Christian Ritchie (photo credit: Business Insider)
I can really relate to this Q&A with PepsiCo's Christian Ritchie about the struggle between genius and work ethic. However, so much of Ritchie's story makes me wonder if he has undiagnosed ADHD, particularly this bit, which I could have written myself:
"I wish I could say I've 'fixed' everything about me that my high IQ has 'broken', but that isn't the case. I spend a lot of time, far more than I should, inside my own head, or working on problems that interest me, time that should be spent with family. I let my children spend too much time steering their own destiny, with little or no limitation, and they mostly choose to spend it glued to a computer playing video games. It is difficult for me still to find balance between everything that needs to done at home, and the things that I feel I need to do for myself. I'm not getting any younger, and I wasted a great deal of the opportunity of my youth. However, my constant NEED to better myself combined with the fact that I still struggle against poor habits, easy distraction, and severe disorganization cause my wife no end of frustration as I pursue whatever the 'next thing' that consumes me might be. She is an angel for putting up with it, but her grace doesn't excuse me from my obligation to find a better balance. At the same time, I have to work harder to make sure I don't miss the opportunity of my sons' youth as well. Children seldom care about your work ethic if you're not around the rest of the time. It's a work in progress, but never one you should give up on."Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/how-a-genius-learned-to-start-working-hard-2013-8#ixzz2deMy2LK0
I find that medication has enabled me to prioritize my life more effectively and be far less selfish and impulsive about it when I do. I wonder if it would do the same for Ritchie and make him more available to his kids. I know I am a far better parent on Vyvanse than I ever was without it. It's not just about organization, though that's certainly helped ... I'm also simply more present in the world when I'm medicated, not so stuck inside my own head. I react with less impatience to the needs and distractions of my children, and enjoy them more. Meanwhile, my 'work ethic' has improved across the board, and the difference, if any, in my intellectual capabilities are negligible. (To be specific, I'm slightly more forgetful now. That said, I'm also much more likely to write things down now, so I consider it a wash.)
What do you think?


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