Dyslexia Series – Part 7: Do you believe in DESIRABLE DIFFICULTY?

Well, do you really believe it’s possible?… desirable difficulties?

Isn’t this phrase as oxymoronic as it gets?

Do you believe dyslexia could be classified as a difficulty – with desirable by- products?

“You wouldn’t wish dyslexia on your child…or would you?”

Malcolm Gladwell asks readers in his book, David and Goliath.

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The chapter on Dyslexia

In a room full of prominent university donors, the question was asked of this select group of talented people, “How many of you were diagnosed with a learning disorder or difference?”

Half of these gifted individuals at the top of their game raised their hands.

So Malcolm writes that we can come to the conclusion that these experts in their respective fields triumphed IN SPITE of their disability…or should we say…BECAUSE of their disorder?

Now, that’s a new lens on an old pair of glasses.  Don’t you think?

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When does a difficulty become desirable?

Should we ask the famous entrepreneur – Sir Richard Branson – of Virgin Atlantic Airways?

Or how about Charles Schwab – the founder of one of the largest investment brokerage firms in the country?

How about JetBlue or Kinko’s founders?  Let’s ask them.

They are all dyslexic.

They are all incredible entrepreneurs and successful beyond measure.

Malcolm Gladwell explains that a statistically high number (approximatey 1/3) of  the elite and accomplished entrepreneurs in the world are dyslexic.

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3 compensated dyslexic learners.

Out of respect for your time…

and Malcolm’s perfected work in his book (You know, I love all things Gladwell!), I will not write a full summary of the section on Dyslexia.

But I will outline 3 individuals who will give you the kind of hope that makes you want to stand up and cheer in your own living room or move you to tears in a public venue.

You don’t have to agree with everything Malcolm writes in his book, but his words gave me a new, fresh perspective on who has the advantage…the Real Advantage.  David?  Or Goliath?

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Do you know who David Boies is?

He learned to read as late as the 3rd grade because he was dyslexic.

Even as an adult, he speaks in small words and short sentences.

When he doesn’t know a word, he spells it out as a child would.

With all of this said, you would never think that David is….a famous trial attorney whose client list includes presidential candidates and America’s largest corporations….considered the best and brightest among our nation’s lawyers.

You’ve probably seen him on television many, many times. I know I have.

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So, have you ever heard of Ingvar Kamprad of Sweden?

Yes, I bet you have and didn’t even know it.

As you probably guessed, Kamprad is a dyslexic learner.

And you (or someone you know) have some of his products in your home!

He is thought to be one of the richest businessmen in the world.

With adversity and obstacles, Kamprad moved his production to Poland where he discovered cheap labor and lots of wood. An avant garde decision at that time.

Kamprad realized that furniture’s high cost stemmed from actual assembling the wood components and shipping the assembled pieces as a whole.

Easy fix.  Ship flat boxes of unassembled pieces for extremely low prices.

And today, millions of consumers purchase Kamprad’s furniture.

My son has a desk, chair and bookcase….from IKEA.

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And drum roll, please.  Here’s my favorite profile.  It was Gary Cohn’s story which moved me to tears in my doctor’s waiting room.

As you might have predicted, Gary could not read because of dyslexia.

Even as a young adult, he read 22 pages in about 6 hours.

He was abused (kicked) by his teacher.

He, in turn, hit his teacher in retaliation.  And he was only in the 4th grade.

During his “ugly years” (Cohn’s own words), he bounced from school-to-school and sought social esteem by playing the role of class clown.

But here’s where the disadvantage becomes the advantage.

With nothing to lose – Cohen was 22 years old and selling aluminum siding and window frames.

Feeling so comfortable with failure – the thought of looking ridiculous or idiotic did not deter Cohn from jumping into a taxi cab on Wall Street with a commodities trader he had never met.

At the end of that taxi ride to LaGuardia Airport, Cohn had a phone number which eventually led to a job and a new occupation as an options trader….a subject he knew nothing about.

Boldness.  Tenacity.  And moxie….paid off.

But Gary Cohn has reached a pinnacle of success few will ever realize.

Gary is now the President and Chief Operating Officer of the prestigious and internationally renowned Goldman Sachs.

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These dyslexic learners compensated for their dyslexia.

Boies developed a keen sense of memory and listening.

Kamprad relied on his openness to thinking outside-of-the-mainstream of furniture making and consciously moving his business to an unpopular location in Poland.

And last, Cohn was so completely ‘disagreeable’ (Malcolm’s terminology) that he didn’t have the social filter of worrying about what others thought of him.  His highly developed sense of upside… overshadowed any threat of downside.

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Gary Cohn’s story made me cry in public.

I didn’t even notice the room full of people who were probably staring.

Hmmm.  Goldman Sachs.  That’s huge.  That’s hope.

I just knew that my heart was full of hope for all dyslexic learners.

When I started to sob that day, I thought about my own son.

About my students – past and present.

And now as I write this morning, I am thinking about you…and your child.