ADHD? Are You a Scout Bee in the Wrong Hive?
Ever felt like you’re wired just a little differently? Like you struggle with routines, get easily bored, or find yourself chasing new ideas while others seem happy with the status quo? Just not fitting in, a round peg in a world full of square holes.
You’re not faulty. You are potentially just a scout bee, being told to be like 95% of those worker bees. And it feels wrong.
Nature Built You This Way
In every honeybee colony, most bees head out on the same well-worn flight paths, collecting nectar or water from known sources and returning to the hive. But a small minority, approximately 5–10%, ignore the routine altogether. They fly off to discover new sources of food or water. These rather special individuals are known as scout bees.
Without them, the hive would eventually starve. It’s their restless curiosity and willingness to take risks and explore the unknown that help the colony survive and thrive. And it turns out, humans have our version of scout bees. You may just be one of them.
ADHD and the Explorer’s Blueprint
Human brains are wired with variety. Some individuals are naturally suited to routine and repetition, while others are built for exploration, risk-taking, and seeking novelty. Many people with ADHD share those scout-like traits:
Curiosity that never quite switches off
Impulsivity that drives fast action
An intense craving for something new
This isn’t just opinion; it’s coded in our biology. The DRD4-7R gene, sometimes called the “novelty-seeking gene,” has been linked to ADHD and exploratory behaviour. Research with nomadic tribes like the Ariaal people of Kenya shows that individuals with this gene thrive in environments that demand movement, adaptation, and risk-taking (ScienceDaily, 2008). But there’s a catch.
The world changed; you didn’t.
For most of human history, scout-like traits were vital. In hunter-gatherer societies, explorers who found new hunting grounds or discovered fresh water sources were essential to survival. But fast forward a few thousand years, and the environment has changed, but for 5-10% of the population with ADHD, their wiring hasn’t.
Our fight-or-flight response still kicks in, but instead of protecting us from predators, it’s triggered by deadlines and overflowing inboxes; and our explorer wiring, designed to help humanity adapt, discover, and innovate, now gets labelled as disordered or distracting in school classrooms or inefficient and disinterested in the modern workplace.
The square pegs haven’t changed. The world simply ran out of square holes.
Making Your Own Round Hole
So here is where you can change the narrative and add a new chapter to your story. Because when you can’t find a hole that fits, you make your own.
Modern research shows people with ADHD are much more likely to become entrepreneurs than their neurotypical peers. One large-scale study found that those with ADHD were significantly more likely to start their own businesses. Another study involving over 17,000 people found that around 29% of entrepreneurs have ADHD, a huge jump from the general population average (EIExchange).
It makes sense. The very traits that feel like a problem in traditional settings; risk-taking, creativity, and hyper-focus on the things that ignite that inner flame, are the exact traits that fuel entrepreneurship, innovation, and leadership. You’re definitely not dysfunctional. You’re designed to create and build.
From Survival to Success
The modern world can be tough on those wired like scout bees. But you are walking proof that evolution has a plan for diversity. Without people like you, humanity would never have discovered new lands, invented new technologies, or created new ways of living and working.
Today’s challenge is simple: stop trying to conform, trying to force yourself into those square holes. Design a career, a project, and a life that lets you thrive. Build systems that work for your brain. Shape environments where your strengths shine. And when the world doesn’t offer the correctly shaped hole? Carve out your own.
Now, I’ll acknowledge that it isn’t always easy. Moving beyond the creativity, brand names, and ideas into execution can be challenging. I know this all too well with a lifetime of aborted projects, logos, and expired domain names behind me. But you can move beyond that point and put those ideas into action, and once you do, you can build incredible momentum. We can explore this in more detail in a future blog and help you to embrace your inner scout bee!
If this helped you make sense of your experience, maybe it’s time to take the next step?
At NeuroFX, we specialise in understanding the parts of you or your child that might have been misunderstood or misdiagnosed for years. We offer thorough, evidence-based assessments for ADHD and autism (ASD) in both adults and children, with a clear, supportive process from screening to diagnosis and treatment where needed.
Whether you’re exploring this for yourself, your child, or someone close to you, it starts with a conversation.
You can begin with our free online screening tools, or if you already feel ready, you’re welcome to book a full assessment directly.
We’re here when you’re ready.
