The Hunter in a Farmers World Leveraging ADHD

“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 Not easily distracted from the task at hand. Able to throw themselves into the chase at a moments notice Able to sustain a steady, dependable effort Flexible and ready to change strategy quickly 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 Tireless: capable of sustained drives when “hot on the trail” to a goal

“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” 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. Willing and able to take risks.

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 Coaching Learning Specialists www. centerforassistedlearning. com 713 -686 -4555