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Adhd/add

So aside from the one person that can take a conversation 40 different directions How many of you all have ADHD? I heard a while back that having ADHD/ADD is essentially a super power when it comes to programming of any kind and also ADHD people typically gravitate towards programming jobs.

I got diagnosed while I was in the military. When I separated I started a job at a calibration company. They had a CMM and I wanted more than anything to play with it. So I asked my boss what it would take to get me over there and he handed me a list of the GD&T symbols. He said "learn this and we will consider it."

I came back the next day after a 12 hour hyperfocus on learning GD&T and was programming by the end of the week. Fast forward a year later and my boss had said he had never seen anyone pick it up so quickly in his 40 years. Now this was still a more basic level of programming. Nothing like what you all are capable of. But I have since developed myself into a pretty confident (not arrogant like some of ya's) programmer.

Not trying to toot my own horn or anything just simply stating that ADHD is the sole reason I am a programmer and the constant hurdles and obstacles presented has kept me highly intrigued and motivated unlike most things I get myself involved in.

I am curious if any of you guys are in the same boat I am and maybe we could give tips and advice on how to tackle the more daunting stuff like the dreaded........ reprogramming a part already programed or waiting for the CMM to run through a 30 minute program.
Parents
  • I do not have ADD / ADHD.

    I don't know what it is about programming though but I can either be super focused (give me headphones and a few cups of coffee and I wont leave my screen for 10 hours) or I browse the off topic section all day LOL

    I have had the feeling for a while that I am getting a little board of programming pcdmis but it is a feeling that comes and goes. Sometimes I am excited to bite in to a new program and sometimes I will find any excuse not to program something.

    I don't mind rewriting programs (I am at the tail end of reprogramming a part family that has 12 unique part numbers)
    30 minute run times are actually normal for me. My first job in CMM 30 minutes was minimum and we had some parts that ran for 20+ hours.
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  • I do not have ADD / ADHD.

    I don't know what it is about programming though but I can either be super focused (give me headphones and a few cups of coffee and I wont leave my screen for 10 hours) or I browse the off topic section all day LOL

    I have had the feeling for a while that I am getting a little board of programming pcdmis but it is a feeling that comes and goes. Sometimes I am excited to bite in to a new program and sometimes I will find any excuse not to program something.

    I don't mind rewriting programs (I am at the tail end of reprogramming a part family that has 12 unique part numbers)
    30 minute run times are actually normal for me. My first job in CMM 30 minutes was minimum and we had some parts that ran for 20+ hours.
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