I have found that many people with ADHD hold jobs or work in fields they are not passionate about. I think this is a major mistake. It is hard enough for us to complete tasks when we are interested, so putting ourselves in a position of having to get things done when we are not interested ludicrous!
I realize that sometimes we don’t have a choice, but our overarching goal should always be to progress towards a career or job that we are intrinsically interested in.
Intrinsic interest creates a higher probability that we will do what we need to do. Without intrinsic interest, it is much more difficult to start a task, much less finish a whole project. If you are working toward a passion, you are more likely to think on and off the job about what needs to be done in a positive way. Your mind will be working away, figuring things out, such as:
- The best way to approach a task or project
- How to solve something that has you stymied
- Who might be good to work with or to delegate what needs to be done
- Figuring out a more efficient process
- Determining how important something is and if you should continue doing it
- Coming up with new ideas and connections to help move you forward
Many people struggle with finding their passion or intrinsic interest by making a fundamental mistake. They believe that they should have only one passion and it should be obvious to them.
For me, I had been dancing from the age of five. When I was injured at thirty and could no longer dance or teach dance, I thought I was destined to work in some other career that would only be just a job to me. I knew that if I was not very interested in what I did, it would be hard to do the work. Luckily, I discovered another passion, helping people affected by ADHD. At first it wasn’t a passion, it was interest. But as I learned more and developed my skills, my passion grew. Today, because people are living much longer than in the past, they tend to, and have time to, become experts in more than one thing. Many have two, three or more careers in their lifetimes. What’s important to know is that it is possible to be passionate or intrinsically interested in each one!
It may mean extra effort, some lean times, a coach, or something else to find a career and job of great interest to you. You spend a large chunk of your life working. Why not make it easier and more enjoyable?
ABIGAIL WURF, M.ED, PCC
ADHD and Executive Functions Coach
Abigail Wurf, ME.D., PCC, helps professionals, entrepreneurs and small business owners affected by ADHD who are stuck and disorganized in both their work life and personal life move forward into a lifestyle of success.
She does this through one-on-one coaching, exclusive small group coaching, mastermind groups, self-directed programs, webinars/teleseminars, workshops and talks.
One area of focus for Abigail’s work is executive function issues including planning, goal setting, organizing, prioritizing, time management, task initiation, self inhibition, emotional regulation, meta-cognition, focus, working memory and flexibility/shift. People affected by ADHD struggle with many if not all of these issues.
She is a professionally certified coach by the International Coaches Federation (ICF), has a master’s in education and is a board member of the ADHD Coaches Organization.