There is something about Dyslexia that is so entrepreneurial in nature!!

Here are some interesting insights from UK study:

• Dyslexic entrepreneurs exhibited higher levels of creativity then non-dyslexic entrepreneurs.
• 87% of dyslexic entrepreneurs were from middle class backgrounds. Previous research has suggested that the most usual career class for those with this background is to work for a corporate. This suggests that dyslexics might have been deterred from following the same path as their peers.
• No dyslexics were found to work in the accounting or public administration sectors. They were however prominent in the engineering and manufacturing sectors.

• Both dyslexic and non-dyslexic entrepreneurs in the study possessed a high need for achievement but the dyslexic entrepreneurs felt a higher need for achievement and the level of self confidence between the two groups was markedly different. 73% of the non-dyslexics rated themselves as very confident where as only 7% of dyslexics rated themselves in this way.
• 90% of both groups said they had a clear vision for their business. Interestingly, 80% of the dyslexic entrepreneurs held positions of team captain at school while only 27% of the non-dyslexic group had captained a team.

More Facts:

• A study has found that entrepreneurs are five times more likely to be dyslexic than average citizens
• 20% of British in 2001 and 35 % of American entrepreneurs are Dyslexic compared to 1% of corporate managers !

Why Dyslexic are Entrepreneurial in nature

Dyslexic people often have a natural flair for one or more of the arts such as music, dance, drawing or acting. Dyslexic people also often possess a natural ability to see patterns in noise, producing creative abstract ideas pulled out of what many would look upon as mundane sensory environments.

Many of the coping skills dyslexics learn in their formative years become best practices for the successful entrepreneur. A child who chronically fails standardized tests must become comfortable with failure. Being a slow reader forces you to extract only vital information, so that you’re constantly getting right to the point. Dyslexics are also forced to trust and rely on others to get things done—an essential skill for anyone working to build a business. -  BW

Traits that one derives being dyslexic:

• A higher willingness to delegate responsibilities
• More likely to engage in creative processes
• Preference to do rather than study

Famous Dyslexics/Entrepreneurs

• Cisco’s John Chambers
• Henry Ford (Ford Motor Company)
• Richard Branson (Virgin)
• Charles Schwab (Charles Schwab)
• Ted Turner (Turner Broadcasting Systems)
• Kinko’s Paul Orfalea (even wrote a book: Copy This!: Lessons from a Hyperactive Dyslexic who Turned a Bright Idea Into One of America’s Best Companies)

Credits: UK study, HTN,

Tags: dyslexia, Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship and Dyslexia