Does 9-5 and 1.9 Kids in the Suburbs Sounds Like Death to You?

That's okay.  Frankly, I'm right there with you.  But many people seem to like that sort of thing, so I'm not going to rag on it.  I don't need to tear down someone else's dreams to live mine.  But we have to stop equating 35 years and a gold watch to success.  Yes, that can be success, but it's not the only kind.  The world has changed.  There is far less company loyalty.  Almost everybody is an at-will employee.  In the last 20 years, people working independent contractor (1099) jobs has risen 30% (Harvard/Princeton).   People change jobs, if not careers, every 4.2 years (Bureau of Labor Statistics).  What a great time to have ADHD!  This is the world for you.  Sorry everyone else. 

It is a time of self-employment.  ADHD folks can be fiercely independent and they are go-getters.  And nowadays, you don't have to work for anyone else.  If you have a marketable skill or product, start your own business.  If you think you can do something better, go do it.  Build that start up, open that doggy daycare, sell your art.  

It is a time of innovation.  If anyone can build you a better mousetrap, it's someone with ADHD.  If you can't find a job you want to do, then create one.  Be a professional bridemaid.  Or bring back phrenology.  Review ice cream on YouTube.  Start a lizard farm (I don't know where you will find lizard-sized tractors, but you'll figure it out).

It is a time of multiple income streams.  How great is that when you have a bunch of interests that you bounce between?  You don't have to have a job; you can have five.  You can spend time polishing rocks and then do some coding and move on to brusking and call all of that work.  It's okay that none of those is likely to support you because all of them will.  

It's a time of remote work.  You can work from literally (almost) anywhere!  You can work all over the world while sitting in one place or you can work in one place while you travel the world.  Restless, bored, looking for adventure?  Well, then get up and get moving.  Work can come with you!

It's a time of risk-taking.  The big risks can pay those big rewards.  There is value in being able to take that leap of faith, try that crazy idea, make the unpopular decision.  Sometimes you just have to jump and hope the net is there.  
This is a time tailor-made for the ADHD brain.  You can live your big dreams.  Or a bunch of small ones.  You can find your passion and then live to work or work to live.   You don't have to hold down a job.  You don't have to live like everyone else.  You can be you.  

And that is what success is.  Success is being comfortable with yourself, who you are, and just how f-ing cool you are.  Success is living the life that fits you best.  Success is joy.  
I would love to hear from you guys.  Leave a comment and tell me about your success.

Hey, You! I Have Something Important to Tell You

Yes, you. You, the person with ADHD who just happened upon my blog. I want to talk to you. I want to tell you that this is really happening to you. Your life is very difficult. It’s harder for you than it is for others around you. You aren’t making it up. You aren’t exaggerating it. You aren’t milking it for sympathy. This is actually happening to you. And I’m sorry because it sucks. It’s hard and painful and, yeah, it just sucks. But please understand: It sucks; you don’t. You are doing an amazing job. Really above and beyond. You are trying so hard. And it shows. Right now, it might feel like your life is falling apart around you and you are holding it together with duct tape and safety pins. Wow! That is so great! You are amazing! You have the strength of a thousand! And I am really, really proud of you. If nobody has told you what a spectacular job you are doing, let me. You are doing a spectacular job. You are fighting through a hundred different obstacles just to make it to the end of the day. And you do it. It isn’t always pretty, but you are holding it together. You deserve a pat on the back. Give yourself a pat on the back. Now, I want to invite you to imagine what you could do if you had more than duct tape and safety pins. Imagine what you could accomplish if you had a toolbox full of tools at your disposal. Imagine the heights you could reach, the worlds you could build, the dreams you could live.

I cannot be too clear about this: There is nothing wrong with you. In fact, if you have ADHD, it’s likely that you’re a pretty cool person. You are probably caring and funny and just a joy to be around, in general. You’re fine, so stop trying to fix yourself. You can’t fix what ain’t broken. And trying is only causing you pain. What you can fix are the mental and physical environments in which you live. You can change how you think about yourself. You can change how you approach life. You can change what it means to be successful, productive, and happy. You can take control of the world around you and adjust it to fit you.  
And I really hope you will. I hope that you will take control of your world because you deserve more than duct tape and safety pins. You deserve the best in life. You deserve to have your dreams come true. And you deserve to rest. Really, you must be exhausted. Life shouldn’t be this hard. And when you realize that you aren’t the problem, it will start to get easier. Love yourself for who you are. Because you’re so damn lovable.  

You are freaking awesome!  I just thought you should know. 

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