Dyslexia Has Heightened My Attention To Detail

Coping with a condition that requires extra effort in reading and interpreting written information has instilled in me an unwavering commitment to meticulousness. I won’t lie, it was hard—and there were many nights when I had to re-read the same page over again and again until the information sunk in. But I knew I wanted this career, and I am very stubborn, so I committed, and as a result that attention to detail has become one of my superpowers because as a mortgage broker, that meticulousness proves invaluable when analysing intricate documents and contracts.

Dyslexia Has Helped To Enhance My Problem-Solving Abilities

Most people misunderstand dyslexia as an inability to spell due to getting letters mixed up—but that’s not it. Dyslexia has so much more to it than that. When you have dyslexia, your brain thinks differently and therefore it approaches situations and problems differently. For me and my career, that thinking has helped me navigate difficulty with clarity, because I was able to process complex financial scenarios from various angles. Having this capacity to break down multifaceted problems, helped me to see creative solutions that others overlooked, and as a result, I’ve been able to hone my problem-solving capabilities in innovative ways—which in the intricate world of mortgage brokering, is always a perk.

Dyslexia Has Improved My Empathetic And Effective Communication

Growing up with dyslexia was difficult. I grew up in a time when not much was known about it, and people aren’t always kind to those who are different. However, my lived experiences have made me inherently empathetic towards others facing challenges. Writing was never my strong point, so I developed exceptional verbal communication skills, and whilst this isn’t strictly beneficial to my career, it’s helped me to become a better person, friend and family member. This empathy also translates into my interactions with clients, as I can relate to their anxieties and uncertainties. And let’s face it, in this economic climate, there are a few!

Dyslexia Has Helped Me Prioritise Problems

When you have dyslexia, reading and comprehension take time and effort—and because of this, you tend to absorb the information and prioritise tasks differently. At least I did! This is something that has become invaluable in my career, because when you’re dealing with a multitude of mortgage applications and financial assessments, you can’t just organise through priority alone, you also have to juggle urgency and tight turnaround times.

Dyslexia Has Helped Me Adapt To Multi-Sensory Learning

Multisensory learning techniques enable people to grasp information more effectively, and in my role as a mortgage broker, this adaptability has allowed me to understand and retain crucial data through diverse approaches. I can quickly adapt to ever-changing financial regulations and market trends, enabling me to provide up-to-date and reliable advice to my clients and act quickly.

Ultimately, embracing my dyslexia has enabled me to leverage its unique attributes, which in turn has helped me to flourish as a mortgage broker. Don’t get me wrong, it’s taken nearly two decade’s worth of challenges to get to this point, but with hindsight and self-acceptance, I can see the invaluable skills that I’ve developed that help set me apart in the competitive financial industry. I’m a huge advocate for inclusivity and diversity, and I hope my story sheds light on some of the untapped potential that lies within individuals with learning differences.