Discovering my Superpower - Theo Paphitis
Tuesday 4 October 2022
Theo was born in Cyprus in 1959. His business empire spans retail, property, finance and consumer goods. Having left school at the age of 16 with no qualifications due to his dyslexia, he has gone on to create a business empire.
Having discovered his passion for retail, Theo has revived the fortunes of notable high street names such as Ryman, Partners the Stationers, Stationery Box, La Senza, Contessa Lingerie, Red Letter Days, Boux Avenue and London Graphic Centre and more recently the home and garden retailer Robert Dyas.
He appeared on the hit show ‘Dragons' Den’ and his other passion, sport, led him to having 8 marvellous years as Chairman of Millwall Football Club, and was co-founder of sports marketing company Movie & Media Sports.
"It’s fair to say that I struggled at school because of my dyslexia, although I didn’t know it was for this reason at the time. I was often labelled as ‘thick’ and put in the bottom sets, but I remember deciding early on that I was not going to let this influence my life and define me. So, I had to develop methods to solve problems and ultimately understand and work with my dyslexia, and by just learning to work with my dyslexia in those formative years, it transformed from something that was a hindrance into my superpower.
At school, my brain often understood that I needed to find a solution, but it just couldn’t do it the way everyone else could, but that’s ok because it taught me to find workarounds. I didn’t just have to think outside the box, I had to build my own!
I had to problem-solve, find workarounds and work a hell of a lot harder than many other kids every day of my life just to be average. Even as an 11-year-old I can remember quite clearly learning to get around the things I had to do by finding alternate solutions. Whatever it was, I had to find another solution, and I’d be going all over the place, but I’d always get there."
"So when I went to work, something which required problem-solving, l had that breakthrough moment. I found that work was less challenging - at least when compared to the confines of school! I could just get on with things and play to my strengths; I could see the problems and then deal with them.
There were certainly bumps and setbacks along the way, but at the age of 23, I looked at my strengths, pulled my socks up and launched my own business, and I certainly wouldn’t have done that without the path I had taken and the challenges I had encountered along the way that led me to that decision.
I can safely say that I wouldn’t be where I am if I weren’t dyslexic because it’s given me this ability to problem-solve, and throughout my journey, I’ve come to realise that it’s not just me saying this - many others gain huge value from the differentiation that dyslexia gives them."
"I hear some fantastic stories and insights as to how dyslexia is others’ unique superpower; some people can visualise things immediately, others are meticulous and can uncover errors invisible to others - whatever it may be, embrace it!
Understand your weaknesses, utilise your strengths and then you will truly be able to work and thrive with your own superpower - your dyslexia. It’s a huge part of who you are."