“The Hunter in a Farmer’s World”: Leveraging ADHD

Strengths in Work and Career

Presented by: Eddie Rodriguez, ADD Coach

The Center for Assisted Learning www.centerforassistedlearning.com

713-686-4555

“To take full advantage of your personality, skills and abilities as

an ADD Learner, you must understand who you are and

those you work with or work for”

Thom Hartmann: Attention Deficit Disorder: A Different Perception

As Humans evolved, two basic cultures emerged;

One influenced by an environment dominated by a hunter/gatherer culture.

“The Hunter”

Then later, by one influenced by a sedentary and localized culture.

“The Farmer”

“The ADD Learner is the leftover hunter, whose ancestors evolved and matured in hunting societies.”

Thom Hartmann: Attention Deficit Disorder: A Different Perception

“ADD is neither a deficit nor a disorder, but an inherited set of skills, abilities and personality traits which enable a Hunter to be highly successful…and condemn a Farmer to be a total failure”

Thom Hartmann: Attention Deficit Disorder: A Different Perception

The “Hunter” The “Farmer”

Constantly monitoring their environment

Able to throw themselves into the chase at a moments notice

Flexible and ready to change strategy quickly

Tireless: capable of sustained drives when “hot on the trail” to a goal

Not easily distracted from the task at hand.

Able to sustain a steady, dependable effort

Organized, purposeful. Having a long term strategy and the ability to stick to it.Get thing done in time, pace themselves, have good staying power

“The Hunter” “The Farmer”

Results oriented. Acutely aware whether the goal is getting closer now!

Visual/Concrete thinker. Able to clearly see a tangible goal.

Independent

Bored with the mundane. Needs to be “in the hunt”

Willing and able to take risks.

Patient. Aware that good things come with time. Willing to wait.

Conceptual thinker. Able to easily see intangibles goals

Team player

Focused. Good at follow through, tending to details

Careful, cautious. Looks before leaps.

Both “Farmer” and “Hunter are necessary to the common

good.

Where would the Farmer be without the Hunter lookout!

Where would the Hunter be without the Farmer cultivator!

Occupations and Professions for “The Hunter”

Law enforcement

Free lance writers

Journalist/reporter

Airline pilot

Soldier

Spy

Disc jockey

Salesman

Entrepreneur

Trial Lawyer

ER Doctor/Nurse

Trauma Surgeon

Comedian

Actor

Criminal investigator

Air Traffic Controler

Pro Athlete

Increase your possibility of success in a Farmers World!

Organize your time around tasks.

Break your work responsibilities around specific “goal units”

Create “distraction free zones”.

Exercise daily!

Know what you do well, and stick to it.

Avoid Farmer tasks.

Train your attention span.

Partner with a Farmer

Postpone actions or decisions for a day

In the workplace – managing a “Hunter”

Define tasks in measureable, single, short-terms goals

Build in daily evaluation systems

Offer short-term, rather than long-term rewards

Create system driven, rather than people driven environments

Assign tasks that are Hunter friendly

Pair a Hunter with a Farmer and encourage division of tasks

ADHD & Academic CoachingLearning Specialists

www.centerforassistedlearning.com

713-686-4555