There are two sayings I have been familiar with for years that apply to success in life. “You have to do it yourself and you cannot do it alone” “Luck is where opportunity meets preparation” This book subtitled “The Story of Success” tells us why this is so!
We have all seen superstars in life (in sports and in business) and those who have made some form of notable contribution to science or humanity. We are told stories about how they became successful overnight.
Did they really? I remember hearing Tiger Woods becoming an overnight success and later learning he had been practicing for 20 years. What is it that makes those like Tiger Woods, Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, and so many others successful? What is it that makes these people stand out?
One of the challenges of mankind is that we tend to only take a small amount of information and use it to draw our conclusions. We so often do not see the big picture of what is really going on and what is truly behind what is happening. The “Outliers” brings together a body of information that gives us a big picture of what is behind the success of individuals. Although intelligence and natural ability play a role, they are not the key determining factors.
Malcolm Gladwell discuses how it takes 10,000 hours of practice to become a master at what you do, be it computer programming or shooting a puck. He shows how family and cultural influences are a determinate factor in success and the role that “luck” plays in creating personal success. The book includes information on the studies that back up what the author has to tell us and leaves us thinking that there are better solutions to some of the challenges that we face today.
Are you aware that the majority of hockey players in the NHL were born in January, February or March? Do you know why if your son was born later in the year, he has a minuscule chance of ever making it big in hockey and many other sports? Did you know that socio-economic status has little to do with a person’s ability, yet the timing of birth and the structure of our school systems creates huge difference between the social classes in the final result and our personal success level? Why? Do you know why the Chinese generally do better scholastically than most North American kids?
This book answers these questions and so many more. I know that while reading the book I had to reflect on how the factors laid out for us in “Outliers” influenced my life. I had many Aha moments. This book is a must read for parents and educators. Knowing the information contained in this book and acting on it will change the lives of our children and massively increase their probabilities of great success.
| Article Tags :: better solutions | big picture | bill gates | computer programming | conclusions | discuses | hockey players | Malcolm Gladwell | mankind | natural ability | nhl | outliers | overnight success | personal success | puck | sayings | socio economic status | superstars | tiger woods | Warren Buffet | |
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