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By Audrey Seymour What do ADD and ADHD mean?ADD is short for Attention Deficit Disorder; ADHD is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. It's also sometimes abbreviated as AD/HD. Occasionally ADD is used for the non-hyperactive form of the condition, but normally the terms are used interchangeably. Most recently, ADHD is the term most often used. Some experts refer to ADT for "Attention Deficit Traits" which emerge only during times of extra stress and overwhelm. Although this tendency has a medical diagnosis, it could also be viewed as a form of "differently wired brain" that is characteristic of pioneering visionaries and risk-takers, who often need a detail-oriented business partner or assistant in order to thrive. What are the ADHD qualities and challenges?ADHDers are highly creative, restless and get bored easily. Their brains need to be highly stimulated with all distractions filtered out in order to stay on track. Two archetypal examples are the absent-minded professor and a child who daydreams in class. These particular neurological differences mean that it is very hard to concentrate on something that doesn't feel interesting. Trying harder to "just do it" doesn't work because the part of the brain used for focusing will simply shut down. Perhaps the biggest challenge faced by most entrepreneurs with ADHD is in follow-through and completion. Once the time has come to take systematic action to fulfill an idea, they can lose touch with their creative flow and prefer to return to the excitement of visioning yet another idea. Another typical challenge is learning how to delegate rather than avoid those tasks that don't come as easily - such as bookkeeping or organizing the office. Doesn't our western culture itself have ADHD tendencies?It's true that modern culture itself has attributes of ADHD, with the push toward fast-paced multi-tasking and sound bites. In the books recommended on our ADD/ADHD Resources page, the authors propose that the higher rate of reported ADHD in the United States (5 to 8 % of the population) could be due to the fact that it was founded by risk-taking pioneers. The evidence indicates that the ADHD condition is a combination of genetics and environment. What are ADHD strengths?ADHD strengths include a capacity for radically new thought and a passionate vitality that can inspire others. People with ADHD thrive on adventure and complexity and are great multi-taskers. They also have a paradoxical capacity to hyperfocus on a single mission or task if they find it intellectually stimulating. How can I build on these strengths?If you have ADHD, it's very important to use your strengths and to delegate those areas that require setting up systems and organizing details. Trying to force yourself to do work you find tedious will cause neurological shut-down. Therefore, it is especially important to choose work that you love, or you will be at cross-purposes. Pick a mission that expresses your values, and with minimal paperwork and politics. Experiment with ways to keep your brain stimulated while you are working. Consider playing music, pacing while you think, sitting on a balance ball instead of a chair, or even just standing at your desk. Some find lighting a candle or burning incense to help. Set challenges for yourself. Take breaks and reserve time to totally let loose when you are done. Use organizational systems that are bright and colorful to the eyes. Regular exercise stabilizes your brain chemistry and is very important. If possible, exercising right before you work on a critical project will bring you extra focus and clarity. Get help from a partner, professional organizer or coach in setting up external structures to support your focus. Direct your capacity to hyperfocus toward positive uses. Don't let to-do piles accumulate. The most important thing you can do is to learn as much as you can about what conditions bring out the best in you, and to stop beating yourself up for not fitting into the standard mold. Celebrate your uniqueness, because you are in the company of such greats as Beethoven, Mozart, John Lennon, Winston Churchill, Lewis Carroll, Henry Ford, Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, Leonardo da Vinci, Ernest Hemingway, Frank Lloyd Wright and Steven Spielberg. To learn more about ADHD, you are welcome to visit our ADD/ADHD Resources page or contact Audrey to schedule a complimentary initial consultation. Imagine achieving the focus and followthrough you need to meet your objectives. Learn how to build systems that will build on your strengths and manage your vulnerable areas. Audrey offer business coaching sessions for ADHD entrepreneurs by phone as well as office appointments in Marin County, San Francisco Bay Area, California. © 2008-2010 Audrey Seymour. All rights reserved.
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