Dyslexia and Wealth

A study recently commissioned by the British Broadcasting Company 2 for its series The Mind of a Millionaire found that self-made millionaires are four times more likely than the rest of the population to be dyslexic. The study, done by a team of psychologists and business experts, spent a day putting the subjects through a battery of tests. Of the 5,000 British millionaires selected for the study, a significant majority reported struggling in school. Of the 300 millionaires studied more closely, about 40% of them were diagnosed with dyslexia.

Experts in dyslexia are not surprised by these results. "Most people who make a million have difficult childhoods or have been frustrated in a major way. Dyslexia is one of the driving forces behind that," said Adrian Atkinson, a business psychologist involved in the study. Ali Bazley, a representative of the British Dyslexia Association, feels that dyslexics compensate for their difficulties by looking at the "big picture", thinking creatively and strategically.

Another explanation for the success of dyslexics might have to do with the fact that they are often socially isolated as children; they spend more time alone, looking for creative solutions and strategies that can help them work around their weakness. Take Richard Branson, for example, the owner of approximately 150 enterprises bearing the Virgin name. Branson remembers school as a "nightmare", having to memorize passages word for word to cover for his dyslexia. While he is certain he must have failed standardized tests, it turns out those tests failed him; they neglected to recognize Richard's sports talents, passionate ambition, and unique knack not only to connect with people, but to energize them - traits that eventually made Branson a billionaire.

Branson's secret to success lies in thinking "outside the box". For example, when other airlines reacted to falling business by chopping fares and cutting service, Branson's Virgin Airlines took a different tack - they kept their fares reasonable but added amenities (i.e. in-flight massages, exercise facilities, showers) that proved so enticing to passengers, that Virgin Airlines became a big moneymaker. In fact, all 150 of Branson's enterprises are profitable because he doesn't buy into the traditional corporate structure; he keeps his staffs small and achieves success by encouraging and empowering their ideas. His primary goal is not making money - finding an innovative idea and creating a new success is what drives Branson.

Another significant finding of the British study is the way dyslexics react to failure. Instead of quitting, they consider failure a learning experience, an opportunity to do better next time. They capitalize on their strengths. One of the members of the research team, Rene Caraylol, said he's never seen such an optimistic bunch, adding, "Everything is an opportunity - the glass isn't full, it is spilling over."