Under the headline “Study shows stronger links between entrepreneurs and dyslexia,” Brent Bowers of the International Herald Tribune reported that a survey of business leaders showed an unusually high proportion of them consider themselves dyslexic. Liz Ditz covered this story a couple of weeks ago, which is fitting given her recurring coverage of high-achieving dyslexics.
The report, compiled by Julie Logan, a professor of entrepreneurship at the Cass Business School in London, found that more than a third of the entrepreneurs she surveyed – 35 percent – identified themselves as dyslexic. 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.
“We found that dyslexics who succeed had overcome an awful lot in their lives by developing compensatory skills,” Logan said during an interview. “If you tell your friends and acquaintances that you plan to start a business, you’ll hear over and over, ‘It won’t work. It can’t be done.’ But dyslexics are extraordinarily creative about maneuvering their way around problems.”
The study was based on a survey of 139 business owners in a wide range of fields across the United States. Logan called the number who said they were dyslexic “staggering” and said it was significantly higher than the 20 percent of British entrepreneurs who said they were dyslexic in a poll she conducted in 2001.
Ms. Logan published an earlier book (Entrepreneurial success : a study of the incidence of dyslexia in the entrepreneurial population and the influence of dyslexia upon the entrepreneur on this topic, but I haven’t located the actual report of this particular study.
Link to Mr. Bowers’ story. Link to Liz’s blog entry. Link to Ms. Logan’s school’s press release.
Update: Colleague David Bateman pointed me to coverage in the New York (NY, US) Tiems
John, I asked Logan for a copy of her study on November 20 2007. No response to date, and I am 85% certain it was not published in a peer-reviewed article. Under separate cover, I sent you a copy of the email — maybe you with your institutional affiliation might get some action.
I also suspect that the article you referenced (Entrepreneurial success : a study of the incidence of dyslexia in the entrepreneurial population and the influence of dyslexia upon the entrepreneur) was a study, not a book. At any rate, can’t find an ISBN # for it.
I think this article was published Nov. 14 2007, but I’m not sure because the link is broken. (Kansas.com doesn’t keep articles up very long.
Liz, on your first comment: I have a full reference on my office machine. It’ll be a test of my memory to see whether I find it tomorrow and post it here. Because it’s published in GB, I wonder if it would have a US ISBN.
On your second comment (which seems more relevant to the Posny events?): The reporter whom I cited sent me an electronic copy of the article to which you’re referring and which is no longer live on the newpaper’s Web site. I’ll see if I can remember to send it to you, too.
On your expertise in sniffing out pooh: Did you look at the Posny response to Karen Rooney’s inquiry to which I referred in that other post?
Im glad they didnt find a cure for my dyslex as a child. Otherwise I may not be the successful entrepreneur I am today. Because I had to make life work for me, I now know how to tackle most business problems.
Jacob, yours is an interesting perspective. Thanks for adding it. I can understand the idea you present. I also wonder whether, had you overcome dyslexia when younger you might not have taken strength from that triumph and used the experience as a springboard to tackle problems.
It’s fascinating to speculate on the different sorts of spin that people put on experiences. From what I hear, some of the most fabulous athletes focus on little bits of experience–even an imagined slight–to goad themselves to new heights. (Not to say that this is what you’ve done, of course.) It’s sort of when-life-gives-you-lemons-make-lemonade approach.
I am a bit wary of some arguments of this sort. Probably most of us have heard the idea that blind people have natural musical ability. I don’t have the evidence at hand, but I think there is a pretty solid basis for dismissing this generalization. So, too, I’d be reluctant to generalize that all or even the majority of individuals with dyslexia have been able to find the benefit that you report.
I love the tenacity of my dyslexic friends they are so strong that I had to write an article about them. If you digg it let me know.
Mike
http://www.scribd.com/doc/2322720/Dyslexics-are-the-Best-Leaders-and-Entrepreneurs