[Admittedly, despite being a big nerd, I don’t read a lot, so I had never heard of Gladwell. I’m more of an audiophile. However, I love the idea of reading… so, occasionally, I go to the library, scan the shelves, lug a huge batch of titles over to a table, open one of the books, begin reading, and promptly fall asleep. Worse, sometimes, I go to the book store, scan the shelves, and buy a bunch of (inexpensive) books that I never get around to reading. So, what does this have to do with Gladwell? Nothing really; I’m just trying to excuse the fact that I haven’t read his book. Pretty bad, huh?]
So, what does Gladwell’s book have to do with this blog, or with YOU taking a jab at work? I‘ll tell you.
In The Tipping Point, Gladwell suggests that small things pick up momentum, and essentially snowball into larger things. Specifically, he compares social change to epidemics. (Perhaps this is where we get the expression, “going viral”). That is exactly what is happening to us today with networking and blogging; it’s becoming infectious. (Even I’ve caught the bug, which is impressive, since I’m a proactive germaphobe.)
In his new book, entitled, “Outliers”, Gladwell equates talent with work ethic. He suggests that the difference between people to whom we attribute the label, “talented”, and others is that so-called talented people are really just people who work harder and therefore achieve higher quality results. He fuses the ideas from Tipping Point & Outliers, suggesting that from an early age, when we demonstrate an ability (even in a small way), we receive positive reinforcement, which drives us to improve those capabilities, causing us to build skills, or “talent“.
This social cycle is what causes individuals to excel in a field, seemingly superiorly to others. So, for example, (in ajab-utopia), I blog; you read my blog; I get encouraged; I keep blogging; the more I blog, the more I learn; the more I learn, the more I excel at blogging; then, because I become an avid blogger, others draw the conclusion that I have a particular talent for blogging.
Still, the realization of talent is affected by other factors, such as others’ interests, system failures (“glitches”), competition (for time), limited resources (human, monetary, technical, or other). Provided that I persist, despite a dearth of reinforcement, and I continue to work very hard at blogging (or acting, basketball, day-trading, ditch-digging etc.) and refuse failure, I should learn even more about my area of interest and create superior work outputs. (But just in case, feel free to leave positive feedback.)
So, what will be the tipping point for you? Hopefully, this blog, or another discussion forum, a television show, book, song, video, email, or chat session will encourage you to take that first step toward your next success. Make work its own reward. Engage in some activity. Try something new. People will see you doing it, and they will encourage you. Their encouragement will be the mechanism that will drive your transformation to viral reality.
BOTTOM LINE:
Gladwell is saying, No one is intrinsically better than you, but someone could be more dedicated. So, you just have to apply yourself, be diligent: work harder!
Executive Summary: Know Yourself & Help Yourself
1) Brainstorm. Think of things that you might enjoy doing.
(Painting, Researching, Writing, Blogging, Cooking, Surfing (Web/Waves whatever), Marketing, Photography, Exercising, Giving Speeches, Teaching/Tutoring, Gaming, Day-Trading, Swimming, House- flipping, Horseback riding, care-taking, nursing, baby-sitting….)
2) Engage your interests.
3) Apply "SWOT Analyssis" Identify & Address your Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, & Threats.
4) Learn from your mistakes.
5) Repeat. “If at first you don’t succeed, TRY, TRY again.” (Palmer/Hickinson?)
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