I was recently diagnosed with ADD and have been a sales rep for years. While I've always been good with customers I severly lacked in the areas of paperwork, organization (which really affected my ability to cold call effectively)listening and memorizing new product info.

I've jumped from job to job mostly due to the anxiety the job causes me when things aren't going well. I've often worked out of a home office which has also been difficult for me as there are so many distractions that keep me from doing my job.

My lack of organiztion has now been the cause of constant worrying and being fired for the first time from a sales job. Since then I suffer from severe anxiety attacks whenever the boss wants to meet with me.

I now know in my heart that sales is not the correct carreer path for me now and was thinking of a carreer in account management where I simply look after a designated account list (though a lot less money) or starting my own business.

I was wondering if anyone else has had a simialar experience that they could share?

I used to be in Banking, while counting money was a job I was excellent at, the paperwork was a job I was terrible at. I couldn't get organized with it at all and I ended up going from Bank to Bank. It was when I was laid off from Banking, that I was tested and they found I was a "gifted" person and they offered me to go back to school. It just so happened that I was tested also for ADD and had started ADD counsilling. I went into a field where I knew my good skills would be highly rewarded and that organization wasn't so key. I'm currently a CAD technician and love it. Well that's my story, I hope you hear others. :)

You know what, I am not sure I agree with you on your decision as to what to do about the problem. What I have read indicates that ADD people make EXCELLENT salespeople... the troubles you are describing will follow you to any job you have anywhere...

You know your situation better than I do... you should trust your own instincts. But it seems to me that if you can overcome your (our) traditional difficulties with a Palm Pilot, ADD coach, medication, whatever, you could still be the excellent salesperson you have been...

On the other hand... you may have lost interest in the job itself. Many ADD people cannot stay at a job more than a couple of years (often much less) because they simply can't be interested in it after they have mastered it.

Golfgrip: Welcome to the Forums....glad you are here....and being so upfront and honest about what's going on in your life....We invite you to share a little about yourself in the Introductions thread......

I think Paul's words to you are excellent.....

Please keep posting....you will get a lot of support here....:)

Thanks to everyone who's replied. I've gone out and purchased a palm pilot and it has certainly helped. Because I've only been diagnosed recently I'm really not sure what medications would work, my concern is they will alter my personality and change who I am.

There are definately parts of sales I like, but like in my last job we were to do a detailed daily, monthly and annual sales report. A detailed territory report. A detailed territory plan bi-annually. As well as a presentation at our sales meetings on the success within our territories. At times I felt I was left with no time to visit customers. And then to call on new customers I would have to be organized about who I was going to call on, notes as to who I had called and left messages to, who I should make follow up calls to and how often. Information I should send customers I had seen. The list goes on and on and for someone with ADD I'm not sure a new business focused sales organization is the way to go.

I love selling and dealing with people, I think if I'm to continue in sales it needs to be less new business focused and less report oriented. I would love to start my own business, it seems like my brain turns out a dozen new business ideas a day, I'm hoping my brain can just settle down and focus on one of them.

Golfgrip: If you would like a little reality check....:) Meds don't really have the power to change personalities or who people are....Their affects on the brain are much more subtle than that....People DO change as a result of being on the meds....but it's only as a result of the affects of the meds, not the meds themselves.....

Meds help people focus better, have a little more energy, be more motivated, etc. They help with frustration tolerance....might help you be calmer, less distracted....they might help your racey thoughts if you have them.....and this might all make you happier and hence a personality change could happen.....but it would take a little time.....meds don't tend to "kick in" right away.....

All the tasks in your sales job DO sound overwhelming.....can you find another sales job that more meets your needs in terms of less new business focus and less report orientation focus....?
And THEN perhaps start your own business???

Sales are one of the best areas I can think of for an ADDer.

I sold Life Insurance for a short while and hated it as I was selling a non tangable object that was sold based on peoples fear of the "Big What If"

I also left that for the same reasons I hear from you

Foucus on new business

But in time I found I am a very good salesperson as long as I believe in the product.

There are many products that are good products that are bought and needed evey day so dont run away from something you do well.

Walk away slowly after you have figured out what parts of the job you love and excell in and what parts suck.

when you do that the next step is to figure out how to eliminate those parts or how to do them better

ie: palm pilot, appointment calender, Personal Information Manager

Thanks for the input guys this forum really helps. I think you all realize I didn't mean to step on any toes regarding meds I just haven't researched any yet. Are there any meds specifically that you would suggest I look into based on some of the difficulties I've mentioned?

Any input would be great!

Cheers

Being in technical sales for much of my life, I have often struggled with how ADD effects my ability to focus, complete arduous tasks, etc.

Meds have worked great for me, and I'm currently quite pleased with how Strattera is working.

However, you should keep in mind that different meds & dosages work differently for each person. So, go talk to your doc, and with his assistance, finding the right one may very well give you a new "lease" on how you view life in sales :)

Let us know what you decide, and how things progress!

Well being that the decriminalized marawana over here in canada I can say it really takes the edge of of everything and lets you see clearly now

Its just that it makes you forget everything ten times as fast

what was I talking about ? I forgot

Really I have been using dexadrine for over a year now and its great

but from what I have seen here its a learning process to see what works

I was lucky
tried ridlin made me walk on the celing

then dexadrine and bingo

the lights went on

the fog was lifted

eh?

Originally posted by waywardclam
You know what, I am not sure I agree with you on your decision as to what to do about the problem. What I have read indicates that ADD people make EXCELLENT salespeople... the troubles you are describing will follow you to any job you have anywhere...
But what about things like deficit in social skills, and anxieties etc. which both tend to accompany ADD?

I am quite good when it comes to giving information (I loved the placement I did in a library for example) in spite of sometimes struggling to stay focussed on the question, but going up to people and trying to sell them stuff (or any other shop-type job where you are constantly in contact with customers) is one of my nightmare visions!

Same goes for working on a till/waitressing/working behind a bar etc. I panick even just thinking about that kind of work because I'd be hopelessly overwhelme !:eek:

Oh man, I would LOVE to work in a library. In fact I'm going to apply at one this weekend.

Sc@tterbr@in, there are many positions you can get into that don't demand that, but if you are looking to overcome social skills problems, I only have one suggestion and that's because it is what did it for me, I don't know what might work for someone else:

Go into theatre. Amateur theatre. It can be something very small, very simple, you can take a course or volunteer for a community production. You'll make all kinds of new friends.

If you take a class that includes improv training, you might find it hard at first... especially because so many people dread being on stage...

But let me tell you I love theatre, so I tried out for a friend's improv comedy group he started about three years ago.

DIRECTLY BECAUSE of that experience, I can now talk my way through ANY situation. Job interviews will never be a problem for me again in my life. If I wasn't married, I know I would have no fear either of asking someone for a date...

After you've done the things I've done on stage and in rehearsal, communication just isn't scary anymore.

I don't know if this would work for you. But I recommend trying. Because it's not only therapeutic, it's damn fun as well. :D

Cool, I'll have a look if there are any groups going locally.

I actually did that when I was a kid and really enjoyed it (we didn't do plays as such, just acted out scenarios, a bit like a social skills group I guess) but they didn't have enough participants to keep the course going :(

For a long time I never knew what I wanted to do when I grew up but when I discovered libraries I wanted to become a librarian - I just love the filing systems, I love books and I love playing detective (finding the right book for people etc.), plus I'm really good at finding/providing information so I would've been quite good at it too.

My teachers & my parents nearly had a heart attack when I said I didn't want to go to college but to an apprenticeship as a librarian instead (back then it was a separate educational path) because "someone as bright as you MUST go to college, it would be SUCH a waste", so I wimped out. Might still end up doing it at some point, although being a programmer suits me OK at the moment and pays better, and since I work in a publishing company (it was either librarian or something in publishing that I wanted ot do) I am still suitably close ;)

Golfgrip----I think we might be brothers??? Or just worked for the same company, I dont know. I had all the same problems as you did--It sounds like the same job.......anyway

I think Sales is an excellent job for an ADD'er. I dont know what other job would let me "work around" my personal difficulties that I have with ADD and not have me in real trouble. I am a sales rep and I found the best way to deal with my organizational skills is with a laptop computer and a program called ACT!. I track all of my appointments, to do lists, customers, sales calls.......etc.

Let me know if you are interested and I will let you know more about my "system" for being an ADDer in Sales. I have been much better at my job since I started it.

Matt

Very cool,

And thanks for the post. I would be very interested in your system. Right now I'm using a Palm Pilot and it's been a big help. However for doing things like track sales calls ect, it has limitations. Congrats on your success and I'd love to hear more about your system!