There are dozens of famous people who stutter. In almost every case, the
way the person overcame stuttering became the basis of his or her success
later in life. Each would probably look back and see stuttering as a gift,
not as a disability. For example:
Carly Simon grew up in an emotionally-charged family, and developed severe
stuttering and obsessive-compulsive behaviors. She was unable to express
her emotions through speech, but she was able to sing fluently, so she
developed her singing and songwriting. Her songs connect with listeners on
an emotional level that few singer/songwriters have achieved.
James Earl Jones stuttered so severely that he was "virtually mute" until
high school. He then discovered that he could read Shakespeare aloud alone
in the fields of his family farm. He developed his acting skills along with
his fluency. Jones is now the most in-demand voice in Hollywood.
Winston Churchill was the greatest orator in the British Parliament, but
only if he prepared and practiced his remarks in advance. He studied issues
weeks in advance, preparing responses to every possible objection. This
extra effort made Churchill more knowledgeable than other leaders.
