by Jared Lindzon / © 2026, Fast Company. Mansueto Ventures, LLC. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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In 2010, clinical psychiatrist Dale Archer published the New York Times bestseller Better Than Normal, a book that highlighted the often-underappreciated benefits of various psychiatric diagnoses.
In 2015, Archer published a follow-up book, The ADHD Advantage, focusing on some of the more positive attributes of [this] condition. In it, he profiled high achievers with ADHD, including the most successful athlete in Olympics history, Michael Phelps; comedian, actor and television host Howie Mandel; and JetBlue founder David Neeleman.
Archer’s research ultimately led him to a hypothesis that ADHD exists on a continuum, which he plots on a 10-point scale. Those who score four and below might not even know they have the condition; those who score nine or higher are likely to struggle in everyday life and may require medication.
Those featured in his book fell between five and eight. Those in that range often report struggling in certain domains, while enjoying advantages in others. The range is associated with above-average resilience and creativity. These folks enjoy multitasking, remain calm in crisis, are more outgoing and can hyperfocus on things they’re passionate about.
ADHD remains a mystery and a paradox
While our understanding of the disorder has come a long way, there is still a lot we don’t yet know. On the one hand, many with ADHD feel almost paralyzed by mundane tasks, struggle in traditional academic and workplace settings and suffer other mental health challenges—including anxiety, depression, substance abuse and eating disorders—at higher rates. They are also more likely to have unplanned pregnancies, get into car accidents and even have shorter average lifespans.
On the other, many are also more creative, entrepreneurial and intuitive. In fact, some of the world’s highest achievers—including Simone Biles, Paris Hilton, Michael Jordan, Greta Gerwig, Richard Branson and Jamie Oliver—credit ADHD for their success.
“One person might experience it as a disability,” explains Sarah Greenberg, a licensed psychotherapist for neurodivergence nonprofit Understood.org. “ADHD also comes with a certain set of strengths, particularly when the environment is a right fit for that brain.”
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