ADHD and Jobs

After going through two job changes and spending 5 years, 7 years, and 1 year in different companies in Korea, I made a transition to freelancing. As the notion of working in a company is increasingly seen as a necessary evil, I have reflected on my experiences and emotions during my time in corporate life as a person who has ADHD. I hope that my insights can provide comfort and guidance to current employees, and help those contemplating leaving their jobs to determine when and how to move forward in their lives. Staying too long in a company can lead to stagnation in the face of a rapidly changing world. Companies tend to divert our attention to non-essential matters as the world evolves at an accelerated pace, with office politics being a prime example. I hope this book can be of assistance to individuals grappling with workplace dilemmas and considering leaving their jobs.

When should I quit?

There is a saying that the best time to leave a company is when you are still attached to it, just like the yellowing leaves that fall from the branches in autumn. Once you step out of the organization without knowing the ways of the world, you may lack the energy and time to prepare for Act 2 of your life. When would be the best time for us to bid farewell to the company?

When I first started my career, like everyone else, I thought I would work in the corporate world until my mid-50s. But one day, Steve Jobs came out with the revolutionary iPhone and everything changed. The world shifted towards the iPhone ecosystem, transforming the way we live and work. With improved internet accessibility and a plethora of online content, we gained the productivity of owning an entire factory with just a single laptop. The internet became widely available, attracting people and creating value and jobs. Then, the COVID-19 pandemic struck, further accelerating this trend. In the United States, employees are reluctant to return to their companies, resulting in a significant job shortage. Even smart individuals who manage to land jobs at global giants like Google, Apple, or Microsoft often leave within two years. The reason is that no matter how great the company is, they easily sense that it limits their potential.

Over the past decade, the world has undergone significant changes. I, on the other hand, remained stagnant within the confines of the company, like a frog in a well. However, I couldn't help but feel anxiously aware of the signs of change. It does take an extraordinary amount of courage to jump off an elephant as a flea. Every day, I pondered. While being within the company, I felt myself becoming more powerless, increasingly inept, and passively transforming. Yet, I wasn't someone who was welcomed or recognized while working. Ironically, it was only a few years after leaving the company and becoming a freelancer that I realized freelancing was better suited for someone with exceptional practical skills, who was evaluated solely based on their results. The self-alienation that occurs within the organizational structure of a company was not something only I experienced. However, I struggled more intensely than others and found it particularly challenging to endure the people around me. It felt like my body and mind were weakening, and my lifespan was diminishing.

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