IDK what I have exactly but it’s some combination of Aspergers and ADHD. I can mow through a lot of tasks and projects. When it comes to research or exploring some big problem domain, I can do that really well.
If people leave me alone and give me some wide berth to go complete some massive project I can do that fine. Better than fine. I can do projects that 15 people together can’t do, by myself.
I typically am able to develop an extremely accurate prediction of the future from the base technology up to the market.
However.
At this point in my life, it isn’t a matter of “if” I am going to get into severe interpersonal problems and fights with co-workers it is “when.”
What has helped me is to have a small group of friends who I use to improve my decision making quality. Left to my own devices, I misunderstand and misinterpret people and this leads to war in many cases.
I can’t read peoples intentions, I don’t understand peoples motivations, I can’t understand what “normal and expected behaviors” are.
Once I get pissed off at someone, I stay pissed off permanently. That person is “dead” to me. This is apparently typical of people with Aspergers.
My favorite analogy is this: “normal people have a wide variety of tools ranging from soft to hard in their toolbox. People with Aspergers open their toolbox and all they have is a hammer.”
That is exactly how I feel. Once I lose my composure, I only have a hammer to solve the problem.
This leads me to become highly paranoid. When people start annoying me or infringing on me, interfering with my ability to work on my own terms - I start building resentments.
I get along really well with older people who have calmed down. Mid career managers and I do not have a great track record.
My career has been a nightmare. A lot of great parts. The number one thing that protects me now is having a panel of advisors who have normal brains. Without these advisors, I am literally wandering blind through the land of the humans, unable to understand them.
On the surface I often look and act normal, underneath the hood I am a genius and a mess. Working in the modern workplace has been a nightmare. I have come to realize that people like me don’t get to “win” in corporate. Sooner or later, they figure out what I am (different) and it’s over. Highly discriminatory against people like me.
My idea of heaven now is not to be promoted, but to be left alone to pursue my interests where they align with the corporation.
I tend to have a very massive positive impact at companies where I work. My ideas, creativity, research and insights result in massive wins. But other people always get the credit, never need. I am so misunderstood, it’s my lot in life. I don’t expect to ever have my abilities respected, noticed or rewarded.