Seriously how do you do it. I'd be interested in hearing insights, wisdom, guidance and the exact work you're involved in. Further, if you're uncertain about your diagnosis, or just have adderall to perform the work better- spare the details. Who has real real ADHD and how do you do it?
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Only real answer I've found is getting on meds and upping caffeine intake. Would love to hear other perspectives but haven't seen another method as reliable as the golden duo.
I have diagnosed ADHD and Aspergers, along with a few other things. I was in trading for 8 years, I've recently moved into fintech and ai. In all that time, never been medicated.
The thing with ADHD is that it can kill you, or it can make you better than everyone else. I never had the same issues about being someone who locked out and got distracted on anything, because I was always pretty hyper obsessed with being the best at what I was doing at that moment. That hyper obsession can be a real strength you could utilize, or it could be something to break you.
The killer can be the tendency to fail on long term projects because of the want and desire to pursue new, shiny things. This is usually why I always preferred to either work on multiple projects at the same time, or to work on smaller projects that were modular.
Idk exactly how this can translate over to IB, but typically you just need to find something or some way to actually become obsessed with your work. I found that even if I didn't care about the thing I was working on at that moment(usually data cleaning and basic EDA for more quantitative strategies) I was absolutely obsessed with making the best trades, making myself the best at what I did, and as a result my process and my individual deliverables were always top tier. Right now in my current position, it's a lot slower and a lot of coding + reading papers, and so the boring process of this is really helped by believing the end vision I'm working on, the project I'm building, will have some meaning or impact.
For those navigating high-pressure finance roles with ADHD, here are some insights and strategies shared by professionals in the field:
Routine and Structure:
Physical Activity:
Behavioral Techniques:
Managing Distractions:
Leverage Strengths:
Career Fit:
Medication and Alternatives:
Long-Term Perspective:
These strategies highlight that while ADHD presents challenges, it is entirely possible to thrive in demanding finance roles with the right adjustments and mindset.
Sources: IB/PE with ADHD?, Traders with ADHD, What is everyone's daily morning/evening routine like?, MENTAL HEALTH | IBD ANALYST EDITION
I have real ADHD. usernameladiesman's answer is pretty good. Everyone's ADHD is a little bit different in how it affects them though. If yours is crippling then yeah get medicated. I've personally never been and while it is difficult I found other means of controlling myself. College was rough for me and I basically did anything but focus on classes til the later years when I got my shit together out of the urgency to not fuck up my life. Got really into lifting and that became the cornerstone to build discipline which trickled down into the rest of my life. Made me believe results were possible in any avenue if you were consistent enough. Has held true and it's prob the best advice I can give. Build up strong willpower and fight your mind. Do the things that you do not want to do. It makes you better and it shrinks your discomfort zone, slowly making you adept at many things which you did not once know how to do well.
Strattera + exercise
How do you like Strattera? I assume you've been on adderall, etc. before, how would you compare it?
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