I keep seeing this advice from very smart people who have their lives together, “if you want to finish a thing, don’t tell people about it” - and two clicks later there’s other very smart people who also have their lives together going “if you want to finish a thing, tell people about it”. It’s really 50/50 which one you’re going to be told, almost as if it either depends on the individual which one works or it’s entirely meaningless.
Telling specific people who can help is good. Telling many people is bad.
With projects I’ve done at work the more people who know means more people to slow you down with their ideas. Or even delay you on purpose because they’re not interested in a potential change.
It sucks cause my primary role is process improvement projects. Great role for ADHD people who thrive in change. But hard from constant delays to deal with normies not interested in change. I’ve had to get really good at reading people. Figure out what button to press to influence them towards agreement.
Here’s the real point. If you want to finish something you need to finish it. Seems obvious but it’s not. Telling people should not have any real bearing on whether you finish it or not you are still in control whether you tell somebody or not.
There’s a theory, if you want to actually do something don’t tell many people. It’s a common problem, even for those without ADHD.
I keep seeing this advice from very smart people who have their lives together, “if you want to finish a thing, don’t tell people about it” - and two clicks later there’s other very smart people who also have their lives together going “if you want to finish a thing, tell people about it”. It’s really 50/50 which one you’re going to be told, almost as if it either depends on the individual which one works or it’s entirely meaningless.
Telling specific people who can help is good. Telling many people is bad.
With projects I’ve done at work the more people who know means more people to slow you down with their ideas. Or even delay you on purpose because they’re not interested in a potential change.
It sucks cause my primary role is process improvement projects. Great role for ADHD people who thrive in change. But hard from constant delays to deal with normies not interested in change. I’ve had to get really good at reading people. Figure out what button to press to influence them towards agreement.
This. Literally me, just unofficially and among researchers.
if you want to finish something, finish it
also, don’t have adhd, or, alternatively, hyperfocus on that one thing at the expense of other things that you actually should be doing
Silly me.
Very true, this much more nuanced take on the issue.
Here’s the real point. If you want to finish something you need to finish it. Seems obvious but it’s not. Telling people should not have any real bearing on whether you finish it or not you are still in control whether you tell somebody or not.
I do this, it’s like if I tell someone then I’m only doing it so I don’t have to tell them I gave up on it