Why It’s Great News for the Economy that 35% Of US Entrepreneurs Are Dyslexic

 A study by Cass Business School reports that 35% of US entrepreneurs identify themselves as dyslexic. Many believe it’s still an underestimated percentage. 

And not just in the US - studies carried out in different corners of the world showed the same uncanny link between dyslexic people and successful businesses. 

Ted Turner, media mogul; Henry Ford, successful carmaker; Ingvar Kamprad, Ikea Founder; Anita Roddick, Body Shop founder; and Tommy Hilfiger; Fashion Icon — these are just a few names of successful entrepreneurs that have founded an unfaltering legacy. 

So, is it just a coincidence? Or, there is more to it than what meets the eye?

Is it because dyslexics learn strategies early on in their life to offset their weaknesses, or they’re good at identifying trustworthy people to delegate ‘responsibilities’? 

There are many speculations and reasoning behind this unique connection.

Keep reading to find out! 

Dyslexic People Think Differently 

Studies after studies have shown that dyslexic people have strong imagining skills. If you’ve ever crossed paths with a dyslexic person, you’d know this is true in a heartbeat. 

This is because dyslexic brains function differently. 

The brain’s right hemisphere is active in dyslexic people, which is responsible for cognitive functions like emotions, attention, verbal ambiguity, and their meaning. 

So, can you see the dots being connected? All of these functions mentioned above are imperative and common in successful entrepreneurs. 

The increased capabilities in areas like visualization, logical reasoning, and natural entrepreneurial traits definitely bring a fresh and intuitive perspective. 

In the regular school system, dyslexic kids are square pegs in a round hole. These creative minds are often chained by standardized tests created for standardized thinking. 

But once they enter the world of business, they’re freed - at least to an extent - to think differently and do differently. Naturally, this gives them a competitive edge. 

Their creative skills help them tackle old problems with new approaches. And being unconventional in the same-same marketplace definitely helps them disrupt industries sooner or later. 

For example, Ted Turner’s CNN was the first news channel to broadcast news 24 hours a day! And rest is history. 

Dyslexic People Keep It Simple

Owning a business means dealing with new complexities every other day. But once again, dyslexic minds have an edge. They’re absolutely brilliant at utilizing their amplified reasoning skills to look at the bigger picture and simplify problems. 

In turn, this skill helps them to be bold (even eccentric sometimes), act fast, and capitalize on new opportunities. And as it goes without saying, simplifying things facilitates far better decision-making. 

And we second that! 

Dyslexic People Are Storytellers 

As kids, dyslexic minds often try to offset their reading and writing difficulty by capitalizing on verbal communication. And this storytelling ability goes a long way in their adulthood. 

Dyslexic people may find it hard to shuffle through mountains of paperwork. Still, they more than makeup for it by drafting clear messages that win over minds and hearts. They have a gifted ability to simplify the narrative and sell their vision. 

Let’s look at an example of Ikea founder Ingvar Kamprad. 

Kamprad started out with a small mail-order sales business where his products were labeled with individual codes. 

However, like many dyslexics, he found it hard to memorize the numbers. So, he created a new system where he named all furniture with popular Swedish names, which later on went to become a renowned system all over the globe. 

Also, don’t forget the special assembly instructions that come with Ikea furniture - they’re all pictures, not words. 

And as you already know, people don’t just shop at Ikea for furniture - they do it for the unique assembling experience that comes with it. 

Dyslexic People Are Curious 

Dyslexics are by nature curious and passionate people - who channel these virtues into building unique, out-of-the-box businesses. They explore ideas in quirky, energetic, and constant ways. 

And when it comes to offering an unparalleled customer experience, they don’t mind going the extra mile. 

Dyslexic people are gifted with this unique ability to explore, visualize, and manifest outcomes. As a result, there will be several possibilities and perspectives in business. 

They’re adept at imagining how situations can pan out, helping them detect gaps and opportunities most will miss out on. 

Dyslexic people are also quite brilliant at visualizing products and services from different angles, which gives them quite the edge when it comes to designing new products, services, or improving the existing products in the market. 

Dyslexic People Are Good At Socializing 

Connecting with people is one of the most crucial assets dyslexics have. Their sheer ability to motivate and inspire sets them apart from other entrepreneurs. And this trait has sprouted from their strong connecting skills and enhanced emotional intelligence. 

Their need to be aware of their Achilles heel and focusing on strength often makes them expert delegators, which in turn can help ignite the positive spark in others too. 

By having this empathetic knowledge of weaknesses and strengths firsthand, they create fantastic, thriving teams. 

And when communicating with customers and clients, their high level of emotional intelligence, coupled with empathy and passion, helps them unlock deeper levels of understanding on how to resonate with customers. 

As a result, this helps companies create goods and services that resonate with the existing and prospective customers in the most impactful ways. 

So, what does the future look like for dyslexic entrepreneurs? The past has shown that dyslexic people have quite substantially changed the world we live in with the correct opportunities and tools at hand. So we must support everyone with dyslexia to realize their worth and meet their potential. Let’s not forget to celebrate their imagination, curiosity, and empathy - skills imperative for future entrepreneurs.