The trick is to do something very hard to master and scratches that incessant need to create and/or fix. I think this is why ADHD and other neurodivergent people gravitate to IT - there is always, always something new. But don’t worry, management or shareholders or the company getting bought will fuck it up eventually. Maybe all three! So, try to have a backup plan and avoid getting attached. Have a hyper focus outside of it, something where you can unmask and relax.
Oh. And learn what burnout is and how to deal with it. We tend to get it extremely quickly. I burn out faster than a 4th of July sparkler. That’s the only sparkly shit I get. Or else you’ll find yourself in this endless cycle wondering why. Vacation isn’t the cure.
I’m in my 50’s. I have ADHD. I started in IT (despite having a business degree). In two years I rose to Admin in a mid size org. After I got promoted I started to get bored, got sloppy. and fired. Went to a business IT job, rinse and repeat. Started a business, once it was chugging along, I got sloppy with managing it. tanked it. Got an IT job. 4 years later same thing. Started another business. Same pattern. Another IT job… Fast forward, and I’m now self-employed doing IT on site support for small businesses. It strikes a nice middle ground.
Best period was when I started a sign making business. 12 years. Every job a challenge. Fun, but I ended tanking it because of sucking at management.
Very similar story for me. I’m at a new place after my last one abruptly laid off thousands. Here I can’t exactly disappear amongst the noise of a massive company. I’m watching the newly hired, younger neurodivergents burn out (one particularly violently) after barely a year. It is frustrating. I mean, what advice can you tell them? Mask more? 😑
Management has surprisingly recognized this for one that had a meltdown right in front of an higher-up, and offloaded their work into a more focused role so they’re less overwhelmed. But I’m seeing them start to spiral again after a personal issue happened… I have a dreadful feeling they will not have their contract renewed. It breaks my heart because they are very talented and I like them. It’s like watching a mirror of my younger self having done the same crap. I try to take the pressure off when they ask for help but it’s affecting my own stress. I can’t save the world. Too old. Too tired.
Part of problem I think is when you excel, they expect that level of performance all the time. I try not to show my whole hand in all things as a result as a sort of defense mechanism. Because I know they’ll just keep piling more work and expectations. It is hard to find a balance. I know I can’t always be full-on. Annnnd I still get bored and have to keep the slop in check.
If this doesn’t work out I’m probably going your route and starting my own thing.
The trick is to do something very hard to master and scratches that incessant need to create and/or fix. I think this is why ADHD and other neurodivergent people gravitate to IT - there is always, always something new. But don’t worry, management or shareholders or the company getting bought will fuck it up eventually. Maybe all three! So, try to have a backup plan and avoid getting attached. Have a hyper focus outside of it, something where you can unmask and relax.
Oh. And learn what burnout is and how to deal with it. We tend to get it extremely quickly. I burn out faster than a 4th of July sparkler. That’s the only sparkly shit I get. Or else you’ll find yourself in this endless cycle wondering why. Vacation isn’t the cure.
I’m in my 50’s. I have AD
HD. I started in IT (despite having a business degree). In two years I rose to Admin in a mid size org. After I got promoted I started to get bored, got sloppy. and fired. Went to a business IT job, rinse and repeat. Started a business, once it was chugging along, I got sloppy with managing it. tanked it. Got an IT job. 4 years later same thing. Started another business. Same pattern. Another IT job… Fast forward, and I’m now self-employed doing IT on site support for small businesses. It strikes a nice middle ground.Best period was when I started a sign making business. 12 years. Every job a challenge. Fun, but I ended tanking it because of sucking at management.
Very similar story for me. I’m at a new place after my last one abruptly laid off thousands. Here I can’t exactly disappear amongst the noise of a massive company. I’m watching the newly hired, younger neurodivergents burn out (one particularly violently) after barely a year. It is frustrating. I mean, what advice can you tell them? Mask more? 😑
Management has surprisingly recognized this for one that had a meltdown right in front of an higher-up, and offloaded their work into a more focused role so they’re less overwhelmed. But I’m seeing them start to spiral again after a personal issue happened… I have a dreadful feeling they will not have their contract renewed. It breaks my heart because they are very talented and I like them. It’s like watching a mirror of my younger self having done the same crap. I try to take the pressure off when they ask for help but it’s affecting my own stress. I can’t save the world. Too old. Too tired.
Part of problem I think is when you excel, they expect that level of performance all the time. I try not to show my whole hand in all things as a result as a sort of defense mechanism. Because I know they’ll just keep piling more work and expectations. It is hard to find a balance. I know I can’t always be full-on. Annnnd I still get bored and have to keep the slop in check.
If this doesn’t work out I’m probably going your route and starting my own thing.