By Rebecca Kelly, CEO and founder, VenueScanner
What do Walt Disney, Richard Branson, Anita Roddick, Steve Jobs and Henry Ford all have in
common?
Number one. They are all successful entrepreneurs. Number two. They are all gamechangers who have turned their passions into successful businesses. And number three.
They are all dyslexic. BBC Research shows that 40 percent of self-made millionaires are actually dyslexic and according to a study by Julie Logan, nearly a fifth of all UK entrepreneurs are too.
Until recently, I hadn’t really thought about how being dyslexic had impacted my own journey as an entrepreneur, but the more I thought about it, the more I realised how fundamental it has actually been. So why is there such a strong correlation between entrepreneurship and dyslexia?
- It requires you to think differently
I wasn’t diagnosed until my last year of university so had always struggled at school. I had to work twice as hard as anyone else just to keep up and the strategies that worked for others, did not for me. My brain worked differently and because of that I came up with alternative ways of doing things and I developed an incredibly strong work ethic as a result.
Now, as a business owner, I question everything and like to exploring new ideas and approaches. I like to visualise outcomes and scenarios, which I think has helped me identify opportunities and gaps in the market.
So while it was difficult to flourish at school, in the world of business where thinking differently really sets you apart, being dyslexic has really helped me. While others are thinking in one direction, my brain often goes in the other (this has advantages and disadvantages!).
“The business world often gets caught up in facts and figures — and while the details and data are important, the ability to dream, conceptualise and innovate is what sets the successful and the unsuccessful apart.” Richard Branson
- We simplify
Dealing with endless emails and reams of paperwork can be a real challenge, which means I have to focus on the bigger picture and simplify the narrative both for myself and those around me.
I’ve learned that this is really important as an entrepreneur. If you want to take people on your journey – employees, investors, and customers – you have to be able to communicate and sell your vision to them in a way they understand.
“One great advantage of being dyslexic is simplification. Simplifying things allows for better decision making and is a real help when running a company.” Nick Jones, founder, Soho House
- We are self-aware
Understanding my weaknesses is essential when it comes to running a business because it helps inform who I need to surround myself with. The only reason VenueScanner is where it is today is because of the incredibly talented team of people who work there. While it is my job to lead and to inspire that team, it is also my job to empower them to focus on their strengths.
“Personally, I think my strength is just a complete obsession to any expression of empowering people and teaching people to cook.” Jamie Oliver What I once thought of a weakness, I now see as a strength. And I hope that by reading this, other people struggling with dyslexia can start to see what an asset their brain really is and why thinking differently will set you apart when it comes to running a business.
