In reflecting upon my generation, it seems like a lot of young adults have a mild, untreatable, nature-induced A.D.D.

I sit here at work begging to be distracted.  At my former job, I’d sit in a single room with 4 other people around my age, no cubical, just a big desk, and TVs blaring 3 different news/financial channels.  It was awesome!  If I needed to focus, I’d tune out everyone; if I needed a little break, I’d watch Squawk on the Street for 5 minutes; if I needed help, I’d pick up my head and ask my neighbors.  In college, I’d always study in my sorority lounge and/or with CNBC on.  It’s how I learned to do things.

A complete 180° at my current job.  I absolutely hate it when it’s quiet.  I read some news (or blog…) while concurrently keying in some forecasting assumptions.  I fear that my employer will think that I’m not being productive, when in fact this is the only way I can be productive!  Maybe my employer will think that I’m not “present” at work when I have my phone at my desk.

I’ve grown up not with a silver spoon in my mouth but a computer always at my finger tips (thanks, Dad!).  As the tech scene comes up with new ways to become even more connected to the world around us, it’s now becoming a part of me, how I work, how I need to do things.  I’m certain others share this sentiment.

This is a change in generations.  If I’m going to be chained to a desk, I will work at the desired speed and productivity level to please my employer, but under the conditions that I know I can focus: with distractions.  I hope that employers in the future will be tolerant of the everyone’s-a-blogger-now-a-days worker-bee.