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That does not translate automatically to success in life. It's not good to outshine the wrong people.A fellow executive once told me that the harder he worked the luckier he got. It seems to assume that means being at the forefront of your chosen endeavor. As someone who has been fortunately (more about that in a moment) successful in business I have hired and observed "successful" people. The creative stagnation of Microsoft suggests not. I have also seen where pure competence actually has proven detrimental to one's success when it threatens others in the decision chain.
John Thain is the most recent, having presided over the downfall of Merrill Lynch only to be hired to run CIT.
The cases of self-destructive or otherwise unhappy highly "successful" people are too numerous.In my experience people who possess so-called street smarts are more likely to rise to the top, regardless of background, intelligence or accomplishment.
The coincidence of skill set and need are the most obvious examples.
But that begs the question because little is said in this book about how it defines success.
There is some truth to that but pure luck also plays a hand.
Whether ingrained or taught experimentally people who know how to "play the game" are far more likely to succeed in most endeavors, given even a modicum of expertise in their field.
Just look at all the famous CEO's who have bankrupted one company only to be hired to run another.
One has to wonder if Bill Gates came to the marketplace today whether he would be as successful.
Steve Jobs is an interesting counterpoint.So I must join with others in commending Gladwell for his engaging writing but defer as to his insight.
That kids in China are spending considerably more time on a math problem than they do in the US (and it is because they know how to spend time on something to make it right.like rice farming) is amazing. What an utterly fascinating book. As an educator, I found it promising to read that to learn things it takes time and effort. No matter who you are though, this book will pertain to you. Great, great book.
Perhaps I just have too much of the "hard work equals success" paradigm in me, but I think this guy is wrong.Spoiler Alert.The author makes the point that Bill Gates is who he is because of his unique opportunities, same with certain NY Jewish lawyers, hockey players, and 19th century industrialists. Guess what, fate didn't deal me the cards to have a good shot at that crown (I'd loose swimsuit for sure), but that doesn't mean I'm a loser, or that I can't be an outlier and be exceptional at other things. All right, I realize I am bucking the trend here on this book, but I really didn't care for it. What did Bill give up to found Microsoft. The point is, I believe greatness is available to any of us if we can identify and accept the opportunities we do have, then work to get it. I agree with the role of opportunities (luck), and also with his assertion that it takes 10,000 hours of experience to really become world-class at something. That's like me saying that I define success as being Miss USA (I'm a 300+pound balding American male).
Was he born to be a bodybuilder, a top action movie actor, or a politician. While I thought it was well written, and I found the facts amusing I disagree with the author's conclusions. I truly believe that the magic is to discover which opportunities are available, and then be prepared to take advantage of them.As a counterexample, I'll offer up Arnold Schwarzenegger. The point the author overlooks is opportunity cost, that is, what were Bill's other options, his "plan B". So what if Bill was born at just the right time to catch the PC revolution, that doesn't mean that if he were born 5 years later he'd be making fries somewhere. Regardless of what you think of his movies or his politics, this guy has reached the top repeatedly. While no amount of work will win me that beauty contest, life does have other opportunities if I'm willing to identify and pursue them.
Outliers, like the rest of Gladwell's books, reels you in with its sensationalist themes, and claims of deep insight into the human or its society. But after lightly reading this large-print, thirty-dollar compilation of "studies", opinions, and idealistic suggestions offered by Gladwell, I felt a sense of emptiness--the same sort of emptiness felt after completing an hour of reality television.This book offers nothing new to the table (except for maybe renewed sense of demotivation).Worst of all, the essence of this book demonizes intellect, upholds mediocrity, and offers the layman an excuse to revert to a bastardized sort of mentality common in pre-Enlightenment Europe, where success was a foreign term and self-improvement was a term used only in the context of muscle-building.
This is a totally unusual, yet practical view at some of the aspects that lead to success. I had never thought of outliers from the perspective of the author. Very good read and I got my entire family hooked on it.
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