quiet during the shift and there were a few times that would happen (when all hell wasn't breaking loose). When the phones would start ringing again or the officers would call on the radio breaking the silence like a pavlovian dog I would jump right back into action and that was ok, but when I would go home I would slide right back into freeze mode which really conflicted with what I had to take care of during off duty hours (like housework, errands, administrative stuff, or socializing). i started having melt downs and had to lie down and rest for hours which left everything else undone and of course people around me didn't understand, they just thought I was losing my mind. I started to work that I would have a melt down at work and I just had to quit because I was afraid of putting someone's life in danger. I took off for 15yrs and have been learning that I had ADHD (undiagnosed), but I've also begun meditation (that has been my life saver and I wish I had known about meditation when I was a kid, it would have made my life a lot easier w stress), in addition to learning about attachment styles in early childhood and how that has affected my melt downs and also behavior in other people and why they do what they do and break the law or have difficulties managing their behavior. thank you for this video Rick, appreciate all you do to teach about ADHD
I hope you recognize my name... again... you saved my life. Thank you so much. I still don't know what career to get at 47. I work hard at the one I have and it's always tough. But giving me some kind of framework to understand myself has been life saving. Thank you for everything and keep up the great work.
i am 45, i have struggled whole my life. Then by chance I come across this term ADHD through a youtube sharing by an asian celebrity who also has that. I identified his symptom very similar to mine, hence i went for diagnostic.
@@samitune Currently I'm a NOC Technician and I think I like it? First job to pay me enough where I can live and survive, so... I like that part a lot.
I worked in the veterinary field for 18 years and didn’t struggle one bit. Every day was different, I needed to be thorough, and I love nurturing and caring for animals and people. It gave a perfect balance of routine/perfection, and novelty. This was before I was diagnosed as an adult with inattentive type ADHD (I was nearly 38). I never struggled with anything other than being a few minutes late on occasion. My symptoms worsened after motherhood, and after I switched to a career in healthcare administration. I love jobs that involve attention to detail, where I can hyperfocus and make sure things are accurate. BUT the BIGGEST problem I run into is “metrics”. Productivity numbers are my kryptonite. I need a job where quality trumps quantity, which is very difficult to find.
I'm kind of on the other side of this, I'm about to turn 60. I am lucky to find what worked for me. I haven't been diagnosed with either ASD or ADHD but it just makes sense to me that it is going on. What I like about your videos is that you are showing how to select and think about a career choice, because I am also finding it hard to find a job (Ageism is likely my barrier now) So what it my next stage in life? I can explore ideas and give it consideration. Thanks! Exciting stuff!
I have severe ad/hd! I have worked for 14 years as a career counselor vocational rehabilitation counselor for individuals with disabilities primarily for neurodevelopmental diagnosis like adhd, autism, learning disabilities. I love it! I get to be an out of the box thinker helping find my clients jobs & find good job matches! 💜
This sounds so rewarding! At my last job, when I got into a leadership position, I was committed to being the leader that little me would’ve thrived under. It sounds like you get to be the person that younger you would’ve thrived from working with, and you get to watch people thrive because of you! (Sorry I said “thrive” too much)😂
I'm 44, I found out about my ADHD during my struggles with Long Covid as the doctors disentangled the symptoms of each. I work in Television, mostly as an Editor, but aside from my first year of employment (over 15 years ago), I've never really enjoyed it. I got stuck doing it because I was good at it and because they kept paying me.. so whenever I tried to escape it's orbit, I always got pulled back in because I had bills to pay. Editing works for me because like many other ADHD people, I am a high functioning problem solver, but I don't enjoy it and the worst part is there's no career progression and could very likely soon be a position gobbled up by AI. I am creative AND technical, but I feel underdone and like I've wasted my potential by getting stuck in a job that's going nowhere and I don't enjoy. It's harder still to see friends on massive salaries with their own homes and pension pots.. none of which I have despite the fact they're not smarter than me. I feel like I've made critical errors in the decisions I've made for my life and don't see a way out, which is depressing. The spectre of AI is also giving me a crisis of self, because if it can do my job, what am I good for? Knowing I have ADHD is helpful, but it's not a solution to my issues. It doesn't feel like there's a path to follow with any of the right answers right now.
I’m in tech. My ADHD helps me because you always have to keep learning. Can you become an expert at how AI is used in your field? It is just a tool. ChatGPT etc. are really prediction models based on the massive amount of data on the web. But they still need humans to use the tools, because they don’t work all of the time. I also find that it becomes more interesting if you learn a bit about how they work.
I didn't get diagnosed until I was 58, (I'm 62 now). I found my niche (animation) in my 20's and spent the next 35 yrs loving it. It has become mind numbingly boring now, due to AI and technological changes. So now I'm excited about embarking on a new adventure, so this is a very timely video. Thanks for sharing and helping, Rick.
You know what... what I take from this video is - maybe I don't have to find my calling. Maybe that is ok. Maybe I shouldn't stress too much about finding that ONE job that makes me happy forever because it likely doesn't exist. I am good in so many things and so many different fields, why on earth would I want to change this and instead excell in accounting. My entire personality is extremely diverse and interesting, why would I want to numb it down...
My sister couldn’t tell me where i am good at. I was good in staying authentic she finally said. I’m pushing myself away from society, want to live basic and in nature like probably many of us. But is it my real choice or am i pushed in that corner, i dont know. It is the only way i know now becasue there is no way back for me. I want to work for a bit of food and appreciation. That’s it. And that is being authentic. Maybe we are here with that purpose, showing the others how to be a little more like us, to be authentic. Than the gap between us closes a bit and we can work together. We need each other so hard to build a new worksociety, because they suffer too in an other way. We never fitted in, so we make it ourselfs. We are not alone, look how many of us are struggling with the same shit for so long. Creating new jobs in our authentic way, maybe that’s our purpose. 💪
It sure feels like it 😢 Do I spend age 51 to 53 back in school to get the qualifications I need for my next career, start at the bottom and hope I have chosen something I might potentially enjoy while I barrel towards mandatory retirement? Or will I hate that too and just end up even more in debt with even less time?
I took assessments in high school and with the unemployment programs years ago. All of them said interior design and event planning. 😂 That’s what I do for a living, totally forgetting about this assessments until now. 😂
I’m 58 - and still lost - though FINALLY putting in the effort to find my path. I just found this vid and part one today - and glad I did. I found them reassuring. I know I have to be a wage earner until my final days - undiagnosed ADHD and a lack of coping SKILLS left me unprepared for my future. I have my health though and desire to find a fulfilling purpose. I found one once - professional swim coach. Great as the “second shift parent” - or stay at home dad as my daughter told me after she graduated college. I love swimming and coaching! However, when the kids were done with school and successfully out of the nest, the impact coaching was having on my relationship with my wife wasn’t healthy. I’ve given up coaching swimming so we can have a chance. It’s worth it. It’s been hard though to have that career that works with my ADHD so well no longer in my life. Finding a new future is frustrating at best, discouraging most of the time, and seems impossible to often. I look forward to following up on your channel as a part of creating my path forward.
I've asked so many people for help in trying to figure out what to do after failing in college and trying to go back but couldn't and you've just laid out every foundational obstacle and invisible walls I've been fighting against. Thank you so very much for making and sharing this content🙏🙏
I remember in high school I took an aptitude test that told me the only two jobs I would be good at were working in a mortuar preparing the dead for viewing and burial, and a moisture tester, which meant I’d be hanging out and working in a lot of dark basements. I wasn’t diagnosed with ADHD until my early 40s, and as a result, I realized that like many other people with ADHD , I have worked many different jobs throughout my adult life. I’ve never found peace in any of those jobs with the exception of one. The one job that I found satisfying, didn’t pay the bills, it didn’t pay a livable wage, and it was actually very taxing emotionally, but I loved it to some extent. Today, I have taken many tests that show what kind of personality I have, what my work style is like, and what my learning style is like, and all the jobs the machine spit out made absolutely no sense or are completely unattainable at this point in my life. Sorry, I don’t want to become a dentist, or a professor of advanced particle physics. Maybe I will look into working in a mortuary, it’s always going to be in demand right?
😂 I remember those high school guidance counselor tests. Mortuary, indeed. I'm 49 and still don't know what I'll.be when I grow up. So far, the job I have is good, nice perks, but barely scraping by. Savings? What?
So glad I found Rick again on this new channel. This humorous and lighthearted approach is a much needed antidote to hearing Russell Barkely who has very good science but can leave me feeling hopelessly "impaired", his favorite word. Also, Rick shares accomplishments but never makes it sound easy like some people who have been successful do. It can be very annoying when they announce, after telling of all of their professionals successes, that oh, I have ADHD too. Right.
im 30 years old, jobs I've had since my first in order. starting with Gamestop, petco, In n out burger, costco, trader joes, detailing/car wash gig, accounts executive for an orthodontic school, customer service through in n out, medical facilicty phone scheduler for behavioral health, Aaa member services, and now a travel agent. all in 11 years.
You are such a nice man and so helpful. Thank you very very much for all this information, which is opening doors for me that I couldn’t open myself….finally someone talking about me, as I hear myself described by you and your contributors….so comforting….looking forward to discovering myself and where I fit in, because of your helpfulness. Thanks again!
You are most welcome. It is rewarding to make a difference for people. I'm so grateful to all the doctors who've given freely of their time to be interviewed for our videos, and for our Patrons who support me through Patreon.
Structure issues can be very workplace-specific. I trained as a librarian, and was very good at (and enjoyed) certain of the library skill set, such as indexing, cataloguing. But the “cataloguer” job I walked into first was in a library run by someone who was convinced that smart people were very easily bored, especially by the routine daily tasks that constitute much of non-specialist library work. So she spent huge amounts of time rostering the staff, both general and specialist, to do these tasks - by the hour, on a three-week rotation. so every time I gathered my wits to do my ‘own’ specialised work, or got into a rhythm doing one of timetabled chores like opening mail or recording newly arrived material…I’d be interrupted after an hour. You can imagine. My wits were permanently scattered. But on paper, it was my perfect job, and it would play differently in another library. the upshot was the only rostered task I enjoyed was attending the public enquiries desk - because I didn’t have to think about what to do next, I just had to respond to the enquirer’s needs.
So interesting that you mention the not having to think about what to do next part. I worked in a box office as a ticketing agent for 5 years and although sometimes dealing with the public was struggle, I never felt the level of anxiety that I did when I had to do work that was more task/project based. Sometimes, the more time I have to think about doing something, the more difficult it is to actually how to do it efficiently.
I resonate with a lot of these stories. I've changed careers a few times in my life. I've had the privilege of being able to jump into related fields building a large pool of interconnected knowledge.
I‘m 55, and my wife kept on nagging at me about my ADHD behavior. I have been an entrepreneur since I was 28 years old. when I felt like I could be a multimillionaire, I was called by God to give up my career which I loved to another job- a pastor. now, I have been a pastor for ten years, and it is very challenging, but I love it. If someday I'm tired of my job, I will be a missionary in another country.
I cannot wait til part 3 because I'm in a bad way, needing to change my job. Along with my ADHD dx came Autism, and honestly I'm scared to get back in the process of job searching because I know it's going to hurt.
I was a rural carrier for half of my life and now I am a delivery parts driver. I tried to make the jobs interesting. I could hyperfocus on recognizing the correct numbers. But my struggle is with bosses, specifically narcissistic bosses. I attract them. It doesn't matter that I do my job well, I am overweight and that is all they see. It also doesn't matter that it happened after gallbladder surgery. All they see is fat. I feel like I have zero marketable skills outside of those skills and I am so very full of anxiety.
At 69 I've attempted no less than 15 job titles. From fast food (lasted 3 days) to documentary producer (7 years) to academic advisor (laid off at almost 3 yrs); and, finished an MA in creative writing. With a main small business running in the background. My curriculum vitae/business resume is a mess! Now I work at a very, very busy hardware store by answering the phone. A few months ago I woke up to the realization that I am happy with my job! I learn something new everyday, I do a lot of talking, and sometimes people laugh at my humor. My coworkers feel like extended family. I'm not certain any test would have put me in a hardware store bc I'm quite good at steering those test results. Okay, TMI. What was I doing?
I was diagnosed, at age 53, with ADHD 2 years ago. I was fired this past Friday due to what eventually boiled down to my ADHD. I was (and still am) devastated because it happened very suddenly and was completely unexpected. I LOVED my job, the company, and the people. I was very upfront with my ADHD, was very active in the company's disability resource groups. Unfortunately, very few managers and project leads we disinterested (one was downright hostile) in assisting me with implementing changes that would help me function better and more effectively.
I’m so sorry this happened to you! I feel like people don’t understand that ADHD isn’t just fidgeting and getting distracted. I think the only reason I haven’t gotten fired is because I’m in the military, so they kind of can’t. Bosses really need to understand that procrastination, bad time/personnel management, poor attention to detail, forgetfulness, burnout, etc. aren’t signs of laziness for those with ADHD. They’re just symptoms. It’s super disheartening to be really good at the meat and potatoes of the job (electronic troubleshooting for me), but to still ridiculed for being bad at all the dumb little stuff surrounding it.
Just a heads up, I just got out of the navy, and was able to get adhd meds while I was in. Lots of my coworkers were able to as well. You do still have to go without it for a year before joining, but that wasn’t an issue for me personally because I was diagnosed a year into my enlistment. I did see pilots get loaded up with stimulants a couple of times, but that was only when sh*t hit the fan in the Middle East 😂
Thank you for sharing well collected wisdom and insights from your life experiences and other people of similar age. It's somewhat refreshing next to all the hip, young and overly simplified content that's dumped on me by my algorithm. Your calm way of broadcasting immediately eases my nervous system and the topic is so incredibly important. Looking forward to what's about to follow...
The point is, if a person has ADHD, and cant focus , then whatever things/ subjects he comes across, he may not have the focus to go in-depth and discover if he is suitable for it?
thank you for doing thoses videos, im 43 , i just kindda realises im add , my life is a mess, luckyli i have a good wife that helps me. i still cannot wait to thrive in something. since i was in highschool i never knew what the heck im supposed to do for a living. changed ideas about 600 times by now ,, lost numerous job, shitty credit, no money saved up ect! the struggle is real
This is probably the best video series on ADHD and work I have ever watched, and I look forward to upcoming episodes, but you have got to do something about the ad settings. The number of interruptions for the length of the videos is over the top, and they are too long, especially those that go on for minutes if you aren't sitting in front of the TV waiting to skip them, but happen to leave the room to do something else while you are listening, as your audience is highly likely to do. Not ADHD-friendly AT ALL.
Im in outside sales and it’s been a catapult for my wellbeing and confidence. Don’t get scared about the “sales” word if that brings up images of slimy used car salesmen. The only downside is management is often stacked with dull neurotypical Boy Scout types who like committees and thousands of meetings.
How to answer the question at a job interview: Where do you see yourself in five years? "Ha, heck if I have a clue!" didn't work as well as I was hoping.
Oh I've done that. Cracked jokes in interviews. In answer to what are yr interests, I said "astrology and the supernatural". Then earlier this year in answer to about the third really challenging question I said "will I get my coat and go?". It can buy you some time in normal life, but not in an interview 😢
Hi Rick, eye-opening 2-part series! I want to be a comedy writer and performer, but I haven't found what works for me. I am constantly starting and stopping drafts, and I have a million ideas a minute, often trashing old ideas that were brilliant the day before. I can't get on stage without confidence from properly organized routines. What did you do to complete your drafts, and how did you manage to produce and direct while perhaps feeling "talented and incompetent"?
Performer here - have you tried giving yourself an outline to fit your jokes in? Ice breaker joke, self-effacing joke, something topical, story joke, call-back to self-effacing joke, etc. Watch different comedians and comedy shows with a timer. Research patterns. This kind of structure can make it easier. Also - and I haven't done this, but know it would help - get a Virtual Assistant to make your booking calls and do other admin. OR (and this works really well) pretend you are your own booking agent and use a pseudonym. I use my other's name, which is also my middle name and maiden name - so it doesn't feel like a cheat. Talking about yourself in third person makes things easier. Good luck to you!
@@cheriegullerud281 thanks for the suggestions! I'm using an outline, but can only work a few minutes a day without getting overwhelmed (i.e. sidetracked by a new idea or stumped with where to go next). I will keep trying, and once I get to the stage of booking, I can put the virtual assistant suggestion to good use :)
Find something you love that you can get paid for and try and find a job doing something like that or similar. Your superpower will come into play, allowing you to hyperfocus on the things you love to do.
I hate having ADHD ..especially combined with high giftedness. Its such a burden. I can basically do everything..build highclass leather dress shoes, programming, mech engineering, oil on canvas, physics..etc everything im interessed in. Currently working even in an engeineering department of a particle accelrator b.eng. and a msc in physics..great right? no because me brain simply switches to fast inbetween topics such that it is impossible to build a career on it. Or if what i currently do...its draining. I come home and feel like one has put me into a coalmine the last 12h. I'm constantly overstimulated or/and bored out to the point of depression...I really dont know what to do. Currently im considering serial entrepeneurship.... when I got diagnosed with ADHD (around 18) I thought cool now i now what to do just some meds and therapy and i will have a good life. No it does not get better and im tiered of allways working tripple as hard beeing mentaly exhausted all day to have an average live. I'm simply fed up. It gets harder the older I get. (im in my late thirties).
Same here. I got super qualified and knowledgeable at my job troubleshooting and repairing helicopter electronics, but once I was the top dog, even doing the smallest of tasks became excruciating. Sometimes a really interesting gripe will come along, and I’ll throw all my brainpower into getting to the bottom of it. Other than that though, I’m miserable. I’ve been told I’m simultaneously the most productive, and the least productive tech they’ve ever had.
Through hard I worked my way up from a Zamboni driver to the Director of Recreation Department. The futher I advanced in my career, the more time I spent at my desk. Eventually I lost interest, became paralized at starting or completing tasks and was fired. The strengths of my ADHD allowed me to learn new systems faster then others and lead to my promotion, but also lead to my dismissal.
I feel the same way at my job right now. I got really knowledgeable and qualified as an electronics tech on helicopters, got promoted a bunch of times, and eventually ended up in charge of running my shop. I was told that a lead petty officer needs to delegate the hands on work to everyone else, and just do admin work. I’m losing my mind. Emails are the bane of my existence, leading meetings makes me want to rip my hair out, and now even starting tasks is excruciating.
a question that has come up in my mind this morning, listening to the bit about the military service and high structure. Do these military-types have a lot of self-doubt about what they need to do, and the right way to do things? I've been wondering that about myself lately.
I have have recently discovered or rediscovered a passion of mine which I call ‘my purposes in life ‘ is a plant enthusiasts it ties into the great outdoors which is my go to. I extremely enjoy nature and the outdoors . I had my own garden as a young teenager 👍 I know this could is my retirement fulfilment but does not pay well . As my retirement funds depleted with indecisiveness decision making ! 😢 As for my careers over the 40 years I started as a Hairstylist 14 years & moved on to the Education world as an Educational Assistant 25 or more years -should’ve went into teaching but was fearful of how to be organized 😢 I tremendously struggle with organizational skills I tell myself baby steps and so fourth everything is workable and hard work 😅. Life is hard work for the most part but with a constant struggle of ADD it is a crazy time !
I have gone from hyperactive to innatentive as I got older ( I’m 47) - but I want to write a memoir and I am quite good at doing up old furniture ( decoupage ) And Crytozoology and anything to do with the paranormal .. nothing except writing has money in it future wise!
Who are these career counselors that understand ADHD? Where can i find this 6-8 week program mentioned?? The most vital part of this video is missing: the go here, talk to these people part. 😲
It states it is for entertainment purposes. Much talking was done but nothing was really said. If you need help, consider reaching out to your healthcare provider to refer you to a mental health provider or ask your insurance what providers are covered. It is more likely they will have more resources to help you than some video on TH-cam made by a comedian.
@@lobos342No disrespect but fuck you ear lobeos. Have you not read the other comments and see how much respect people have for this 'comedian'. He knows a shit ton more about ADHD than you probably ever will and has a heart of gold so SHOW THE MAN RESPECT!!!!
I'm in my 50's and resigned myself to being a crappy housewife- although the Fly Lady system has helped improve that- but now my kids are grown..... The two jobs that I had AND was good at was a fashion designer (brutal backstabbing double-crossing and glamorous) I loved it and I thrived. The other was as a masseuse in a holistic spa; again I loved it and I was great at it. Both of these were before diagnosis. Now my confidence is at zero and I set fire to my kitchen on the regular 🙄
Payroll working to fortnightly deadlines worked for me, but I left for a job near my house. It's secure but not a good fit. I make small mistakes but have lots of good ideas that they ignore. Have felt like walking out a few times. Resisted the urge.
I have ADHD and ADD and I have been stuck in retail and call center jobs my whole life because I could not get a job in the city I lived in for graphic arts which is what I was originally trained in and loved. I have had many unsatisfying jobs through my 58 years and now I am once again searching for another job???
Exactly the same jobs as me, do you have combined ADHD? I find the condition so debilitating because my memory is so poor and I have a slow brain processing speed, I preferred retail than admin, I don't like jobs with long or complex processes I prefer retail where it's just taking orders....yes people will say it's boring and it is but I prefer that to multi tasking and doing tasks that are taxing on my brain with processes I forget. Thought of setting up your own biz? Id like to do a food prep biz or have my own restaurant but I'd like a business partner than going it alone
@deanslife1 yes I hanker after those jobs, you take the order, they get it, they leave. The job I'm doing now, mistakes come back to haunt me weeks later. My mistakes, to be clear!!
lol you sound like me being attracted to learning things at in intense pace. Like permaculture, herb farming, etc. but I got into cannabis and herbs for healing purposes lol.
I hyperfocus on something last for about few years, then lost interesting quickly. I moved on to next career, same cycle happened. I just cannot stay on one and last forever. So im licensed architect, and licensed CPA. Wonder what next license i should get?! Lol.
I honestly think I have some sort of learning disability along with ADHD. I can’t seem to get good at anything. I’m 50 years old, all I’ve ever wanted to do is work with music in some way, I didn’t even care what capacity. I couldn’t even work in a record store due to severe anxiety. I’ve been bad (or at best, mediocre) at almost every job I’ve ever had. And unfortunately, as much as I love creating music, I am NOT GOOD at it. I know that. I just can’t seem to learn. 🤷♀️
My problem is I can’t read well. Uploading information to my brain is a Herculean effort. A simple one paragraph email will take me a full five minutes to process. It’s mentally and emotionally exhausting. Thinking medication may help. I take really good care of my health. A little worried about side effects.
OMG!!! I didn't know this land existed! I thought I was a unicorn 🦄 😢 He obviously was sitting right there in my office! Now on disciplinary after they changed my responsibilities. I'd finally perfected this position. I'm feeling forced to go back to truck driving
Structure yuck. Love excitement n challenge but honestly the stress management is tough for this ADD r.. i kept quitting hospital at bout the 16-18 mo.. but then going back.. at some point my resume looked aweful n had to jump around d other work.. not easy
When i was a kid i wanted to become a fighter pilot, i really loved planes and the idea of flying a fighter jet, unfortunately i had a genetic disease called DMD so i couldn't fullfil that dream of mine. Now I'm 23 and recently found out i have ADHD too. Explaining why i couldn't be serious about a career and tbh that sucks. I wish i had found a career that holds my interest but here i am still searching for that right career.😅
Volunteer firefighter as a starting point. Mountain resuer (even on the phone), suicide helpline adviser, skyscraper window cleaner, ummm I wish I could do this for myself..... Find out your MBTI personality type, it's game changeing.
I have never been diagnosed with adhd but I am 99.9% sure I am adhd. But because I have adhd I am struggling to take it upon myself to schedule an appointment to get help!! Please help!!! Haha 😅
I can't agree that any jobs are fine. I would have wished that someone told me monotonous, very structured jobs are leading to sickness (paper work, boring computer inputs) like working in an office although a nice, calm and structered environment is what I need. Maybe not within 10 years, but after 20 or 30 years. So look for a good job before you are around 50 years old when a general cognitive decline starts anyway.
Lol 😂 same thing - teaching immature teenagers how to organise a locker, or teaching small kids how to put the toys back in the bin when you are done. That aside, I'm with you - I got 3 widely different suggestions on.y career assessments and none of them vibed with me at all. I don't know who designs those tests... I hope you find the right choice, I have not, but one piece of advice: don't stay in the wrong field or job too long, even if everyone advised you to. It crushes your soul, and your confidence. If that happens, figure out what is the worst thing about the job/field and try to at least switch to something related that doesn't have that attribute, if you are stuck in terms of where you actually want to go. At least you are gaining confidence that you can make a change and be proactive - learned helplessness creeps in faster than you think. Resign from your job to avoid resigning altogether. Good luck!
Im in the miltary as a mechanic and let me tell you dude this shi* is terrible. I dont regret it because it is a good kick start to life but I wouldnt have chose to be a mechanic. Its day in day out the same damn thing dude.
I did 20+ in military medicine and it was the exact opposite for me. One day, you’re giving 300 guys their flu shot and the next day you’re jumping on a helicopter to handle some crisis. It sucks that a young person is often forced to pick their job without knowing what it really entails and then are stuck with it because there are LOTS of tedious jobs in the military.
i’m 46 years old and i still don’t know what i want to be when i grow up. 🤷♀️ my issue is that i get super interested in something, hyperfocus on learning everything about it’s get bored & burned out, find another career idea that’s sparkly, rinse & repeat.
I was the same, I only found out what I want to do when I was 46 and that was by accident. I still wonder if I should do something else, but deep down I know that at my age my current job is the best thing I can hope for. I still have some freedom on how to do it and creativity is even encouraged within the confines of required outcomes. 😊 I get anxious and stressed and I am doubting myself every day, never feeling like I am on top of my life, but the chance of learning more about the topics and the delivery of that knowledge to my kids all with different backgrounds. There are frequently new theories about the psychology of children and learning disabilities, outside and within the education system, the challenge of differentiation and communication with the parents who might not even know, or accept their child might not be neurotypical. Every year I get a new "set" of kids and mostly new parents, none of whom is ever identical with who came before.. I might have changed schools more often than the average person, disappointed with the limitations by the management, but I have stuck to the actual work for 9 years but I am still learning: the knowledge and expertise is pretty limitless without having to worry about being promoted to a managerial role.
Similar boat here
Almost 57 and I do the same.
Me too
Same for me. I'm 57. I've found higher self-awareness through books about cognitive behavioral therapy ("The Feeling Good Handbook") and a somewhat clearer career path through "What Color is You Parachute?," but I am still in the 'somewhat tolerable' zone.
I've never found my calling, or even a long-term tolerable gig. Nowadays, I am just running the clock down to my public pension. 😉😉Life is NOT short: it is long and arduous.
If you still feel young enough to have potential and you have access to a high-quality assessment as explained in this video, GET AN ASSESSMENT. Please!
"When you've seen one kid with ADHD, you've seen one kid with ADHD". What a great quote 👏
I was an accountant. I'd go into a company, fix all their financial systems, get bored, and leave. I did it over and over again. Always left with excellent references, always got another good job.
That combination of structure and freedom.
Ha. I started off as a costume designer, then a motorcycle courier before working as a nursery worker, I then built a farm and became a herb farmer before quitting to become a landscape designer and permaculture designer before building houses, then I got bored of that and became a wildfire management consultant while running a volunteer fire brigade. I think I've settled down now. I actually decided working in emergency services was the best when I was 3. Should have trusted my passion.
Diagnosed at 62. This senior is still not sure of path.
How about farming/micro farming?
By accident i got into police dispatching and 911 phone communications when I was 23yrs old, it saved my life because I had been bumping around some pretty crummy jobs for a year before i found it and i always felt out of place in those jobs. Police dispatching was exciting, fast paced and absolutely new every damn second, when that phone rang you never knew what you were going to get from a cat stuck in a tree to a full on shooting going on in real time, it could get harrowing and very stressful over a long period of time. I did it for 17yrs but i had to let it go because i had difficulty with stress management, I checked out all the classes on stress management that my local department of public safety had to offer, but at the time those classes didn't really address the issue at all and not even for police officers either. What ended up happening was that i would go into freeze mode when it would get quiet during the shift and there were a few times that would happen (when all hell wasn't breaking loose). When the phones would start ringing again or the officers would call on the radio breaking the silence like a pavlovian dog I would jump right back into action and that was ok, but when I would go home I would slide right back into freeze mode which really conflicted with what I had to take care of during off duty hours (like housework, errands, administrative stuff, or socializing). i started having melt downs and had to lie down and rest for hours which left everything else undone and of course people around me didn't understand, they just thought I was losing my mind. I started to work that I would have a melt down at work and I just had to quit because I was afraid of putting someone's life in danger. I took off for 15yrs and have been learning that I had ADHD (undiagnosed), but I've also begun meditation (that has been my life saver and I wish I had known about meditation when I was a kid, it would have made my life a lot easier w stress), in addition to learning about attachment styles in early childhood and how that has affected my melt downs and also behavior in other people and why they do what they do and break the law or have difficulties managing their behavior. thank you for this video Rick, appreciate all you do to teach about ADHD
I wonder how many ADHD viewers enjoy this, watch it to the end, then go off looking for Part 1 forgetting to click the up-thumb before they go?
I hope you recognize my name... again... you saved my life. Thank you so much. I still don't know what career to get at 47. I work hard at the one I have and it's always tough.
But giving me some kind of framework to understand myself has been life saving.
Thank you for everything and keep up the great work.
i am 45, i have struggled whole my life. Then by chance I come across this term ADHD through a youtube sharing by an asian celebrity who also has that. I identified his symptom
very similar to mine, hence i went for diagnostic.
Bless you Keith. There's many of us in the same boat.
@@keithunlimited what are you doing now?
@@samitune Currently I'm a NOC Technician and I think I like it? First job to pay me enough where I can live and survive, so... I like that part a lot.
I worked in the veterinary field for 18 years and didn’t struggle one bit. Every day was different, I needed to be thorough, and I love nurturing and caring for animals and people. It gave a perfect balance of routine/perfection, and novelty. This was before I was diagnosed as an adult with inattentive type ADHD (I was nearly 38). I never struggled with anything other than being a few minutes late on occasion.
My symptoms worsened after motherhood, and after I switched to a career in healthcare administration. I love jobs that involve attention to detail, where I can hyperfocus and make sure things are accurate. BUT the BIGGEST problem I run into is “metrics”. Productivity numbers are my kryptonite. I need a job where quality trumps quantity, which is very difficult to find.
Thank you for making a video series that doesn't fit the TH-cam checkboxes of "quick fix" and "let me sell you how"!
I'm kind of on the other side of this, I'm about to turn 60. I am lucky to find what worked for me. I haven't been diagnosed with either ASD or ADHD but it just makes sense to me that it is going on. What I like about your videos is that you are showing how to select and think about a career choice, because I am also finding it hard to find a job (Ageism is likely my barrier now) So what it my next stage in life? I can explore ideas and give it consideration. Thanks! Exciting stuff!
I have severe ad/hd! I have worked for 14 years as a career counselor vocational rehabilitation counselor for individuals with disabilities primarily for neurodevelopmental diagnosis like adhd, autism, learning disabilities. I love it! I get to be an out of the box thinker helping find my clients jobs & find good job matches! 💜
Yeah what state because every state I've been to you guys suck
This sounds so rewarding! At my last job, when I got into a leadership position, I was committed to being the leader that little me would’ve thrived under. It sounds like you get to be the person that younger you would’ve thrived from working with, and you get to watch people thrive because of you! (Sorry I said “thrive” too much)😂
How do I get in touch with you? I desperately need a career counsellor that can help me find my spark again
I'm 44, I found out about my ADHD during my struggles with Long Covid as the doctors disentangled the symptoms of each. I work in Television, mostly as an Editor, but aside from my first year of employment (over 15 years ago), I've never really enjoyed it. I got stuck doing it because I was good at it and because they kept paying me.. so whenever I tried to escape it's orbit, I always got pulled back in because I had bills to pay. Editing works for me because like many other ADHD people, I am a high functioning problem solver, but I don't enjoy it and the worst part is there's no career progression and could very likely soon be a position gobbled up by AI. I am creative AND technical, but I feel underdone and like I've wasted my potential by getting stuck in a job that's going nowhere and I don't enjoy. It's harder still to see friends on massive salaries with their own homes and pension pots.. none of which I have despite the fact they're not smarter than me. I feel like I've made critical errors in the decisions I've made for my life and don't see a way out, which is depressing. The spectre of AI is also giving me a crisis of self, because if it can do my job, what am I good for? Knowing I have ADHD is helpful, but it's not a solution to my issues. It doesn't feel like there's a path to follow with any of the right answers right now.
Ditto!
I’m in tech. My ADHD helps me because you always have to keep learning. Can you become an expert at how AI is used in your field? It is just a tool. ChatGPT etc. are really prediction models based on the massive amount of data on the web. But they still need humans to use the tools, because they don’t work all of the time.
I also find that it becomes more interesting if you learn a bit about how they work.
I didn't get diagnosed until I was 58, (I'm 62 now). I found my niche (animation) in my 20's and spent the next 35 yrs loving it. It has become mind numbingly boring now, due to AI and technological changes. So now I'm excited about embarking on a new adventure, so this is a very timely video. Thanks for sharing and helping, Rick.
You know what... what I take from this video is - maybe I don't have to find my calling. Maybe that is ok. Maybe I shouldn't stress too much about finding that ONE job that makes me happy forever because it likely doesn't exist. I am good in so many things and so many different fields, why on earth would I want to change this and instead excell in accounting. My entire personality is extremely diverse and interesting, why would I want to numb it down...
My sister couldn’t tell me where i am good at. I was good in staying authentic she finally said.
I’m pushing myself away from society, want to live basic and in nature like probably many of us. But is it my real choice or am i pushed in that corner, i dont know.
It is the only way i know now becasue there is no way back for me. I want to work for a bit of food and appreciation. That’s it. And that is being authentic. Maybe we are here with that purpose, showing the others how to be a little more like us, to be authentic. Than the gap between us closes a bit and we can work together. We need each other so hard to build a new worksociety, because they suffer too in an other way. We never fitted in, so we make it ourselfs. We are not alone, look how many of us are struggling with the same shit for so long. Creating new jobs in our authentic way, maybe that’s our purpose. 💪
Never too late to change careers ❤
It sure feels like it 😢
Do I spend age 51 to 53 back in school to get the qualifications I need for my next career, start at the bottom and hope I have chosen something I might potentially enjoy while I barrel towards mandatory retirement? Or will I hate that too and just end up even more in debt with even less time?
I took assessments in high school and with the unemployment programs years ago. All of them said interior design and event planning. 😂 That’s what I do for a living, totally forgetting about this assessments until now. 😂
I’m 58 - and still lost - though FINALLY putting in the effort to find my path. I just found this vid and part one today - and glad I did. I found them reassuring. I know I have to be a wage earner until my final days - undiagnosed ADHD and a lack of coping SKILLS left me unprepared for my future. I have my health though and desire to find a fulfilling purpose. I found one once - professional swim coach. Great as the “second shift parent” - or stay at home dad as my daughter told me after she graduated college. I love swimming and coaching! However, when the kids were done with school and successfully out of the nest, the impact coaching was having on my relationship with my wife wasn’t healthy. I’ve given up coaching swimming so we can have a chance. It’s worth it. It’s been hard though to have that career that works with my ADHD so well no longer in my life. Finding a new future is frustrating at best, discouraging most of the time, and seems impossible to often. I look forward to following up on your channel as a part of creating my path forward.
I've asked so many people for help in trying to figure out what to do after failing in college and trying to go back but couldn't and you've just laid out every foundational obstacle and invisible walls I've been fighting against. Thank you so very much for making and sharing this content🙏🙏
I remember in high school I took an aptitude test that told me the only two jobs I would be good at were working in a mortuar preparing the dead for viewing and burial, and a moisture tester, which meant I’d be hanging out and working in a lot of dark basements. I wasn’t diagnosed with ADHD until my early 40s, and as a result, I realized that like many other people with ADHD , I have worked many different jobs throughout my adult life. I’ve never found peace in any of those jobs with the exception of one. The one job that I found satisfying, didn’t pay the bills, it didn’t pay a livable wage, and it was actually very taxing emotionally, but I loved it to some extent. Today, I have taken many tests that show what kind of personality I have, what my work style is like, and what my learning style is like, and all the jobs the machine spit out made absolutely no sense or are completely unattainable at this point in my life. Sorry, I don’t want to become a dentist, or a professor of advanced particle physics. Maybe I will look into working in a mortuary, it’s always going to be in demand right?
Yes, your customers will be dying to get an appointment! 😆😆 I joke to take the edge off: I admire your honesty and candour.
@@hungryghost3260I’ll be the talk of the afterlife.
😂 I remember those high school guidance counselor tests. Mortuary, indeed. I'm 49 and still don't know what I'll.be when I grow up. So far, the job I have is good, nice perks, but barely scraping by. Savings? What?
Omg my test was a FURRIER as well!!!! I'm now 64 and I'm still looking for were I fit in life!
So glad I found Rick again on this new channel. This humorous and lighthearted approach is a much needed antidote to hearing Russell Barkely who has very good science but can leave me feeling hopelessly "impaired", his favorite word. Also, Rick shares accomplishments but never makes it sound easy like some people who have been successful do. It can be very annoying when they announce, after telling of all of their professionals successes, that oh, I have ADHD too. Right.
I gave up on finding a job and starting working for myself, lolol.
What do you do exactly?
What do you do now as self employed?
Me too. I still have analysis paralysis on certain aspects and it’s a frustration for me. But I love working for myself.
And you are your own toughest customer
YESSSSSS!! That's what I want to do, but my problem is finishing, or getting my ideas into ACTION. Ugh.. I hate it.
im 30 years old, jobs I've had since my first in order. starting with Gamestop, petco, In n out burger, costco, trader joes, detailing/car wash gig, accounts executive for an orthodontic school, customer service through in n out, medical facilicty phone scheduler for behavioral health, Aaa member services, and now a travel agent. all in 11 years.
wow! you're right! I did watch this right away after part 1!
You are such a nice man and so helpful. Thank you very very much for all this information, which is opening doors for me that I couldn’t open myself….finally someone talking about me, as I hear myself described by you and your contributors….so comforting….looking forward to discovering myself and where I fit in, because of your helpfulness. Thanks again!
You are most welcome. It is rewarding to make a difference for people. I'm so grateful to all the doctors who've given freely of their time to be interviewed for our videos, and for our Patrons who support me through Patreon.
Structure issues can be very workplace-specific. I trained as a librarian, and was very good at (and enjoyed) certain of the library skill set, such as indexing, cataloguing. But the “cataloguer” job I walked into first was in a library run by someone who was convinced that smart people were very easily bored, especially by the routine daily tasks that constitute much of non-specialist library work. So she spent huge amounts of time rostering the staff, both general and specialist, to do these tasks - by the hour, on a three-week rotation. so every time I gathered my wits to do my ‘own’ specialised work, or got into a rhythm doing one of timetabled chores like opening mail or recording newly arrived material…I’d be interrupted after an hour. You can imagine. My wits were permanently scattered. But on paper, it was my perfect job, and it would play differently in another library. the upshot was the only rostered task I enjoyed was attending the public enquiries desk - because I didn’t have to think about what to do next, I just had to respond to the enquirer’s needs.
So interesting that you mention the not having to think about what to do next part. I worked in a box office as a ticketing agent for 5 years and although sometimes dealing with the public was struggle, I never felt the level of anxiety that I did when I had to do work that was more task/project based. Sometimes, the more time I have to think about doing something, the more difficult it is to actually how to do it efficiently.
… And working with kids in general or who are ADHD or ADD I really enjoy their energy !❤
Best video on the subject of careers I've watched so far. Waiting for part 3 & 4 &...
I resonate with a lot of these stories. I've changed careers a few times in my life. I've had the privilege of being able to jump into related fields building a large pool of interconnected knowledge.
I‘m 55, and my wife kept on nagging at me about my ADHD behavior. I have been an entrepreneur since I was 28 years old. when I felt like I could be a multimillionaire, I was called by God to give up my career which I loved to another job- a pastor. now, I have been a pastor for ten years, and it is very challenging, but I love it. If someday I'm tired of my job, I will be a missionary in another country.
Here I am , 60 and close to retirement age. I wish I’d had this information, insight and kind sharing when I was a kid
I cannot wait til part 3 because I'm in a bad way, needing to change my job. Along with my ADHD dx came Autism, and honestly I'm scared to get back in the process of job searching because I know it's going to hurt.
I was a rural carrier for half of my life and now I am a delivery parts driver. I tried to make the jobs interesting. I could hyperfocus on recognizing the correct numbers. But my struggle is with bosses, specifically narcissistic bosses. I attract them. It doesn't matter that I do my job well, I am overweight and that is all they see. It also doesn't matter that it happened after gallbladder surgery. All they see is fat. I feel like I have zero marketable skills outside of those skills and I am so very full of anxiety.
At 69 I've attempted no less than 15 job titles. From fast food (lasted 3 days) to documentary producer (7 years) to academic advisor (laid off at almost 3 yrs); and, finished an MA in creative writing. With a main small business running in the background. My curriculum vitae/business resume is a mess! Now I work at a very, very busy hardware store by answering the phone. A few months ago I woke up to the realization that I am happy with my job! I learn something new everyday, I do a lot of talking, and sometimes people laugh at my humor. My coworkers feel like extended family. I'm not certain any test would have put me in a hardware store bc I'm quite good at steering those test results. Okay, TMI. What was I doing?
I was diagnosed, at age 53, with ADHD 2 years ago. I was fired this past Friday due to what eventually boiled down to my ADHD.
I was (and still am) devastated because it happened very suddenly and was completely unexpected. I LOVED my job, the company, and the people.
I was very upfront with my ADHD, was very active in the company's disability resource groups.
Unfortunately, very few managers and project leads we disinterested (one was downright hostile) in assisting me with implementing changes that would help me function better and more effectively.
Sorry to hear..
@@idahoe7581 🥰
I'm sorry that happened to you. Things more often than not do turn around.
I’m so sorry this happened to you! I feel like people don’t understand that ADHD isn’t just fidgeting and getting distracted. I think the only reason I haven’t gotten fired is because I’m in the military, so they kind of can’t. Bosses really need to understand that procrastination, bad time/personnel management, poor attention to detail, forgetfulness, burnout, etc. aren’t signs of laziness for those with ADHD. They’re just symptoms. It’s super disheartening to be really good at the meat and potatoes of the job (electronic troubleshooting for me), but to still ridiculed for being bad at all the dumb little stuff surrounding it.
Just a heads up, I just got out of the navy, and was able to get adhd meds while I was in. Lots of my coworkers were able to as well. You do still have to go without it for a year before joining, but that wasn’t an issue for me personally because I was diagnosed a year into my enlistment. I did see pilots get loaded up with stimulants a couple of times, but that was only when sh*t hit the fan in the Middle East 😂
Thank you for sharing well collected wisdom and insights from your life experiences and other people of similar age. It's somewhat refreshing next to all the hip, young and overly simplified content that's dumped on me by my algorithm. Your calm way of broadcasting immediately eases my nervous system and the topic is so incredibly important.
Looking forward to what's about to follow...
The point is, if a person has ADHD, and cant focus , then whatever things/ subjects he comes across, he may not have the focus to go in-depth and discover if he is suitable for it?
Thanks, Rick! You’re one of very few who actively help out with steering a career. Many of needed this more than… a boot to the head!
So excited waiting for part 3
This is great--thank you!!! : - ) Would love to see a part 3. ❤
Great series can’t wait for the next one.
thank you for doing thoses videos, im 43 , i just kindda realises im add , my life is a mess, luckyli i have a good wife that helps me. i still cannot wait to thrive in something. since i was in highschool i never knew what the heck im supposed to do for a living. changed ideas about 600 times by now ,, lost numerous job, shitty credit, no money saved up ect! the struggle is real
This is probably the best video series on ADHD and work I have ever watched, and I look forward to upcoming episodes, but you have got to do something about the ad settings. The number of interruptions for the length of the videos is over the top, and they are too long, especially those that go on for minutes if you aren't sitting in front of the TV waiting to skip them, but happen to leave the room to do something else while you are listening, as your audience is highly likely to do. Not ADHD-friendly AT ALL.
Switich to using Opera as your browser. Get an ad blocking extension. I didn't get one interruption.
I hate complete routine. I like organization but routine makes me brain dead.
Im in outside sales and it’s been a catapult for my wellbeing and confidence. Don’t get scared about the “sales” word if that brings up images of slimy used car salesmen. The only downside is management is often stacked with dull neurotypical Boy Scout types who like committees and thousands of meetings.
How to answer the question at a job interview: Where do you see yourself in five years? "Ha, heck if I have a clue!" didn't work as well as I was hoping.
"I have time blindness, what does 'five years' mean?"
Oh I've done that. Cracked jokes in interviews. In answer to what are yr interests, I said "astrology and the supernatural". Then earlier this year in answer to about the third really challenging question I said "will I get my coat and go?". It can buy you some time in normal life, but not in an interview 😢
Hi Rick, eye-opening 2-part series! I want to be a comedy writer and performer, but I haven't found what works for me. I am constantly starting and stopping drafts, and I have a million ideas a minute, often trashing old ideas that were brilliant the day before. I can't get on stage without confidence from properly organized routines. What did you do to complete your drafts, and how did you manage to produce and direct while perhaps feeling "talented and incompetent"?
Performer here - have you tried giving yourself an outline to fit your jokes in? Ice breaker joke, self-effacing joke, something topical, story joke, call-back to self-effacing joke, etc. Watch different comedians and comedy shows with a timer. Research patterns. This kind of structure can make it easier. Also - and I haven't done this, but know it would help - get a Virtual Assistant to make your booking calls and do other admin. OR (and this works really well) pretend you are your own booking agent and use a pseudonym. I use my other's name, which is also my middle name and maiden name - so it doesn't feel like a cheat. Talking about yourself in third person makes things easier. Good luck to you!
I use my Mother's name, not other's name...
@@cheriegullerud281 thanks for the suggestions! I'm using an outline, but can only work a few minutes a day without getting overwhelmed (i.e. sidetracked by a new idea or stumped with where to go next). I will keep trying, and once I get to the stage of booking, I can put the virtual assistant suggestion to good use :)
@@ZahraMarie good luck to you!
The Best Job for adhd i think is to know many think and working in the Good team that can manage every people With their talent .
Find something you love that you can get paid for and try and find a job doing something like that or similar. Your superpower will come into play, allowing you to hyperfocus on the things you love to do.
Hie i am 50, dentist surgeon, i have HDAD from the beginning, i have discover i am asperger too…i have find the way when i was younger
I hate having ADHD ..especially combined with high giftedness. Its such a burden. I can basically do everything..build highclass leather dress shoes, programming, mech engineering, oil on canvas, physics..etc everything im interessed in. Currently working even in an engeineering department of a particle accelrator b.eng. and a msc in physics..great right? no because me brain simply switches to fast inbetween topics such that it is impossible to build a career on it. Or if what i currently do...its draining. I come home and feel like one has put me into a coalmine the last 12h.
I'm constantly overstimulated or/and bored out to the point of depression...I really dont know what to do. Currently im considering serial entrepeneurship....
when I got diagnosed with ADHD (around 18) I thought cool now i now what to do just some meds and therapy and i will have a good life. No it does not get better and im tiered of allways working tripple as hard beeing mentaly exhausted all day to have an average live. I'm simply fed up. It gets harder the older I get. (im in my late thirties).
I have a mechanical engineering diploma, Hire me
Same here. I got super qualified and knowledgeable at my job troubleshooting and repairing helicopter electronics, but once I was the top dog, even doing the smallest of tasks became excruciating. Sometimes a really interesting gripe will come along, and I’ll throw all my brainpower into getting to the bottom of it. Other than that though, I’m miserable. I’ve been told I’m simultaneously the most productive, and the least productive tech they’ve ever had.
thank you for sharing this, it tremendously helped me understand my situation much better. i wish i had watched this 10 years back.
Through hard I worked my way up from a Zamboni driver to the Director of Recreation Department. The futher I advanced in my career, the more time I spent at my desk. Eventually I lost interest, became paralized at starting or completing tasks and was fired. The strengths of my ADHD allowed me to learn new systems faster then others and lead to my promotion, but also lead to my dismissal.
I feel the same way at my job right now. I got really knowledgeable and qualified as an electronics tech on helicopters, got promoted a bunch of times, and eventually ended up in charge of running my shop. I was told that a lead petty officer needs to delegate the hands on work to everyone else, and just do admin work. I’m losing my mind. Emails are the bane of my existence, leading meetings makes me want to rip my hair out, and now even starting tasks is excruciating.
a question that has come up in my mind this morning, listening to the bit about the military service and high structure. Do these military-types have a lot of self-doubt about what they need to do, and the right way to do things? I've been wondering that about myself lately.
Thank you for your work and spreading awareness 🎉❤
I have have recently discovered or rediscovered a passion of mine which I call ‘my purposes in life ‘ is a plant enthusiasts it ties into the great outdoors which is my go to. I extremely enjoy nature and the outdoors . I had my own garden as a young teenager 👍 I know this could is my retirement fulfilment but does not pay well . As my retirement funds depleted with indecisiveness decision making ! 😢
As for my careers over the 40 years I started as a Hairstylist 14 years & moved on to the Education world as an Educational Assistant 25 or more years -should’ve went into teaching but was fearful of how to be organized 😢
I tremendously struggle with organizational skills I tell myself baby steps and so fourth everything is workable and hard work 😅. Life is hard work for the most part but with a constant struggle of ADD it is a crazy time !
Enjoy the ride, if you can.
You set fire to your thumb with a laser? ( insert YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN joke here )
I have gone from hyperactive to innatentive as I got older ( I’m 47) - but I want to write a memoir and I am quite good at doing up old furniture ( decoupage )
And Crytozoology and anything to do with the paranormal .. nothing except writing has money in it future wise!
49 here , diagnosed at age 10. i found a more spiritual path to my life although i dont really make money at this i have learned to live with myself.
I'm combined, predominantly inattentive. I definitely need structure, goals and deadlines / milestones to perform at my best 😂
Lol 'out there on the Hairy Edge' love that one Rick.
Who are these career counselors that understand ADHD? Where can i find this 6-8 week program mentioned?? The most vital part of this video is missing: the go here, talk to these people part. 😲
It states it is for entertainment purposes. Much talking was done but nothing was really said. If you need help, consider reaching out to your healthcare provider to refer you to a mental health provider or ask your insurance what providers are covered. It is more likely they will have more resources to help you than some video on TH-cam made by a comedian.
@@lobos342No disrespect but fuck you ear lobeos. Have you not read the other comments and see how much respect people have for this 'comedian'. He knows a shit ton more about ADHD than you probably ever will and has a heart of gold so SHOW THE MAN RESPECT!!!!
I'm in my 50's and resigned myself to being a crappy housewife- although the Fly Lady system has helped improve that- but now my kids are grown.....
The two jobs that I had AND was good at was a fashion designer (brutal backstabbing double-crossing and glamorous) I loved it and I thrived. The other was as a masseuse in a holistic spa; again I loved it and I was great at it. Both of these were before diagnosis.
Now my confidence is at zero and I set fire to my kitchen on the regular 🙄
Ha you are funny Why can't you go back to being a masseuse? Too physical?
I have found the cure for ADHD! Two words: ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT.
Payroll working to fortnightly deadlines worked for me, but I left for a job near my house. It's secure but not a good fit. I make small mistakes but have lots of good ideas that they ignore. Have felt like walking out a few times. Resisted the urge.
Walk out. Life is too short.@@SusanaXpeace2u
Ugghhh! I’ve been good at the job of administrative assistant but can’t stand desk jail! (Going to the same place day after day after day…) 😞
I have ADHD and ADD and I have been stuck in retail and call center jobs my whole life because I could not get a job in the city I lived in for graphic arts which is what I was originally trained in and loved. I have had many unsatisfying jobs through my 58 years and now I am once again searching for another job???
Exactly the same jobs as me, do you have combined ADHD? I find the condition so debilitating because my memory is so poor and I have a slow brain processing speed, I preferred retail than admin, I don't like jobs with long or complex processes I prefer retail where it's just taking orders....yes people will say it's boring and it is but I prefer that to multi tasking and doing tasks that are taxing on my brain with processes I forget. Thought of setting up your own biz? Id like to do a food prep biz or have my own restaurant but I'd like a business partner than going it alone
@deanslife1 yes I hanker after those jobs, you take the order, they get it, they leave. The job I'm doing now, mistakes come back to haunt me weeks later. My mistakes, to be clear!!
lol you sound like me being attracted to learning things at in intense pace.
Like permaculture, herb farming, etc. but I got into cannabis and herbs for healing purposes lol.
I hyperfocus on something last for about few years, then lost interesting quickly. I moved on to next career, same cycle happened. I just cannot stay on one and last forever. So im licensed architect, and licensed CPA. Wonder what next license i should get?! Lol.
Thanks Rick! Keep sharing!
I honestly think I have some sort of learning disability along with ADHD. I can’t seem to get good at anything. I’m 50 years old, all I’ve ever wanted to do is work with music in some way, I didn’t even care what capacity. I couldn’t even work in a record store due to severe anxiety. I’ve been bad (or at best, mediocre) at almost every job I’ve ever had. And unfortunately, as much as I love creating music, I am NOT GOOD at it. I know that. I just can’t seem to learn. 🤷♀️
I love music too and I would love to be a D.J. or an event planner or something like that, but at 53 I don't know how to start.
What about recording engineer?
See if you can get a day to walk with someone in your field of interest. That was the best afvise I ever got.
A manager position ? Meetings, plannings, being stuck in the office ? I've been refusing for decades... eek...
Thank you
6:15 preach 😂
My problem is I can’t read well.
Uploading information to my brain is a Herculean effort. A simple one paragraph email will take me a full five minutes to process.
It’s mentally and emotionally exhausting.
Thinking medication may help.
I take really good care of my health. A little worried about side effects.
Is it the same with blueprints, or easier?
Furier? Yikes! 😵 My assessment in high school said "Farmer." I'm in Medical Imaging. Go figure. 🤷🏼♀️
I wonder if viewers of this video rewind a bit to re-hear bits of it again, many times through the video, more so than the average video on TH-cam?
6:14 😂 I never thought about that. That's so funny
OMG!!! I didn't know this land existed! I thought I was a unicorn 🦄 😢 He obviously was sitting right there in my office! Now on disciplinary after they changed my responsibilities. I'd finally perfected this position. I'm feeling forced to go back to truck driving
Than you so much 😊
If you know ADHD you can spot it across the room or 1:1 for those without hyperactivity.
Structure yuck. Love excitement n challenge but honestly the stress management is tough for this ADD r.. i kept quitting hospital at bout the 16-18 mo.. but then going back.. at some point my resume looked aweful n had to jump around d other work.. not easy
How do I discover what my focus patterns are?
did you find out?
When i was a kid i wanted to become a fighter pilot, i really loved planes and the idea of flying a fighter jet, unfortunately i had a genetic disease called DMD so i couldn't fullfil that dream of mine. Now I'm 23 and recently found out i have ADHD too. Explaining why i couldn't be serious about a career and tbh that sucks. I wish i had found a career that holds my interest but here i am still searching for that right career.😅
Volunteer firefighter as a starting point. Mountain resuer (even on the phone), suicide helpline adviser, skyscraper window cleaner, ummm I wish I could do this for myself.....
Find out your MBTI personality type, it's game changeing.
I have never been diagnosed with adhd but I am 99.9% sure I am adhd. But because I have adhd I am struggling to take it upon myself to schedule an appointment to get help!! Please help!!! Haha 😅
1:58 ..."armed with a Bachelor Of Science IED"... How did you focus through the studying needed to gain this I wonder?
I can't agree that any jobs are fine. I would have wished that someone told me monotonous, very structured jobs are leading to sickness (paper work, boring computer inputs) like working in an office although a nice, calm and structered environment is what I need. Maybe not within 10 years, but after 20 or 30 years. So look for a good job before you are around 50 years old when a general cognitive decline starts anyway.
Is there any overlap of ADHD and Neurodivergence.
My assessment suggest I become a military office or a daycare worker?
Lol 😂 same thing - teaching immature teenagers how to organise a locker, or teaching small kids how to put the toys back in the bin when you are done.
That aside, I'm with you - I got 3 widely different suggestions on.y career assessments and none of them vibed with me at all. I don't know who designs those tests...
I hope you find the right choice, I have not, but one piece of advice: don't stay in the wrong field or job too long, even if everyone advised you to. It crushes your soul, and your confidence. If that happens, figure out what is the worst thing about the job/field and try to at least switch to something related that doesn't have that attribute, if you are stuck in terms of where you actually want to go. At least you are gaining confidence that you can make a change and be proactive - learned helplessness creeps in faster than you think. Resign from your job to avoid resigning altogether. Good luck!
what assessment was this?
What are some of the test I should take?
@12:15 **JIBE. She means jibe (being in agreement); not "jive" (lying).*
*Submitted with all due respect.*
As a kid I wanted to be Spiderman. Little did I know. May be its ADHD or may be I am born with it!
Without structure I am a kidult in the most negative sense imaginable. I want creative freedom, not so much absolute freedom.
#paramedic
Yeah and then after all that there are no opportunities or openings when you want them lol
Im in the miltary as a mechanic and let me tell you dude this shi* is terrible. I dont regret it because it is a good kick start to life but I wouldnt have chose to be a mechanic. Its day in day out the same damn thing dude.
I did 20+ in military medicine and it was the exact opposite for me. One day, you’re giving 300 guys their flu shot and the next day you’re jumping on a helicopter to handle some crisis. It sucks that a young person is often forced to pick their job without knowing what it really entails and then are stuck with it because there are LOTS of tedious jobs in the military.
Isn’t a furrier a person who puts shoes on horses? Kind of like a manicurist for the equine customer.
Is that not a ferrier. Not sure tbh!