Left or Right?

**MTaylor** · 03-28-2009 06:08 AM

Are you left handed or right handed? This has a direct correlation to the hemisphere of your brain where you process information. I'm going to take a wild guess and say that these forums have a higher percentage of left handers than the general population statistics of 10%.

Note: I left ambidextrous off of the poll because everyone has a preferred style and that is more important than ability. If you are ambidextrous, please make sure to post it though.

**Moneymaka** · 03-28-2009 06:23 AM

Could you explain why there would be a higher percentage of left handers here?

EDIT: nvm, i did a simple google search.

I have a question though, could it be that you use the right hand , yet your right brain dominates?

**MTaylor** · 03-28-2009 06:57 AM

Originally Posted by Moneymaka

Could you explain why there would be a higher percentage of left handers here?

Absolutely.

People who are right-brain directed (left handed) are usually more innovative and inventive. Creative, outside of the box type thinkers. They look at the big picture rather than focusing on individual tasks. An R-directed person is more likely to be spontaneous and impulsive leading them to take risks that others might shy away from. Many of the characteristics of R-directed thinking are very beneficial and inherent to entrepreneurship.

Don't take offense in any way. Right-brain thinking comes with a long list of drawbacks and Left-brain thinkers have some essential skills in their toolkit. I should point out that right-brain thinking is ofter diagnosed as ADD/ADHD just to highlight the disadvantages inherent in that style of thinking. From what I've read, R-directed individuals have such a difficult time in society because of the efficiency of the rules developed by L-directed individuals. Things such as time, sequence, organization etc that are so important for the world to function are often lost on the R-directed mind.

One of the most important factors that drew me to entrepreneurship was my inability to cope with the rules, bureaucracy, and monotony of the general labour market. Entrepreneurship is an escape from all of that. It's a sanctuary that allows me to make use of my natural skills which are usually undervalued as an employee.

Just to reiterate, there are advantages and disadvantages to both thinking styles and both are very capable at becoming successful in business. I will personally never attempt another business without a right-hand man (pardon the pun) to help me out because I get so bogged down by details that it takes forever to get anything done.

To summarize, entrepreneurship offers the kind of excitement and takes advantage of the skills usually possessed by right-brainers.

**Moneymaka** · 03-28-2009 07:10 AM

Personally, i don't think there would be more left handed people here as you don't have to be an "outside of the box thinker" in order to have interest in entrepreneurship.

I don't know where you got the information that the right brain is often diagnosed as ADD, because i've never heard of such a thing and i already have done some research on ADD.

I think i have ADD. I've read what the symptoms are and they all fit my personality.

**MTaylor** · 03-28-2009 07:20 AM

Originally Posted by Moneymaka

EDIT: nvm, i did a simple google search.

I have a question though, could it be that you use the right hand , yet your right brain dominates?

I'm not an expert on this in any way but let me attempt to answer your question. You dominant hand generally indicates your dominant brain hemisphere. With that being said, your hand is used to interact with the world and is not necessarily connected with how you process information. Everyone uses varying amounts of processing power from both sides of the brain and therefore it's quite possible to be right-handed and right-brain dominant. But regardless of your dominant hemisphere, both types of people are capable of switching their thinking styles from one to another. Your dominant hemisphere is simply your relaxed and natural way of thinking, not your only option.

I don't think I answered your question but I'm pretty sure the answer is yes. It's more likely that you are L-directed and highly skilled at using your right-brain when required.

Excellent question and I'll have to research it myself. Keep in mind that there are some bodies of research that state the differences between the two styles of thinking are overstated, but from personal experience, I have to disagree.

**MTaylor** · 03-28-2009 07:23 AM

Originally Posted by Moneymaka

Personally, i don't think there would be more left handed people here as you don't have to be an "outside of the box thinker" in order to have interest in entrepreneurship.

I don't know where you got the information that the right brain is often diagnosed as ADD, because i've never heard of such a thing and i already have done some research on ADD.

I think i have ADD. I've read what the symptoms are and they all fit my personality.

There is actually a whole book on the subject:

Right-Brained Children in a Left-Brained World: Unlocking the Potential of Your ADD Child

**Gene** · 03-28-2009 08:12 AM

I'm somewhere between completely left handed and write left, play sports right. That means that the right side of my brain is more in control, and that would make sense, because I have a pretty good sense of intuition.