Study Showed 35% of Entrepreneurs have Dyslexia

In 2004, the Cass Business School reported that 20% of entrepreneurs in England identified themselves as dyslexic in a poll; in America, the figure was 35%. According to “Dyslexia Fosters Entrepreneurs?” by Eric Markowitz of Inc.com, there is an intriguing phenomenon in which researchers find those with dyslexia are able to do well as entrepreneurs. I would never think that a dyslexic entrepreneur is anything to ponder out of the norm but 35% in America and 20% in England are significant percentages as both are more than those with dyslexia in the population. (According to article, 4% of England’s population had dyslexia in 2004. I tried to “google” the percentage of those in America, at a glance, it seems the figure is around 10% to 15%). According to the New York Times, which is quoted in the article, “The study also concluded that dyslexics were more likely than nondyslexics to delegate authority and to excel in oral communication and problem solving and were twice as likely to own two or more businesses”.

The article was inspired by Journey into Dyslexia by Alan and Susan Raymond, a documentary that “examines the role of dyslexia in the lives of successful entrepreneurs and corporate leaders around the world.” The article lists Ben Ross, Steve Walker, Carol Greider, Richard Branson, Charles Schwab, Ted Turner, John Chambers, and Henry Ford as dyslexic prominent business people. So what are the theories as to why such a significant percentage of entrepreneurs are dyslexic? Here are some from the article:

“They come to the realization that society pronounces the number of skill sets that are necessary for success that they don’t seem to have. And they go out and build the environment in which they will impact.”

- Carl Schramm, CEO of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation to advance entrepreneurship, who appears in the documentary.

“There are many positive attributes that can’t be taught that people are generally not aware of… We always write about how we’re losing human capital—dyslexics are not able to achieve their potential because they’ve had to go around the system”

- Dr. Sally Shaywitz, a professor of learning development at Yale University

“Many of the coping skills dyslexics learn in their formative years become best practices for the successful entrepreneur”

- BusinessWeek

The theories all point to a reality: those with disadvantages must do their best to excel at qualities they can change. Dyslexics have to work harder than nondyslexics at accomplishing tasks the typical way so as the quotes suggest, they must “go around the system”. By choosing entrepreneurship, those with dyslexia are able to accomplish the same tasks/goals by doing methods reshaped by their reality. The amazing message to take from the article and the Cass Business school study is that entrepreneurs with dyslexia are not letting their disadvantage ruin their ability to move forward with their goals. I plan on watching the documentary whenever my DVR can record it; it airs on HBO2. But do not assume that dyslexics have it easy - this post is by no means a way to minimize their struggles.