Australia – Virgin Chairman Richard Branson thinks overcoming his dyslexia helped him succeed and build the Virgin brand. Dyslexia is a cognitive learning difference that causes trouble with reading comprehension. It is estimated that 3%-10% of worlds population deals with dyslexia.
Like many with the famed reading difference, Branson’s teachers didn’t take it into account when teaching and assumed him lazy and stupid. As Branson grew older and started the virgin brand he learned how to handle his dyslexia now considers it a great asset to his business practices.
Branson told Bloomberg’s Cory Johnson,
“If you have a learning disability, you become a very good delegator. Because you know what your weaknesses are and you know what your strengths are, and you make sure that you find great people to step in and deal with your weaknesses.”
Delegation isn’t the only product of his unique mind. In each business he adds to the Virgin name he tries to keep the language simple and free on buzz words. He continued,
“Everything is very clear-cut, very simple. I think people have an affinity to the Virgin brand because we don’t talk above them or talk down to them.”
“David and Goliath” author Malcolm Gladwell agrees Brandon, adding in his recent publication that many successful people partially credit overcoming dyslexia as the reason for their success.
Ryanair Boss Michael O’Leary as reported here believes that Virgin’s Richard Branson ‘Autistic’, based on his eye contact. While Branson may have dyslexia, there is no evidence that his is on the spectrum.
Contributed by Audrey L. Hollingshead.
Source: Richard Branson explains why he considers dyslexia his greatest business advantage