I am normally a little reticent about posting frequently on the same topic. Variety is the spice of life, after all! However, this article from the New York Times today echoed so beautifully the story about Tom Sweet posted on Day Fifty, and the brief discussion that ensued here, that I had to include it.
In short, recent research suggests that people with dyslexia often excel as entrepreneurs, due to their well-developed verbal and interpersonal skills and a willingness to delegate responsibility to others. Indeed, this particular research project - conducted by Professor Logan at the Cass Business School in London - found that 35% of entrepreneurs interviewed identified themselves as dyslexic. Incidentally, so do several hugely successful business people, such as Richard Branson and Charles R Schwab. When you think about it, it makes a lot of sense that a person's need to adapt to constraints spurs broader creativity and innovation. But it's really important to have research confirming the trend and documenting success stories more formally. Meanwhile, the future for Tom Sweet looks hopeful indeed...
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Day Fifty-Six: good business for dyslexics
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2 comments:
The figures are indeed staggering – more than one third of all American entrepreneurs have dyslexia, while the figure in the UK is 20%. As staggering as the proportion is the difference. Why? There could be differing definitions in the two countries. It is not uncommon in the UK – even among teachers – to hear the observation that dyslexia is the way middle-class parents account for Johnny’s bad spelling, and there is a lamentable lack of specialist teachers to identify and support those who need expert help.
Having taught for some years in prisons, centres for unemployed people and centres for people with drink and drug dependency, I have found that a large proportion of these students have serious basic skills needs. Some of this is explained, not by dyslexia, but by bad educational experience and social deprivation. If these people were helped early on, they could well have escaped the nets that dragged them down.
It would be interesting to know how the subjects in Professor Logan’s research were identified as dyslexic – by testing or by self identification? It could make a big difference to the results of the research – although I’m sure a Professor of Entrepreneurship at the Cass Business School could not be faulted in research method.
This is great evidence to see - thanks eazibee :-)
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