Earvin "Magic" Johnson is a basketball legend, an entrepreneur, and an inspiration to many. What some may not know is that he also has dyslexia, a learning difference that can make reading and writing challenging. However, Johnson has never let that hold him back. Instead, he has used his unique perspective to achieve great success in business and on the basketball court. Johnson grew up in Lansing, Michigan, and struggled with dyslexia as a child. In his autobiography, he writes: "I had a lot of trouble with reading and writing, and it was frustrating. I knew I was smart, but I couldn't get the words on the page."
Johnson found his passion in basketball and became a star player at Everett High School. He went on to play for Michigan State University, where he won the NCAA Championship in 1979. He was a first-round draft pick and played for the Los Angeles Lakers for 13 seasons, winning five NBA championships and earning three NBA MVP awards. He played in 12 All-Star games and made 9 NBA finals appearances with the Lakers, and garnered 9 All-NBA First Team and was a valuable member of the 1992 US Olympic basketball team. His style of play was unique and very innovative, and he was known for his flashy passes and quick thinking on the court. Johnson is widely considered the greatest point guard of all time. He was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame by his long-time basketball “rival” Larry Bird, in 2002.
In an interview with the New York Times, Johnson credited his dyslexia with giving him a different perspective on the game: "My dyslexia has helped me. It made me think outside the box. If I can't process something one way, I look for other ways to do it."
Johnson's ability to see the court in a unique way and anticipate his teammates' movements was a major factor in his success. He was able to find new solutions to problems that other players may not have seen, and this allowed him to excel on the court.
After retiring from basketball in 1991, Johnson went on to achieve great success in the business world. He studied business whole he was still playing by meeting with executives on road trips, reading business magazines and learning as much as he could about business before he retired. He started his own company, Magic Johnson Enterprises, which focuses on developing urban communities and providing employment opportunities for minorities. He has also been involved in various business ventures, including owning sports teams in California, starting a chain of movie theaters, partnering with Starbucks, starting and running multiple restaurants, and managing and growing a large and profitable real estate portfolio.
In an interview with the National Center for Learning Disabilities, Johnson spoke about how his dyslexia has helped him in business: "Because of my dyslexia, I'm a visual person. I can see things that other people may not see, and that's been a big advantage in business."
Johnson's ability to see things from a different perspective and think creatively has been a major asset in his business ventures. He has been able to identify opportunities where others may not have seen them and has been successful in building thriving enterprises.
Magic Johnson's journey with dyslexia shows that everyone has unique strengths and perspectives that can be used to achieve great things. Dyslexia may present challenges, but it is not a disability - it is simply a different way of learning. Johnson's success in both basketball and business is a testament to the power of perseverance and the importance of focusing on strengths instead of weaknesses. As he once said: "I never let dyslexia hold me back. I knew what I was good at, and I focused on that. I want other people with dyslexia to know that they can do the same. They just have to find their own strengths and use them to their advantage."