How I Run a Company with ADHD
andrewaskins.com
How I Run a Company with ADHD
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Re: How I Run a Company with ADHD
#2 ADHD sucks. I mean, it ain't cancer, but it sucks. I was never officially diagnosed, but when my son was at 7 is when I realized what ADHD really is, and that I'm an ADHD guy. Some how I made it through 40+ years with it and never knew it. I struggled though college, took me 9 years to get my BA. Somehow got a masters. Somehow managed to get a series of better jobs after my degrees. And I've somehow succeeded in life (my definition of succeeded) with ADHD and without any help or anything. I struggle with it every day still. ADHD sucks, I have no idea how I got to where I am, but I know I'm lucky. It's also made me a better parent to my ADHD kid, I know what he's going through, it's taught me patience and kindness that I never had growing up. If you don't know much about ADHD , it's not what you think it is.
Re: How I Run a Company with ADHD
#3I wonder how common this is among HNers. I felt like I could relate to many of the feelings in the article and I certainly have trouble keeping track of time (w.r.t. rabbit holes and whatnot) and do better with some external motivation. In particular, I can be “hyperfocused” when it comes to interesting technical challenges for many hours, but I get distracted instantly when doing my email, the laundry, or taxes. I’m not sure if the magnitude might be what sets me apart from people who have genuinely been diagnosed with ADHD or if no one ever suspected it because I did well in school and at work.
Re: How I Run a Company with ADHD
#4Very informative article.
The author didn't really delve into whether he uses meds to cope with ADHD.
How do other people who have ADHD cope with it as startup founders? Do meds like Adderall, Ritalin or Concerta work? What about Nootropics?
Asking cos this situation seems to be very common in our profession i.e. starting some side project, getting overwhelmed with perfectionism, distractions and never shipping. Is that ADHD or just plain procrastination?
Re: How I Run a Company with ADHD
#5Edit: Off-topic, not ADHD related. Carry on.
Re: How I Run a Company with ADHD
#6Very informative article. The author didn't really delve into whether he uses meds to cope with ADHD. How do other people who have ADHD cope with it as startup founders? Do meds like Adderall, Ritalin or Concerta work? What about Nootropics? Asking cos this situation seems to be very common in our profession i.e. starting some side project, getting overwhelmed with perfectionism, distractions and never shipping. Is t…
I noticed the omission too. Even if he's not using any medication, that seems like something worth mentioning.
Incidentally, I've had really good experiences with modafinil (aka Provigil). It's not approved for ADHD treatment in the US, but studies suggest it is effective, and it's widely prescribed off label.
Re: How I Run a Company with ADHD
#7Very informative article. The author didn't really delve into whether he uses meds to cope with ADHD. How do other people who have ADHD cope with it as startup founders? Do meds like Adderall, Ritalin or Concerta work? What about Nootropics? Asking cos this situation seems to be very common in our profession i.e. starting some side project, getting overwhelmed with perfectionism, distractions and never shipping. Is t…
I noticed the omission too. Even if he's not using any medication, that seems like something worth mentioning. Incidentally, I've had really good experiences with modafinil (aka Provigil). It's not approved for ADHD treatment in the US, but studies suggest it is effective, and it's widely prescribed off label.
Modafinil is awesome for ADHD, but I've found its effects tend to plateau after a few months. Traiditional, do one thing well stimulants were my magic bullet. Currently (for the past several years) using Dexedrine.
Re: How I Run a Company with ADHD
#8Edit: Off-topic, not ADHD related. Carry on.
Coaching does almost zilch to address ADHD needs. There’s some initial benefits, but it’s the same sort of benefit anyone would get from coaching. Coaching does not and cannot address anything specific to ADHD symptoms that manifest themselves in the moment.
Re: How I Run a Company with ADHD
#9I wonder how common this is among HNers. I felt like I could relate to many of the feelings in the article and I certainly have trouble keeping track of time (w.r.t. rabbit holes and whatnot) and do better with some external motivation. In particular, I can be “hyperfocused” when it comes to interesting technical challenges for many hours, but I get distracted instantly when doing my email, the laundry, or taxes. I’m…
For me the difference is that the feelings of distraction and inattentiveness aren't just with things I don't want to do, they are always there, and are sometimes worse with things I enjoy doing. And the hyperfocus happens when it happens, and sometimes it will be on stuff I don't enjoy doing but can't seem to stop thinking about.
Without my medicine I have trouble watching a tv show or movie I really like, I can't play some videogames because they can't keep my attention even though I'm having a great time. I'll normally listen to an hour long podcast over a few days because every 5 minutes I need to pause it to "focus" on something else (like I just did to write this comment), and often I don't come back to it (like I probably won't tonight!)
Re: How I Run a Company with ADHD
#10ADHD sucks. I mean, it ain't cancer, but it sucks. I was never officially diagnosed, but when my son was at 7 is when I realized what ADHD really is, and that I'm an ADHD guy. Some how I made it through 40+ years with it and never knew it. I struggled though college, took me 9 years to get my BA. Somehow got a masters. Somehow managed to get a series of better jobs after my degrees. And I've somehow succeeded in life…
As someone who also has it: have you tried medicine like Adderall?
I’m so torn on it. On one hand, it makes me so productive, but on the other, it makes me so unemotional and cold and abrasive.
It also makes me sweat, increases my heart rate, and has a terrible comedown when taken often.
I was diagnosed at 16 and was on it for years, eventually moving up to 4x the dosage as my body grew resistance.
I’ve stopped it for the past couple years, and now am back to the lowest dosage on rare occasions I take it, but still unsure how to feel about it.