3 ms·
> As I haven't really worked at big companies, I've always had this nascent feeling that I never really learned "the right way" to do things. I often feel like
by stared 5y ago
> As I haven't really worked at big companies, I've always had this nascent feeling that I never really learned "the right way" to do things. I often feel like a "patchwork engineer", learning how things work only sufficiently to make things work in a smaller scale without understanding important big project/organization principles.
What you write reads like a typical ADHD Imposter Syndrom. Why do I bring ADHD? Because you are a jack of all trades[1], experience FOMO, work at startups, and are concerned with not doing things "the proper way". Been there, done that.
There is "Driven to Distraction" book by Hallowell & Ratay (https://www.amazon.com/Driven-Distraction-Revised-Recognizing-Attention/dp/0307743152 https://www.amazon.com/Driven-Distraction-Revised-Recognizin...), which deals with ADHD in adults. This type of behavior is common. The crucial thing is to accept that one will never be (or should strive for) being a "typical [insert a job here]". So corporations and other well-specified jobs are usually (though not always) bad fits. And there is a lot of strength in that - startups, freelancing, consultants [2].
Furthermore, big companies push this narration that only "things at a scale" matter. I strongly disagree. All startups start from a small scale. And even in big companies, a lot of innovation comes from small, proof-of-concept projects.
[1] The complete phrase is "a jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one".
[2] For me, school, studies, even Ph.D. were too standardized. Then I started to shine as a freelance consultant, and now I flourish as a founder. It is good to find one's niche!
- NalNezumi 5y agoThanks for the book recommendation!. I've often wondered about ADHD but since I know a couple of close friends with serious ADHD, I haven't considered it too much as I'm not comparable to my friends level. Although, I tried ADHD medication (through friend) and it was eye opening how easy focusing on one task became, and how nondetrimental context switching and parallel scattered thoughts became for focus and anxiety.
- stared 5y agoI used to live for two years with my close friend, who has ADHD. Since I were way more organized than him, I assumed I couldn't have ADHD. Only in the last few years I realized that I have ADHD (thanks for a friend who pointed me to some resources). Yes, including a formal diagnosis. Though this one brought little, except for my parents being mildly annoyed that they cannot keep guilt-tripping for not adhering to their very high standards of tiddiness, punctuality, organization, etc. I reallly, really wish I had known it ealier. It would save me from a lot of guilt, shame, and approaching things the way that is doomed to failed (the same things could be approached differently). When it comes to this friend - he is by far a person with the strongest ADHD symptoms above all of my friends with a formal diagnosis. Medications - I recommend Armodafinil. Though, I would argue that for ADHD the most important factor is not with getting more productive with boring tasks, but finding the right environment (that provides a lot of dopamine).