dyslexia and entrepreneurship

Interesting news out of the UK...details follow:

A staggering 35% of U.S. entrepreneurs suffer from dyslexia, compared to 20% in the UK, a ground-breaking study by Julie Logan, Professor of Entrepreneurship at London’s Cass Business School, reveals.

This latest U.S. study follows on from earlier research which reveals that UK entrepreneurs are five times more likely to suffer from dyslexia than the average UK citizen – 4% of the average population are dyslexic. In the U.S., dyslexia is grouped with ‘learning disabled,’ and 15% of the population suffer from this.

Kinko’s founder Paul Orfalea, Jupitermedia CEO Alan Meckler, and legendary investor Charles Schwab are famous examples of dyslexic entrepreneurs.

Key findings from Professor Logan’s research identified that dyslexics are more likely than non-dyslexics to:

• Own more than one business
• Run their businesses for a shorter time (although grow them more quickly)
• Start their businesses right after school
• Excel in oral communications, problem-solving, delegation, and spatial awareness
• Be influenced by a mentor (versus non-dyslexics, who are more influenced by educational experiences)
• Manage more staff (25 as mean, versus 17 for non-dyslexics) because of increased ability to delegate, an example of a coping strategy employed to overcome difficulties.


Jeff