“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