BusinessWeek takes a look at an interesting trend: dyslexic executives building great companies.

Dyslexia is generally viewed as a disability, but it hasn't stopped some of the most successful entrepreneurs of all time: Cisco Systems founder John T. Chambers, Richard Branson, Henry Ford, William Hewlett, Charles Schwab, and Ted Turner.

In nearly every field of endeavor, there are a plethora of hugely successful dyslexics: Agatha Christie, Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, George Patton, John Lennon, Nolan Ryan, Andy Warhol, Leonardo da Vinci, Tommy Hilfiger, Jay Leno, Tom Cruise ... the list goes on and on.

Many dyslexic individuals develop unique coping skills to deal with their disability, leading it to actually become a strength: they develop strong work ethics, good people skills, and think creatively.

To learn about the mind of one of America's most innovative entrepreneurs, check out Kinko's founder Paul Orfalea's Copy This!: Lessons from a Hyperactive Dyslexic Who Turned a Bright Idea into One of America's Best Companies. It's one of the better business books to come out in the past few years.

Is dyslexia an asset for entrepreneurs? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 15 Dec 2007 10:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.