"I'm Not Successful in Spite of Dyslexia, I'm Successful Because of It" - PlusLexia

11/4/22, 9:21 PM “I’m not successful in spite of dyslexia, I’m successful because of it” - PlusLexia
NEWSLETTER
“I’m not successful in spite of dyslexia, I’m successful

because of it”
in Living with dyslexia
🔊 Listen to Post
There are a few things to keep in mind of course. Not all dyslexics
can necessarily take advantage of the gifts that dyslexia
[https://pluslexia.com/dyslexia/] brings. If you have no passion,
https://pluslexia.com/im-not-successful-in-spite-of-dyslexia-im-successful-because-of-it/ 1/10
ambition or confidence, having dyslexia is of no benefit. Here is a

summary of my story.
I was born in 1961 at The Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal,

Canada. According to my parents, I didn’t speak a word until the
age of 4 years old. I was born in December so I entered school at a
younger age than most of my peers in the same grade level.
I began to believe … stupid and dumb

By age 5, kids were learning how to read but I was quite noticeably
slower and struggling with the written language. Teachers and
students called me stupid & dumb all through the early grades
and I began to believe them and resented going to school. I
remember being punished for failure which became a routine for
me. I had few friends and was the victim of some bullying.
I was diagnosed to be dyslexic in 1972 when I was 11 years old. We

had no support groups or special programs. I was told to learn a
trade like mechanic or carpenter as I would never succeed in an
academic career. I absolutely hated learning until I was learning
only what I wanted to learn and at a much faster pace than the
regular system could allow.
Got into trouble

I was moved to a private school for grades 7 & 8 (junior high
school as it’s called in Canada). There I continued to fail and also
started making friends with other kids who were misfits and
failures.
We got into trouble and started doing drugs while skipping off
school.
I was offered a passing grade in exchange for not coming back to

that school ever again. I entered high school which is grade 9 for
the first year in 1975. I failed everything and was always getting in
trouble and doing drugs. This repeated for the next 3 years and in
the 4th year, I dropped out of school having only completed 6 of
the 40 credits required to graduate.
Low paying jobs .. but I love science
For the next 6 years, I moved around the country taking low
paying jobs and doing things that were not in my best interest. I
always had an interest in science but knew that I would never get
to work in a scientific field without school and for me, school was
beyond reach.
I also somehow began to realize that I was probably as smart or

even smarter than many of those around me but just had no
formal education. Eventually I got bored doing menial labor and
reporting to people that seemed less intelligent than I am. I also
had a taste for the better things in life and wondered if I could
ever become something and have something.
Wanted to be someone
At the age of 22 years old, I decided I wanted to be someone and
so I began to study for an adult entrance exam. This required that
I learn all of high school which included mostly basic English, Math
& Science. I taught myself in 4 months and wrote the exam.
Although dyslexia prevented me from passing the English part of

the test, I got almost a perfect score on the Math & Science
sections. My score was enough to enter the University and I
proceeded to learn Chemistry, Physics, Math/Calculus and

Computer programming.
I did poorly in computer although back in the early 1980’s,

computer was quite different than today. I was very successful at
learning math, physics & chemistry. I was not able to complete my
degree because some of the required courses involved reading
which I still struggled with.
The only benefit offered to me by the university was that I could

have as much time as needed to complete my tests & exams. I
eventually quit the university with a full understanding of
university chemistry & physics but it would be difficult to get a job
practicing these sciences without the graduate degree.
My dyslexia gifts started to show …

I found a job in a factory that used chemical processes and while
working, I was educating myself on how the chemistry is applied in
this manufacturing process. The second company that hired me
had problems with their processes and where causing scrap of
about 15% of their products.
This is where my dyslexia gifts Flask

[https://pluslexia.com/dyslexia/]
started to show their value. I
determined where in their process
management systems were causing
the problems and devised a
creative way to solve it.
Shortly after implementing my new

control system, I was promoted to
Chemical Process Manager. I was
able to reduce the scrap from 15% down to 3% within 6 months. It
turned out that many other companies in that same industry had
similar problems.
I have a unique ability

In a short time, many of my employer’s competitors had heard
about me and my magic. I began to get many job offers that payed
large salaries so I moved around many times over the following
few years.
I provided these companies many improvements as I seemed to

visualise processes & their problems in multiple dimensions. I
have a unique ability to visualize, perceive and conceptualize
mechanisms and what influences them.
Working my way up
I proceeded to teach myself how to use computers & build
computer networks. By the time I was 28 years old, I was the
manager of 3 departments of a large company that provided
electronic components to military and medical technology
companies.
By 1989, my position was to manage the chemical process

engineering department, IT/computer department and the Quality
Control department.
Started my own company, 3X!

At the same time as all this, I started my own computer company
on the side. This company grew rapidly and eventually I had to
resign from my high paying job to go it alone. I was very good at

working alone by this time and my company grew rapidly.
From there, I branched off into video surveillance and

subsequently started another company which also grew rapidly.
My companies provide products & services to some of the largest
clients in the world.
I now provide for Honda Manufacturing, Suncor Energy, Tesla

Motors, Imperial Oil and many more. By now you would think that
I had done enough but in 2009, I invented & patented a product
that is now selling all over North America and we are just starting
to sell in Europe. All 3 of my companies are successful and
employing a number of people.
Think outside the box

I am now 56 years old. I am married to a lovely lady who has
tolerated me for 29 years ;^). I have 3 children in university and we
own a beautiful home. We also travel regularly to various
countries around the world.
I would not change a thing about my past or my life. All of the

trials and tribulations, struggles & hardships, have all contributed
to who I have become. This includes dyslexia
[https://pluslexia.com/dyslexia/] which forced me to think outside
the box and discover my real talents.
Another one of my quotes:
“Don’t try to fix dyslexia. Dyslexia isn’t broken,

you just need to figure out how it works”
Written by Chris Newhouse
What is your best dyslexia quotes?

write this below[/responsivevoice]
1
REPLY
Jim Bauer
May 9, 2018 at 1:10 am
Thank you for sharing this article. A few years ago we put together a panel of
dyslexic adults titled “Success Because of Dyslexia”. It was presented at a
major dyslexic conference, which included attendees from 3 to 4 different
states. Included in the panel were: an attorney, therapist, chef etc. the panel
was received very well by dyslexic students and their parents. We did receive
negative feedback from those in the audience who were teachers. This was
possibly due to the fact that most of the individuals didn’t have much positive
to say about their educational experience.
Reply
 
© Copyright - PlusLexia

"I'm Not Successful in Spite of Dyslexia, I'm Successful Because of It" - PlusLexia

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

"I'm Not Successful in Spite of Dyslexia, I'm Successful Because of It" - PlusLexia

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

11/4/22, 9:21 PM “I’m not successful in spite of dyslexia, I’m successful because of it” - PlusLexia

“I’m not successful in spite of dyslexia, I’m successful

ambition or confidence, having dyslexia is of no benefit. Here is a

I was born in 1961 at The Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal,

I began to believe … stupid and dumb

I was diagnosed to be dyslexic in 1972 when I was 11 years old. We

Got into trouble

I was offered a passing grade in exchange for not coming back to

Low paying jobs .. but I love science

I also somehow began to realize that I was probably as smart or

Although dyslexia prevented me from passing the English part of

proceeded to learn Chemistry, Physics, Math/Calculus and

I did poorly in computer although back in the early 1980’s,

The only benefit offered to me by the university was that I could

My dyslexia gifts started to show …

This is where my dyslexia gifts Flask

Shortly after implementing my new

I have a unique ability

I provided these companies many improvements as I seemed to

By 1989, my position was to manage the chemical process

Started my own company, 3X!

resign from my high paying job to go it alone. I was very good at

From there, I branched off into video surveillance and

I now provide for Honda Manufacturing, Suncor Energy, Tesla

Think outside the box

I would not change a thing about my past or my life. All of the

Another one of my quotes:

“Don’t try to fix dyslexia. Dyslexia isn’t broken,

What is your best dyslexia quotes?

You might also like