Why Dyslexia Can Be a Business Owner’s Hidden Superpower: Lessons from Jamie Waller

Why Dyslexia can be a business owner’s hidden superpower

Have you ever thought, “that sounds like me”?

Every business owner has moments that stop them in their tracks when someone else’s story suddenly feels like their own.
For James Vincent, UK Performance Director at ActionCOACH, that moment came during an episode of The ActionCOACH Business Growth Podcast.

As entrepreneur and best-selling author Jamie Waller opened up about his experience with dyslexia, James realised he shared many of the same struggles. In that instant, everything clicked — what he had long seen as a weakness became a source of pride, purpose and even a superpower.

A moment of realisation

“It was like an out-of-body experience,” said James.
“While Jamie was speaking, I was relating to more and more of what he said, it was surreal! He talked about struggling at school, and I thought, that’s me too. One teacher even called me ‘thick’, and that label stuck with me for years.”

After the interview, James told Jamie he suspected he might also have dyslexia. Jamie encouraged him to take an assessment and the results confirmed it.

“When I found out, it was like something inside me clicked. Deep down, I think I’d always known. I’d spent years masking it, focusing on my strengths and pushing through the doubts. Finally, everything made sense.”

If you’re a business owner who wants to understand how dyslexia can be an asset in business, check out our related post: 

The ActionCOACH Business Growth Podcast

Turning a challenge into a source of pride

For James, discovering he had dyslexia wasn’t just a personal revelation, it was a turning point in his professional life.

“After the initial surprise, I felt proud. I don’t see dyslexia as a challenge anymore, I see it as a tool. It’s something I can use to grow myself and to help others in my coaching too. Since then, I’ve found I relate much more deeply to other business owners who share similar experiences.”

This new awareness carried over into his family life as well.

“My daughter is dyslexic too. Knowing that, I can guide her differently, help her see that what makes her different can also make her brilliant.”

The ripple effect

Since sharing his story, James has seen a powerful ripple effect among the business community.

“Everything has changed for the better since that conversation with Jamie. So many people have reached out to share their stories — it’s been amazing to connect with them,” he said.

“I tell people all the time: go listen to that interview. It shows that anything is possible when you embrace who you are. Dyslexia isn’t something to hide — it’s a superpower waiting to be used.”

Why this matters for business owners

Many successful entrepreneurs from Richard Branson to Jamie Waller, share one thing in common: dyslexic thinking.
Rather than seeing it as a limitation, they use it to:

• See the big picture when others focus on details

• Communicate complex ideas simply

• Delegate effectively and empower teams

• Solve problems creatively under pressure

For business owners, recognising these strengths can be transformative. Dyslexic thinking fuels innovation, leadership, and resilience, the exact skills every entrepreneur needs to grow a thriving business.

Tune in and be inspired

To hear James Vincent’s full story, along with more conversations that inspire business growth, tune into The ActionCOACH Business Growth Podcast.

Every episode features real stories from business owners and thought leaders — people turning obstacles into opportunities and building businesses with purpose.

To hear how James came to realise his dyslexia diagnosis and more inspiring stories like Jamie’s, while gaining a whole host of valuable insights into business growth, tune into The ActionCOACH Business Growth Podcast. Click here to listen to the latest episodes.