Short Review for ADDexecs

Since childhood I’ve had lots of creativity, but it often seemed more curse than blessing. Can I bring it back in a way that brings me joy as an adult – as part of my working world, and more importantly, as part of me?!

If this sounds like you, consider A.D.D. and Creativity: Tapping Your Inner Muse by Lynn Weiss, PhD. Chapter 10, Overcoming Practical Problems, addresses issues like self-discipline, self-honesty, organization, and negotiation that are relevant in career management for creative souls. Chapter 11, Making a Living with Your Creativity , addresses the greatest hope for creative ADDexecs – getting paid for the daily act of invention. Chapters 1 through 9 focus on the relationship of ADD and creativity, the suppression of creativity in both childhood and adulthood, and ways to recapture the lost creative spirit.

ADDexec Relevance

For an ADDexec who only wants workplace tips and analysis, the book may be frustrating, because Weiss gives equal time to (1) creativity as something worthy in and of itself and (2) creativity within the context of the workplace. Other books provide much better concrete advice on business organization, working with people, goal-setting and related business topics. Weiss’s book should not be considered a complete coverage for ADD in the working life, even for the ADDexec who wants to make the most of her creativity.

Click below for longer review and excerpts:

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Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.

– Thomas Edison

Of course no one knew about "attention deficit disorder" as such when Edison was around, but his name always comes up as an example of famous adults with ADD.  True or not, he clearly had a clue about the need for both creativity and diligent work.

In its short history, the library of books on adult ADD has almost always spoken to the challenges and needs of self-discipline.  Increasingly, ADD literature has also focused on the joys (and challenges) of creativity.  That in mind, here is an axiom to propose:

For an executive with attention deficit disorder, the challenge and opportunity is to integrate self-discipline with creativity. 

Some would argue that this axiom ignores the need of a sound business strategy.  However, the reality is that sound business strategies most readily emerge from a mind that has both self-discipline and creativity.  There is no paradox of "which came first, the chicken or the egg?" in this case.  Self-discipline and creativity come first.  Strategy comes second.

Note also that we say "the challenge and opportunity IS", rather than "are".  Why the grammar choice?  Because for the ADDexec, challenge and opportunity are not two different entities.  They are very much bound into one.