It is said that one in three new business founders are dyslexic. Sir Richard Branson recently spoke about this truth through his new accelerator programme, recognising the extraordinary creative minds that often see the world differently. I am proud to be one of them.
As the founder of Nettle Revolution, I have come to understand that my dyslexia is not a limitation. It is a super strength. It is the lens through which I view the world with curiosity, connection and creativity. My brain does not follow straight lines; it weaves patterns, senses stories and connects threads that others might overlook. Just like the nettle plant itself, my way of thinking can seem wild and unconventional, yet when understood, it holds incredible potential and purpose.
For many years, I struggled to be understood. I often felt that I did not fit into a world that moved too fast and left little room for different kinds of minds. But now, at 66, I see that it is never too late to embrace who you truly are. My dyslexia is part of my design. It allows me to visualise, to feel deeply and to translate the language of nature into healing and creative expression.
When I weave, write or create, my dyslexic brain does not think in words first. It thinks in textures, patterns and energy. It allows me to imagine something that does not yet exist, then bring it into being with my hands. This creative vision drives everything I do at Nettle Revolution, from the fibres I harvest to the stories I share through my work.
Finding support later in life has been life-changing. Meeting Theo Paphitis, who is also dyslexic, gave me the confidence to own this part of myself completely. His understanding and encouragement reminded me that dyslexia is not a setback but a unique way of thinking that leads to innovation and originality. It reminded me that we are part of a powerful community of thinkers, makers and founders who bring fresh perspectives into the world.
Dyslexia has given me:
- Creative problem-solving – I find solutions by seeing from the edges.
- Holistic thinking – I see the whole picture, not just the pieces.
- Empathy and intuition – I sense meaning beyond words.
- Resilience – I have learned to thrive in a world that often misunderstands difference.
Just like the nettle, I have learned to transform the sting into strength. My dyslexia connects me to the very essence of Nettle Revolution, the belief that what others dismiss as a weed can hold medicine, magic and value.
I want others, especially those who are neurodivergent and perhaps later in life, to know that there is always time to rediscover your power. It is never too late to begin again, to share your gifts and to believe in your own voice.
Being dyslexic does not define me. It refines me. It is the root of my creativity, my resilience and my purpose. It is the fire that fuels Nettle Revolution.
The Healer’s Thread
Over time, I have also come to see that my empathy, the way I feel the world so deeply, is part of my dyslexic gift. I do not just see with my eyes; I sense with my heart. As a grandmother, I now understand that this sensitivity is not weakness but wisdom. It allows me to connect with others in a way that goes beyond words.
Being dyslexic has opened a door to intuition, allowing me to tune in to the natural rhythms of life. It is through this heightened awareness that my healing work began to unfold. I can sense when a person, plant or place needs gentle attention, just as I can sense when the earth offers something back in return.
This is what I call the healer’s thread, the unseen current that weaves through my creative and spiritual work. It guides my hands as I weave, my voice as I teach and my heart as I share the message of Nettle Revolution.
To be both dyslexic and an empath is to live life through feeling, flow and intuition. It is to trust that your differences are not obstacles but the very pathways that lead you to healing, both your own and that of others.
🌿 Jane Gray
Founder, Nettle Revolution
Reclaiming the power of the wild and the wisdom of difference