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There is a widespread and mistaken belief that having Attention Deficit Disorder or ADD is a bad thing. Even as the ADD “afflicted” brain without doubt holds out a few challenges, it puts forward a few hard to believe advantages, as well. Not to toot my own horn or anything (as I “suffer” from ADD), but to help my fellow writers with ADD (research shows that writing is career that often attracts people with ADD), I’ve listed below a few of characteristics that I have seen over and over again in people with ADD.

1. Empathy
People with ADD have a highly developed capability to identify with others, and to see a lot of diverse points of view. Maybe it is because we take in a whole lot of information all at once. Maybe its because we had a tough time socially when we were growing up. Who knows? It’s just something I’ve noticed.

2. Ingenuity
I have on no account come across a a person with ADD who was not ingenious. Painters, designers, sculptors, film makers, writers, musicians and comedians — the list goes on. Creative aptitudes are plentiful. Composers Mozart and Beethoven are assumed to have had ADD, and possibly Leonardo da Vinci, as well.
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Given the current state of Hollywood and, to some extent, even publishing, one might be tempted to ask, “Are there still original ideas in the world?” Despite the old adage that there is nothing new under the sun, I believe there is. To be original doesn’t necessarily mean to be new — just different, a unique expression of your perspective.

Then there’s the situation where you feel that someone else has beaten you to some bright idea. Well take that idea and tweak it again into something original.

And don’t even get me started on those who wine about past failures: “I’ve failed many times before. I can’t think of anything else to solve this problem anymore.” Boo hoo.

These statements reflect the thought of someone who has given up on creativity. Sadly, a lot of people share this way of thinking. They never viewed creativity as a very useful tool to improve or improvise in life in all its diversity.
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Guest Writer: Tommy Yan

If you’ve ever watched little children you know they are always curious, seeking excitement, adventure and even fearless when it comes to escaping boredom. But something happens to them as they journey into adulthood that robs them their spontaneity. They become adults and settle into patterns of expected behaviors.

Which isn’t all bad—but it isn’t all good…

They take residence inside comfort zones. They seldom have breakthrough ideas. And expanding the mind is replaced by an expanding waistline.

I know this because I’ve been there. I was on the wrong road. The nice thing is I didn’t stay on that road. I took an exit…

A creativity exit.

Most entrepreneurs, small business owners and solo professionals who left the corporate world to “do their own thing” find doing their own thing a hard thing to do. They have the skills and have acquired some resources, but lack the creative mindset that enables them to make consistent money every single month.

But there is good news… Read more »