I'm wondering...Having read many of the posts about what ADDers have done with work, or the kinds of jobs they've held...I wonder....What career path have You taken?

While Im in the Health/Dental feild, I have been: artist, babysitter, nanny, house keeper, chambermaid, deli person, store manager...................now Im do graphics, write etc etc etc..Ive slowed down alot.

I received a BA in English Lit, and a paralegal dregree, and used neither professionally. I worked on the floor of the CHicago MErcantile Exchange for 7 1/2 years, then as an accounting lead and manager. All high energy, high stress jobs. I spent almost a year in sales, then 4 months as a courier before I gave up for the time being and applied for disability. I am still wondering what I want to be when I grow up
claudia

Oh my...I actually listened to what my grandmother told me long ago before she passed on....wise woman...strict as "heck"....but anyway what she said was -- with healthcare you can't go wrong....so that's what I'm doing...I've strayed in other directions I did not want to go....but ultimately -- and now -- I'm going for what I want....and know I'm on the right track...Thank God...:)




Joan

Yep she was right.. There's always going to be sick people. Whether it be in the head or in the body.. It's not gonna go away in our lifetime.

The longest career that I have stuck to..(not really by choice) is the clerical field. 17+ years. I like most young people started out in the restuarant field. My first job was when I was 16 (kicked out and living on my own) as the Shift supervisor. Talk about a tough job. I was the youngest person working there and the staff didn't want to listen to me at all. Adventually I quit school and obtained my GED, because I was burning the candle at both ends, and I need to stay employed so I could pay the rent and utilities. After getting my GED I went to tech school and went into the Clerical field. After finishing that, my mom and dad divorced and I went and lived with my mom. We moved to Missouri mainly to get away from my control freak of a dad, and I went to Job Corp because it was associated with the Building of Interior and my dream was to work for the National Park Service. After a 9 month wait at the Job Corp. I finally got in to the Park Service. I spent a year and half there when I was injured, and consequently was discharged medically and had to go back to the clerical field. In the clerical field I have held just about every postion except CEO. Although I was their right hand numerous times. I get bored easily, so I often worked Temporary Services just so I could have a lot of change. The most fun I had in a job was Temping for LSI, a major Computer/Internet Company. I helped set up an online mega-store website. This job rocked. I made good money and had fun doing it. Unfortunately fate took me to Missouri, where jobs are limited. So now I am my mothers Personal Care Attendant. It's not the greatest money, but hey it gives me lots of freedom. :D

Darkhound: Appreciated your comment about my grandmother being "right"....:) and you know what? I'm sure what you said was EXACTLY what she was thinking...that there would always be sick people....

and Spirit: - wow -- it never occurred to me that I too was my mom's personal care attendant all those years that I lived at home -- I was in my 20's -- not employed outside the home...but sure taking care of my mom. And I'm sure your great at it too...:) :) :)




Joan

I have worked as a Sales-Rep, Sales Clerk, Beauty advisor and make-up artist, Chemical Dependency Counselor. The longest I have ever stayed in one job was 5 yrs. I usually got promoted, or found a better job. I have always gotten in "trouble" because of in-accurate "paper-work" which is the bane of my exsistence. No matter how many times I check my work over, there are always some mistake that I never even noticed. I've just left another job in Chemical Dependency, which I feel was my "life's work" as an addict in recovery, and the Mother of an addict. As a Counselor, I've been loved and respected by my Clients. Peers and administrators have treated me like a fly on watermellon. Because I don't pay attention to detail, because I can't. and because of making silly, stupid, obvious, mistakes on paper work. Unfortunately, the Paper work seems to be more important than helping the Client's! I've applied for disability, and early retirement. I'm sick and tired of having my self-esteem bantered about like a punching bag. As ADDers, I think we do best if we were in business or practice for ourselves.

Carolyn -- That's too bad...as I'll bet that you were the best addiction counselor those treatment centers had...in fact I'm sure of it...I can hear it in your writing....you were the model of recovery for your clients as you "walked the walk" in sobriety with them....

Sorry you got buried in the details of the paperwork in your job...I think it's a shame to see your skills not be used as you think about early retirement and disability...any chance your talents could be used, say, for someone who's in private practice as a chemical dependency counselor and you could work for them as their associate? Perhaps less paperwork there??? OR how ABOUT your own practice, as you mention?? Then the paper work is on your own time...OR how about part-time work somewhere??

I mean since it's your life's work...and it sure sounds like it's your passion...maybe there's a way....:)

Originally posted by toydoggie
As ADDers, I think we do best if we were in business or practice for ourselves.

I'd strongly disagree on this point... I think most people I know who have ADD have had trouble holding down a corporate job, and much of that due to motivation and focus... and if there are two things you need to work for yourself are motivation and focus.

Unless, of course, it's a job you really love anyway... that'd give you the motivation and focus. But for me at least, I prefer to have some degree of supervision, frankly.

I am in truck driving myself but in the process of setting up a part time business that involves kids, ADD information, ADD fourums, Add coaching

I am willing to share my idea with anyone who is interested at no charge

I will tell you what I am proposing and then you decide if it will work for you

Best of all Im going to let the Canadian Government pay for a lot of the setup costs

It cost nothing to ask,

Ill charge you nothing for the idea.

And you Can maintain a full time job and still get to go to as many fairs, functions , Grand Openings as you can Handle.

And the tax write offs will be unreal.

Imagine driving a Camper Van that you are paying for with before Tax dollars because you need it for your business, your computer, your cell phone, and part of your residence, all become Tax Deductable, becuse you are in business for your self.

There is a cost to get the stuff you will need to do it but there are ways in Canada anyway to get government support to do it

You decide where you want to buy what is needed and how much you want to spend

once your set up you can work darn near anywhere , basically whenever you want and business will ask you to come as it will be free for them and they will get free advertising.

You will get paid by donations from the parents of kids who want to use your equipment.

Sounds a little um... "out there." Doesn't sound like much of a business plan, frankly. I'll pass. But let us know how you do with it!

I know for me I need to be supervised or I will procrastinate, goof off, whatever. I need deadlines, etc. I will never be an entrepreuneur. Heck I can't even spell it. I need to be shown what to do..and have some semblance of direction, routine....and yet not be too bored. But yet need contant stimulation. But yet need to feel smart. Yet work with others smarter than me. And have to be working with people. And feel "part of". And need to feel challenged. Some down time needed. Yup that's my ideal job in a nutshell. Thanks for the opportunity to describe it. A desk job would make me nuts. SOME time at a desk is okay. That's why I decided to be a dietitian. I get to run around a hospital while seeing sick people while sort of doing the same thing every day but really not! Make sense to anyone here????:)

Garry, by the way, don't think I'm being down on you about your job or your business opportunity... I just think something like this is SO far from anything I could conceivably be interested in. Others might be, and if this fits your niche, then terrific! :)

Ha At least I got a responce from someone

Grin

How do you know what a flavor of ice cream tastes like unless you ask some one or you try it


Grin

I work in telecom. My actual title is "Telecom Analyst." I actually stumbled into telecom in a sense. Before that I work with developmentally disabled adults in a daytime program to develop living skills and job skills. Some had jobs, some volunteered. I really liked the job but it did not pay very well and we wanted have my wife be at home when we had kids. Also, I lived in San Jose/Silicon Valley and everything was going tech crazy. I just went to a bunch of Job fairs and applied for Customer Service jobs and ended up at Voicemail company called Octel, doing 1st level technical customer support. That was back in Feb '96 and I have been in Telecom ever since, working at Siemens(phones and voicemail), Cisco(supporting Telecom)--Cisco was a major disappointment, sold a different bill of goods than I got. Now I work at a Pharmceutical Benefit Management company the past 3+ years doing telecom work in a large call center. I can truly say that I really love my work, especially big projects where I have to dance on chaos! I don't like when things are slow, which sometimes they are. But people really like me and my work at my company, so that is worth a lot. Plus it is a secure job at a company company that is doing really well, which can't be taken for granted these days. During the slow times I started an Avaya Users Group(telecom geeks in an area/professional development user group for people who work on Avaya phone equipment).

But I am also very interested in being a writer. I am just getting back into writing poems after about a 10+ year break and I have a life goal to write a book. Could be poetry, children's, fiction, auto-biographical/memoir, I am not really sure...I just know I will write one or more books in my life. I also enjoy art, painting drawing. I am going to do a painting tonight for this Art contest thing at work. I also play guitar. Those things are my passions which I am beginning to nuture again. I guess I have been writing all along, but it has been through journaling.

I guess that is enough.....my wife says, "It is time to be a parent now...." :D

Talk to you all later.....

Originally posted by Garry Lawton

How do you know what a flavor of ice cream tastes like unless you ask some one or you try it


Ah... but you could also ask... do you really ever know what it tastes like? Even if you taste it? Maybe what tastes like vanilla ice cream to you tastes like asparagus to someone else. Maybe that's why so many things taste like chicken...

just some "food" for thought.

I think vanilla is vanilla is vanilla. Come on, be real, maybe if someone is talking about frog's legs or turkey, those may taste like chicken. But asparagus versus vanilla ice cream--I don't think so! Tastes like chicken is also a little tongue in cheek when people don't really know how to describe how something tastes :)

What does Ice Cream have to do with this post anyway... I thought we were talking about jobs/careers....Let's move this tangent train back in the original direction because I think it is an intersting topic :)

Ok i stand corrected

Saw in a movie once

cant remeber the name of the movie

The Father-in-Law to be giving advise to the new son in law to be

" Find Something That you Would Do For Free For The Rest Of Your Life",


" Then Figure Out How TO GET Paid For It"


Makes Sense to me

I've always kind of thought the opposite... find something that pays really well.... and then do it well enough that eventually I can do OTHER things besides work! :)

Thats what everbody thinks and then they work all there life and never get to do what they really like

Well... not "everybody."

Case in point: My father: became a very successful electrical engineer....(sure he liked it and it makes good money) and worked for two companies for awhile...then started his own consulting business...has made TONS of money...(and still chooses to work PT today at 75 years old....I say chooses by the way)......and has done other things too....like garden and golf and cook and travel all around the world with my mom, play wth his grandchildren, etc. Not too bad, huh?:)

I stand corrected

A lot of people not every body

True Garry: That's why anybody that gets to do what they REALLY like AND get paid for -- all their lives -- is darn lucky. I'm taking a shot at it now. Right now I'm trying to get a job in a hospital to get good clinical skills (which is the beginning of what I want to do as a dietitian)...and then in a few years go for a job I REALLY want in the profession...like working with kids/families and obesity....If this works out, I'll be darn lucky:)

Any Job leads joan?

Oh thanks for asking. I started a "Job Interviewing" thread for myself.....where I'm sort of talking about the process. But yes I had two good interviews this week. One here in Tampa, FL and one in Boca Raton, FL to where I travelled yesterday. I am on my way back to Tampa now.

Some tough questions yesterday James. Such as "tell me a time where you used poor communication skills and you knew it and how they could have been better"? YUCK! Talk about a negativity trap. But I didn't go there. I did okay with it......:)

THEN she asked me TONS of questions about patient care management as a dietitian. Some tough general questions.. I HAD to know my STUFF REAL WELL!! I guess I answered 90% right. But I think they liked me. And I know a successful interview always ends up with the feeling that they like you, right?

I bet you did great on your interview!! Good luck!

Time will tell...thanks James for the kind words:)

I'm curious what we all do, if you choose other, please let us know what its is. If you have the time can you give one positive ADD thing about it and one negative ADD thing about it. Thanks!

I'm a CAD designer or a Civil Engineer Technician... whichever you want. On a positive note, I work with lots of new projects and I get to draw for a living. On a negative note, my office is very distracting with meetings, phones, questions, air conditioners, people's personal radios.. can drive me batty!

I do accounts receivable for a large oil and gas company. The negative part is that because the company is so large, everything is so departmentalized. You are stuck doing one thing and one thing only and are not able to get involved into other areas. I was in a cubicle environment which is the worse enviornment an ADHD person can be in. In June, we got moved into the new building and I am now in a two person office which is wonderful. And what is so good is that my office mate has OCD. I get frustrated because I know that I am capable of doing more than I am doing and I feel that they do not use my input that much. I get so excited when they actually ask me to do something, even if it is pulling a check remittance. But I am with an excellent company and since the job market in Houston is so bad.....trust me I am staying put, plus they pay for my college tution and books which has doubled.

There is no other to choose that I can see

I drive Big truck
To the Positive side it allows me many hours to do a lot of brainstorming and thinking which is good when I want it to be


To the Negative side it allows me many hours to do a lot of brainstorming and thinking which is not good when something is bothering me and Im stuck in my truck and cant escape my environment to change my thought process( ie walk away from what I'm doing to distract my thoughts)

I added it to the poll, just for you, Garry ;)

I work in Internet and Data security. Can't really say more than that, though ;)

I put OTHER as I am a security guard.

That's just my job, though, not my career. If I get my druthers then I am Artist/Writer.

I help run a large videoconferencing network for a bank.

Kassie: Can you add a "Healthcare" category? :)

I have after a looooooong & grueling and arduous process just completed training and credentialling as a registered dietitian....(and now seeking employment in a hospital)......

Good for ADD'ers: NOT at a desk all day....get to move around a hospital.....yet some sitting work (designing care plans).....and get to talk to people (patients).....telling them what to do:D (eat)......very challenging.....and use of educational and science background.....and ALWAYS a challenge.....your intelligence shows in this field....and you get to deal with doctors and other smart people.....:)

Bad for ADD'ers: after a while may get repititious unless switch jobs within the profession itself....



P.S. I am impressed: we have a lot of versatility with regard to careers here.....

Come to think of it, I think I started a poll like this "long ago". I'll go hunt for it :)

Long-term memory apparently isnt a problem...lol

http://www.addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=605&highlight=jobs

Anyway to merge the two polls, Andrew?

I have merged the two polling careers posts together :)
My first one :D Hope this didn't confuse anyone too much ;)
Did I do ok, Andrew?

You did great, Kassie! :)

Yes I too think this is amazing Kassie....all of the "older" posts now combined with the new posts....:) Thanks....

I am a 61yr old RN. I Have worked in psychiatry/dual diagnosis for the past twelve years. I was diagnosed with ADD in 1989 -- LONG before most people believed adults could be ADD. I work with a patient population where at any given moment, 75-85% are ADD or ADHD -- I love the field. I also am a recovered alcoholic (22years. Empathy plays a big part in what I have chosen to do. Yes I STILL have trouble with accuracy on paperwork, planning etc. and there are times when I wonder if its worth it (the struggle) but I'll hang in. :)

Good for YOU Mairia!!

Yes agree with Andrew Maira...and your personal and professonal stories are very impressive.....You are certainly a role model.....Congrats on the sobriety, by the way.....

It sounds like you were made for your profession -- and I'll bet you're a very empathetic lady....:)

Mairia, is your background in psych nursing or general? I'd love to work in your sort of area.

I'm a Registered Nurse. While I *love* the work (more a vocation) and the patients adore me, I've always had trouble with other staff on the wards. While I'm fine if left to work on my own, I get really disorganized, stressed etc when I have to work to someone elses schedule.. work *with* someone else. Of course its then assumed I'm like that all the time. Have also had trouble with the social stuff - again, not with the patients, but with the staff. As a result, have stuck mainly with night duty and I've tried many different areas over the years - from IVF to Blood Bank - but yet to find something that suits - mainly for the same reason. Have also tried other jobs.

For a long time, a return to study seemed like the only option. I tried that in Jan 2002 but it was sheer bloody torture hell and I ended up back in the depression hole again. Just couldn't do it. I barely made it through the first time - survived nursing training only coz I did it hospital based. I'm a smart cookie :) but I don't learn well in the 'usual' situation. I know a lot of stuff and I learn *far* more when left to my own devices but, of course, you don't get recognition for that.

Now that I know I have ADD I can see why this has all been such a struggle. Also, being 36 and only recently diagnosed, I've developed a lot of additional difficulties - severe / chronic depression & social phobia type issues. I'm sure a lot of you can relate to what I'm saying.

Not really working at present and I still don't know what I want to do with my life. Medn has made a big difference to me and I'm thinking of giving the wards another go but the social stuff is paralyzing me for now. Still, its early days yet..

Peace,
Opal D

"I was a stricken deer that left the herd long since."
William Cowper

I still don't have a carreer. I did the samething as Dark Hound.............but it ended up not being the best idea for me. My parents told me to work in the medical field. Sence I liked photography so much they suggested X-ray. I did very well in college with a GPA of 3.89 but when it came to my boards I struggled with the parts of the test people said was easy but passed the harder parts first try. I took the test about 4 times and once I passed a section didn't have to take them over again but what got me is that I as trained as a limitted scope. Meaning I don't do floroscopy, barrum, dye injected X-rays, trama, T- spine or C-spine yet I was supposed to know all of it for my boards. I really didn't understand why I was being tested on something I wasn't taught. Well anyway because of never being taught it I never could pass those parts of my test and I ran out of money to keep trying.
Also, when I had my extern my anxiety rose very high. There are tooooooooooooooooooooooo many details to this job and you suposed to remember it all off the top of your head. Yeah right there are over 300 positions not to mention how people size makes the Kvp And mass used different everytime and I could never do the math in my head. The newer X-ray machines I was better at because they did most the work for you like the math and if you made a mistake it was all on computer. Like say It was too dark of a pic you could fix that on the computer. Only time you had to redo X-rays on that machine is if you accidently cut off part of the bone you were going for.............joint to joint must be in all x-rays. That can be tricky too because half the places don't carry all the sizes of film you need. Plus every machine was worked differently. Needless to say I got very overwhelmed and because of that I made many careless errors and worked slower than I should have but I tried my hardest! ................I dunno just saying that the medical field doesn't work for everyone. I feel like I wasted my parents money. I mean it wasn't a total waste but they don't have the money for me to just do that so I feel bad. Oh. and it didn't help my school caused a lot of my problems but there isn't anything I can do about that I already tried.
Now 2 years later I have still not had a job. It really hurt myself esstem esp as well as I did in school. I had never done that well in school before or even come close. I am hoping to go back to college next year and study psychology but I wish I could get mysel a temp job til then. I come so close will even fill out applications but no one calls so that makes it even harder for me to take charge and just get a job!

OK I checked "Creative arts/writing" rather than service, I'm in a fuzzy end of the architectural realm and am self-mostly-un-emplyed as my own boss much to the dissapointment of my wife and myself if things don't pick up soon.

Once again I fall under "other" poll doesn't include work for self, nor did it let me pick more than one. I have been in health care, creative arts, machinicial, now in recycling which was other. This is an ADD board am I the only one who doesn't have a career path but paths(plural form)? How do you start a poll I want to know, please if I am the only one who has multiple ocupations in a variety of diciplines?

I can never stick with one job because I get bored to easily. But the last job I had was the best one that I would go back to - I used to work as an intern prosecutor for the County DA's office. We were all empowered by the state bar to act as attorneys and be heard on the record as "counselor."

Have you cansidered a job that has multiple departments that you will be able to cross train for and or transfer to. I was able to get a decent record of employment by working for facilities where I could transfer to different floors, and work different shifts. My application says I worked for "x" company for three years and I did. What the applications doesn't show is that I worked three different areas and two different shifts during that time of employment. I always transfered with good status and at my request.
Tammy

I spent my younger years waitressing - and loved it!

But I always felt that I needed to get my bachelor's degree. After my son was born, I went back to school (again - 5th time). The school was on the quarter, rather than semester, calendar, and I (finally) excelled. Quarters are very short and intense. I was always up against a deadline and the material was new and exciting. On the semester system, by midterm, I was bored and usually quit going to class - then dropped out.
Law school was great - no long, boring chapter books. Just page after page of one to three page case summaries. Every day a new assignment. Susan

i dont know if ive folowed any sorta "path". i started out after highschool as a catholic brother, then i left: i worked as a gas-station dude, a janiter, a exterminater, and now i run my own music buisness.

I am 56 and was diagnosed last year, so glad to understanding my lifetime of issues! I too, could never figure out what I "wanted to be". So..I became a Mom of 4 great kids, and have been working with at-rist first graders for the past 14 years! Perfect job for me....didn't know it was empathy that made it my niche. My ADHD son is 33 and has a degree in Communications and Psychology. He has had about 20 jobs in his lifetime (or more) and was never able to feel satisfied with anything. He is finally in the police academy and feels settled and fulfilled like he never has before. He's excellent with computers, but always told us that it would be too boring for him to do everyday. I guess you just have to ultimately follow your dreams even when others think you can do better somewhere else...ADHD people are very apt to stumble through until they find their heighth of interest!

I'm studying Special Education, and I intend to get a Masters in Counseling...but I am also going to be taking the Pharmacy Technician test in January, and I translate German from time to time. I have also done some work with my dad's business.

My current job when I am not at school is working for an afterschool program as a tutor during the school year, and daycamp counselor in the summer.

All I have to say is, I'm glad I could pick more than 1 choice. :D

I recently read in one of Thom Hartmann's books that Ben Franklin had 37 different occupations in his lifetime. I've had 10 different jobs in the past 10 years but only about 4 or 5 distinct occupations, so I have quite a ways to go.

I am a librarian in an elementary school. Some days I love my job and other days I live in fear that it will be taken away from me because I won't be able to perform up to the expectations of the higher ups. There are aspects of the job that I thrive on, but there are other things that I feel so ill-equipped for. We've had a recent change in our principal and everything that was right about my job got turned up-side-down. I'm almost 58 and will need about 10-12 more years before I can retire. Doesn't seem very possible, but I'm afraid to quit as I am so dependent upon that paycheck to make house payments and car payments... Today was a very frustrating day. That is why I'm looking around in here.

corrections officer , security, plumbing, bug man, resturant , carpet cleaner worked on farms retail, and i think this is the last one factory i want to go back to school to be a police officer but im scared and worried at the same time because i never was good in school seeing i had add but was misdiagnosed when i was in school so im not sure what im going to do i dont want being scared and worried to stand in my way though

I have worked as an account, as a marketting executive, supervisor, computer operator..failed at every job..

have no concept of money..cant travel without getting lost..cant ask or follow directions..cant remember orders or patterns..

what else?

hoping to be a grave digger..as i dig my own grave so well..Nachi :(

and Nachi, it seems to me that you are a great writer...have you considered a field in writing?

Skilled trades.
I am an industrial sewer. I make things from canvas; such as awnings, tents, boat covers, bags and anything else anyone thinks up. I do repairs also.

The advantages are that it is creative, requires problem solving (how to make this shape from 2D fabric), is hands on, allows me to make my own decisions and move about at will. I can look out the windows and change my work environment to suite me. I like working with industrial machines. They make home sewing machines seem like toys. My coworkers are accustomed to me and my somewhat scattered ways. I AM learning to put the toys (tools) away, really I am!;)
I enjoy my commute too; interacting with people on a daily basis.

The disadvantages are that a big job can become boring and repetitive. Also, when it is quiet and I don't have enough to do I get frustrated and want to be at home. I am also having some tendon problems from the weight of the projects.

To this question about career path, I'll share the variety of jobs I have had over the years, in chronological order. Educational degrees are inserted here, too, Has anybody had more jobs than me? And I was never fired from any of them, except a most recent one, which I officially resigned from rather than get fired. I just get bored and tired of the routine, I suppose. I always need to be learning something new.

Newspaper delivery boy
Bus Boy, Waiter in restaurant
Stock Boy
***B.S. in International Studies, Poli Sci from UNC Chapel Hill***
Door-to-door sales
Telemarketing
Insulation installer
Greenhouse worker
Landscaper
Photocopy shop worker
Courier and Blueprint guy for architectural firm
Customer service rep for printing company
Manager of Graphic Arts and Paper store
Sales Rep of Fine Paper to Commercial and Quick Printers
Development Coordinator for Nonprofit
small business founder
***Masters in Healthcare Administration and Masters in Business Administration, University of Alabama at Birmingham***
Administrative Resident for nonprofit health system
Manager of Program Research and Grant Development for same health system
Executive Director for nonprofit organization working to improve access to healthcare
Now - self-employed as an independent grant writer and consultant to nonprofits
What's next?

Oh my...I actually listened to what my grandmother told me long ago before she passed on....wise woman...strict as "heck"....but anyway what she said was -- with healthcare you can't go wrong....so that's what I'm doing...I've strayed in other directions I did not want to go....but ultimately -- and now -- I'm going for what I want....and know I'm on the right track...Thank God...:)




Joan
My moms a nurse and she has said the same thing your grand mother said. Unfortunatly though i cannot go the health rout because i am not good in math or science.

corrections officer , security, plumbing, bug man, resturant , carpet cleaner worked on farms retail, and i think this is the last one factory i want to go back to school to be a police officer but im scared and worried at the same time because i never was good in school seeing i had add but was misdiagnosed when i was in school so im not sure what im going to do i dont want being scared and worried to stand in my way though
I know how you feel. I have finally decided to go back to school for teaching but i am scared to because of the math. but, i have to find some way through it

To this question about career path, I'll share the variety of jobs I have had over the years, in chronological order. Educational degrees are inserted here, too, Has anybody had more jobs than me? And I was never fired from any of them, except a most recent one, which I officially resigned from rather than get fired. I just get bored and tired of the routine, I suppose. I always need to be learning something new.

Newspaper delivery boy
Bus Boy, Waiter in restaurant
Stock Boy
***B.S. in International Studies, Poli Sci from UNC Chapel Hill***
Door-to-door sales
Telemarketing
Insulation installer
Greenhouse worker
Landscaper
Photocopy shop worker
Courier and Blueprint guy for architectural firm
Customer service rep for printing company
Manager of Graphic Arts and Paper store
Sales Rep of Fine Paper to Commercial and Quick Printers
Development Coordinator for Nonprofit
small business founder
***Masters in Healthcare Administration and Masters in Business Administration, University of Alabama at Birmingham***
Administrative Resident for nonprofit health system
Manager of Program Research and Grant Development for same health system
Executive Director for nonprofit organization working to improve access to healthcare
Now - self-employed as an independent grant writer and consultant to nonprofits
What's next?
You have had some great jobs.

Well you guys have done better than me in the job department. I have not had that many jobs in my life because for some reason I cannot get through job interviews. but the majority of jobs i have had are in daycare centers and i also helped my mother run her daycare center for a long time. whenever i get administrative jobs they bore me due to the paper work and well i though about education but i don't know.

My moms a nurse and she has said the same thing your grand mother said. Unfortunatly though i cannot go the health rout because i am not good in math or science.


Nursing requires minamal math well the vocational nursing didn't require too too much. Most of the science was biology type does have some chemistry. I am a poor spelling but I enjoy writting. Never know???

I have no education beyond high school so I have no 'real' career. I work on a computer building pages for the catalogs our company puts out. My family and friends say I write good letters but how can a person make a living at that? I like photography but have no education in it so I don't know anything about the technicalities of regular or digital cameras. But I do take pretty good pictures:) National Geographic isn't going to hire me on those grounds, however. I'm not very good at math so that eliminates pretty much everything. All I really want to do is play but there is no one to play with. Adults have responsibilities and when they do play it's organized. I'll probably be laying on my deathbed and it'll hit me; "I finally know what I want to do - direct!" :)

To this question about career path, I'll share the variety of jobs I have had over the years, in chronological order. Educational degrees are inserted here, too, Has anybody had more jobs than me? And I was never fired from any of them, except a most recent one, which I officially resigned from rather than get fired. I just get bored and tired of the routine, I suppose. I always need to be learning something new.

Newspaper delivery boy
Bus Boy, Waiter in restaurant
Stock Boy
***B.S. in International Studies, Poli Sci from UNC Chapel Hill***
Door-to-door sales
Telemarketing
Insulation installer
Greenhouse worker
Landscaper
Photocopy shop worker
Courier and Blueprint guy for architectural firm
Customer service rep for printing company
Manager of Graphic Arts and Paper store
Sales Rep of Fine Paper to Commercial and Quick Printers
Development Coordinator for Nonprofit
small business founder
***Masters in Healthcare Administration and Masters in Business Administration, University of Alabama at Birmingham***
Administrative Resident for nonprofit health system
Manager of Program Research and Grant Development for same health system
Executive Director for nonprofit organization working to improve access to healthcare
Now - self-employed as an independent grant writer and consultant to nonprofits
What's next?
Some of those jobs sound interesting and fun..

I am college educated as well, but I wouldn't mind trying my hand at something different like driving truck or working on a farm..I know it sounds crazy. Those were things I have always wanted to do...I liked trucks since I was a little boy...

Sorry- I posted my response on this thread and forgot to check back. I noticed nobody has claimed to have had more jobs than me. Surely there must be somebody who has had a greater number or a wider variety of jobs than I have. Right? I am grateful that some of those jobs were interesting and at least kept me interested for a year or more. And I do enjoy what I am doing now as a grant writer, mainly because I get to work with such a wide variety of projects and still learn new things all the time. I was told by my doctor that lots of smart people go through life and never figure out that they have ADD. I don't know if I am smart because I have gotten along for 42 years or if I am not smart because it finally got the best of me. But it sure is frustrating when whatever intelligence you do have is limited by an attention deficit disorder.

I was told by my doctor that lots of smart people go through life and never figure out that they have ADD. I don't know if I am smart because I have gotten along for 42 years or if I am not smart because it finally got the best of me. .


Finally got the best of you?????? I don't really understand this???? The jounrny to learning about me and understanding that ADHD is a part of my presonality was one of the things that has improved me as a person. I was diagnosed with ADHD when they were just figuring out adults continues to struggle with some thing that was once thought of as being a problem in young boys.

To top that off I an the hyperactive type of attention deficit which is still mostly a male dominated type of of ADD. Most women have inattentive type. So despite the fact that the medical profession has finally caught up I am still on "the cutting edge" of this diagnosis. When I read tips and such about attention deficit I still flip over to advice normally written for men!!!!

I have dyslexia maybe I have some thing else to compare ADHD to but if given a choice as to which one I could get rid of ADHD or dyslexia; I would ditch the dyslexia with out a secod thought.

I can see ADHD as a good thing or a bad. It doesn't really matter which one I choose as neither choice will chage the fact I have ADHD. However my choice in prespective definately has every thing to do with my attitude and my direction.

The learning process has provided me with insite, and the ADHD has given me variety. Many people die only knowing how to teach, be a lawyer, police officer ect..... All those careers that ADHD has "provided" me with has allowed me to experience a diversity of professions and jobs. I may not have my PHD in nursing but success isn't the same for all. Some see sucess as driving forward in a single direction I do not see sucess in my life that way I see sucess as doing as many things as one life will allow!!!!

ADHD won't get the best of you if you don't give in to the would have could have should haves!!!!You can be your best because of it!!!!



But it sure is frustrating when whatever intelligence you do have is limited by an attention deficit disorder.

Maybe your intellegies is due in part because of it!!!!! It takes more than an I.Q. of 40 to maintain several trains of thought simolansiously. Heck I can do as many things at one time as my senses allow.

If that doesn't help than maybe knowing that even your limitations have limitations which includes ADD!!!!