The Power of Opportunities and Connections

Opportunities, opportunities, opportunities, I've heard it multiple times since I was nine years old. I've known that opportunities can get you far in life, but I didn't know that it was necessary in order to be successful in life until I read this book. I go to a camp that constantly talks about the importance of networking and opportunities and in a way I knew opportunities could be helpful to a successful life but didn't know how helpful it'll be.

While reading the chapter The 10,000-Hour Rule it made me reconsider my life and all the opportunities I have passed up because I was simply too lazy and opportunities I seized because I thought it would greatly benefit me, "These are stories, instead, about people who were given a special opportunity to work really hard and seized it,(67)." People like Bill Gates and Bill Joy didn't just become successful on their own, they got help and received opportunities not taking them for granted. During this summer and school year, I have received numerous opportunities, some in which I didn't take because I didn't see the importance of it, others I put my all into. One opportunity I can recall during the summer was being a Tour Guide for my sleepaway camp. Not only did being a tour guide help me build much needed social skills, it also helped me make connections that will later benefit me in life. Not many people can say that they met Dana Canedy, a Pulitzer prize winner and senior editor for the New York Times and keep in contact with them to this very day. If I decide to pursue my dream in becoming an author, she is a great person to help me since she herself is an author and a pretty good one at that.

When I continued reading this book, I learned that a network of support or connections is important to becoming successful and gaining opportunities. Chris Langan tried to make it on his own and though it gave him an adequate life, it didn't give him a truly successful one, he could have become something big if he wanted to, if he had the help, "He'd had to make his way alone, and no one... ever makes it alone(115)." I thought that being smart enough was going to help me be successful, but I was wrong. Now that I think about it, In The trouble with Geniuses, Part 2 it talked about how there is two type of intelligence, practical and analytical. As I read this part a man we all know popped into my mind, Donald Trump, surely he does not have much analytical intelligence, but he does have a lot of practical intelligence which is why I can now see why he's "successful" today, plus that extraordinary opportunity of getting a small loan of a million dollars from his father of course.

I chose these two chapters because I felt a strong connection to them, it made me question my decisions, and I'm sure it's going to make me question my decisions in the future for the better. With that being said, I'm going to stop taking some opportunities, or talk to some people, instead, I'm taking all the opportunities I can get, and connecting with as many people as humanly possible. I want to be happy and successful and now I know, I can't do that alone.

The 10,000-Hour Rule

In his book, Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell illustrates the keys to success that determine whether or not one is successful in life. He starts the book by discussing how the the month in which you are born determines your success, due to cutoff dates. He uses examples to show how cutoff dates affect people and who gets chosen to get lessons which in turn makes them successful athletes. I find it  unfair how the month you are born can affect your dreams and future because you can't choose what month you are born and it is hilarious how this defines the success of future athletes.
He also discusses how success is more than just a talent, it requires hard work and opportunities. He uses examples from different fields such as music and computers to show how success requires about 10,000 hours of time commitment. 10,000 hours is a pretty large number but I understand why it's required in order to be successful. Gladwell refers to Bill Gates and how he is lucky to have the opportunity to reside in Lakeside and take advantage of the computer room in his high school and computer access in the university near his home, which gave him extra time to practice leading to his success(Gladwell, 50-4). I agree with Gladwell and his saying that success requires opportunities because they allow you to get ahead like Bill Gates. This can be seen today as more and more children are exposed to electronics such as iPads or phones. Since technology has advanced so far and is now a common item, more and more children have the opportunities to access a electronic and learn to use it by the time they are 5. Today children have many more opportunities to learn thanks to schools, libraries and electronics. I have a cousin who got an iPad when she was 2 and already knows how to use it so well that she can download stuff by herself and she is only 4 right now, whereas I remember not owning or knowing how to use an iPhone until I was 12. I chose this passage because I agree with Gladwell that opportunities decide your future because if you can seize a chance or access something early on you can use it to your advantage to gain success, and this can especially be related to today since we have so many opportunities due to the internet, school, and our modern economy.

The Trouble with Geniuses, Part 2

In the book Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell analyzes the factors that attribute to success. In Chapter 4, Gladwell examines a study conducted by Annette Lareau of twelve families, with black and white children from wealthy and poor homes. Lareau concluded that there were two parenting styles. Wealthy parents had a strategy of “concerted cultivation,”(104) as their parenting style, while, the poor parents developed the style of “natural growth”(104). Children raised in wealthy homes had parents involved in their lives and placed them into activities and sports. However, children from poor homes had parents who were not involved in their lives, had to make up games and activities and played with neighborhood children and their siblings. Children raised by wealthy parents had a sense of “entitlement,”(105) and were able to “adjust procedures to accommodate their desires”(105). Lower-class children were very different in that they did not speak up for themselves, “and would be quiet and submissive”(107). Gladwell emphasizes the contrast between, wealthy and poor families, in order, to reason that wealthier children have an advantage over the poor children for success in the modern world. Children of wealthy families learn to control and manipulate their environment, in order, to benefit themselves, on the other hand, poor children do not advocate for themselves and do not have the skills that the wealthy children obtain. Through emphasizing the fact that class is one of many factors to success, Gladwell establishes that there must be a change in the future.

I chose this passage because I found it interesting to learn the effect that class has in determining the success one gains in life. Also, I find that I can relate to the lifestyle, of both the wealthy and lower-class child, because when I was a child my parents were not involved immensely in my life, since they were working, so, I had to play with my sisters and neighborhood friends, similar to the lives of lower-class children. However, my parents were strict and exposed me to many experiences like the wealthy children. A question I have is if you personally agree that people born into a wealthier family will be more successful in life?

The Ethnic Theory of Plane Crashes

In his book, Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell discusses about the different factors that lead to one’s success. In the first part of the book, he confirms that there is more to one’s success than their intelligence and hard drive. Rather, he focuses on when and where one is born, the upbringing and occupations of one’s parents, and their own upbringing. In the second part of the book, Gladwell discusses how cultural legacies could impact one’s success. The chapter that I found the most noteworthy of part two was definitely chapter 7, “The Ethnic Theory of Plane Crashes.” To understand the problem surrounding Korean Air Flight 801 introduced in the beginning of the chapter, Gladwell breaks down the events that led to the crash of Avianca flight 052 seven years prior. He mentions that instead of using the word “emergency” as the captain had told him to do, the first officer of the plane instead says that the plane was “running out of fuel,” which the air traffic controller “just took as a passing comment” (Gladwell 193). It was concluded that perhaps the first officer communicated in that manner because of the way his culture values and respects those in authority. This is called the “Power Distance Index” (PDI). He further connects this to KAL flight 801 as before the airline was reformed, it was implied that, “’the captain is in charge and does what he wants’” (214). This mindset had prevented those in charge of the flight to take action, which in turn lead to disaster. Gladwell compares the two crashes in order to emphasize the idea that one’s principles and the ways of their culture has power over their decisions and the way they go about success. From this section, I understood that this way of thinking can either set us back or set us forward. I chose this section because I found this chapter to be thought-provoking, and it reminded me that when in times of emergency, you may have to defy those in authority and do what is right in order to succeed at what you want or need to do. 

Asians' Cultural Advantage

One aspect of Malcolm Gladwell's book Outliers that I can relate to is Chapter 8, Rice Patties and Math Tests. In this chapter, Gladwell explores the differences between Eastern and Western cultures and the effects. The staple food crop of Asian and European society had influenced the work ethics of both peoples: Asians have embraced the concept that hard work breeds great reward (Gladwell 238) while many Western students concede after a minute or two of struggling (245). I can relate with this chapter because my own parents are also adamant believers of this idea. They came to America and made a relatively stable living for me and my sisters. Since we were young, our parents inculcated us into accepting this mindset, and in my opinion, it served me well.

A connection I can make with this chapter and the earlier stated 10,000 hour rule. Asians are perceived as better at math, due to their tenacity, and so they are more motivated and encouraged to advance their skills, allowing them to achieve the 10,000 hours before their peers.

One question I have, however, is whether this also translates to American society; after all, Americans are well-versed in the same idea (named the American Dream) that Gladwell claims Asians have embed in their culture. So shouldn't Americans also be more willing to work harder?

The Mathew Effect

In Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers, he discusses the different points of views of success and how it can have different meanings based on the person, their experience, and their ability to succeed. In Chapter 1, The Matthew Effect, Gladwell talks about how birthdays and opportunity are related to success by using the prime example of hockey players and how many of the players have birthdays around a specific time period. Gladwell presented us with the roster of the 2007 Medicine Hat Tigers where Canadian psychologist, Roger Barnsley, noticed that most of the teammates had birthdays between January-March. However, there is an explanation for why the birthdates are so close and related to success. In Canada, it is known that join age-class hockey you have to sign up by January 1st and you have to be 10 years old by that time. This relates to success because this is a method of selecting and hindering other children from succeeding just as much as those who are selected to be on the hockey team. By only accepting those that were born between January-March, although unconsciously, leaves out the kids who were born outside of that range and have to join the worst teams, and not get the best training from the best hockey coaches. However, those who were chosen to join the age-class hockey and go on to be a part of the Major Junior League A which is the most prestigious league in Canada and determines who makes it to the National League or even the Olympics. In the chapter, Gladwell refers this example of success to the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament, “For unto everyone that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance. But from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath” (Gladwell 30), which translates to: people who are successful in life have better opportunities than those who are not. This also relates to education and how everyone deserves the best system of education and the same one. I chose this short story because even if you are gifted or not, young children should not be sought out and categorized by who’s the best and who sucks, they deserve more than that.

Age Is Taken Into Consideration

In the novel Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell, Gladwell states the important factors that were taken into account of people’s lives. In the beginning of the novel, I was very intrigued with the facts Gladwell was pointing out. One of which was the age of successful people such as Steve Jobs, or Bill Gates. Gladwell explains that age is an important factor to people’s success because of how old they are when introduced to technology and things that interest them. For example, Bill Gates was born in 1955, and because of his birthday, he was not too old or too young when he was introduced to computers. Gladwell states: “The perfect age to be in 1975.. Is old enough to be part of the coming revolution but not so old that you missed it”. (65). This fact opened my mind a lot because I didn’t realize how important age was, and still is. Referring back to the first chapter when Gladwell spoke about hockey players and their birthdays, it is very important when people are born because it ultimately determines their success. I find it very interesting and unfair that most people’s success is determined by their age, for example education takes age into consideration. Gladwell stated that due to student’s birthdays, they are not given the same opportunities as others if they’re too young. I’ve witnessed this in many instances, for example people whose birthdays are towards the end of the year had to be held back a year which prohibited them from being as intelligent or experienced as their generation. I don’t believe that age should be what determines someone’s success, it should ultimately be determined by their skills and their hard work that they put in. I found it very interesting that successful people that we know of were all born in the same year, and it’s fascinating to see how those people are successful because of their age.

Two parenting "philosophies"

In chapter 4, The book Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell, gives a reference to the different types of parenting along class lines. Annette Lareau, the sociologist who conducted this study group, states that parents of the lower classes tend to think that it's "their responsibility to care for their children but to let them grow and develop on their own" (Gladwell 104). I agree with the fact that parents of the lower-class tend to let their child be responsible for their future, but of course they would always be by there side for love, care and support. However, further on she mentions that the middle class children learn a sense of "entitlement", learn to interact with adults, learn about teamwork, and learn to speak up when they need to and that things like these "simply doesn't happen with lower class children" (Gladwell 107). I beg to disagree because even though many lower-class families might not be open to the type of "parenting" or experiences the middle class does, lower-class families do learn a sense of entitlement, which is the fact of having a right to something, and they do learn how to speak up especially when being deprived from their rights to something. The lower-class children might not be exposed to "concerted cultivation" but they do learn to grow up to be strong and independent and to work hard for what they want since they are not given the many advantages that the middle class get. Therefore, her conclusion that middle class children will succeed in the modern world might be true to the Oppenheimer and Langan's situation, however I believe it isn't entirely true and isn't backed up from what Malcolm states earlier of the 10,000- hour rule, which claims that if one works hard, then they would inevitably become successful in the long run. I chose this section of the novel because I believe that people arent more likely to being successful because of their family wealth or power, but because many are suitable to succeeding because of their hard work and talents.

Need more than an IQ

Malcolm Gladwell in his book Outliers, discusses his interpretation of how a person becomes successful, without focusing on a person's intelligence or "born-talent." Instead, Malcolm Gladwell looks at different areas of a successful's persons life that help contribute to their success, such as the time they were born, the hours they spent on mastering their talent, and most especially, their upbringing. In both parts of "Trouble with Geniuses" intrigued me the most because I have a really close connection with my family and this section discusses the impact a family can have. Gladwell compares the lives of Chris Langan, who has an IQ of 195, incredibly higher than Einstein with 150, and the life of Robert Oppenheimer. Langan grew up moving around a lot during his childhood, he grew up with different step-dads that were killed or killed themselves, and then came Jack Langan a failed journalists that didn't help the family often. Oppenheimer on the other hand, was wealthier, he was a son of "an artists and a successful garment manufacturer" (108). Oppenheimer was given various amount of opportunities and was encouraged to handle challenges head on, for example when he was asked to speak about his rock collection to the New York Mineralogical Club.
But when Chris Langan went to college and wanted to change his schedule from morning classes to afternoon classes, they denied it. Langan only has a year and a half of experience of college. Oppenheimer had a tutor, Patrick Blackett, he tried to poison with different chemicals, but was put on probation and still managed to work in the Manhattan Project. Both of these men were smart enough to do whatever they wanted, but because of where they grew up only one of them grew up with an attitude that can conquer the world. This can also be see in the interaction a doctor has with a 9-year-old with a upper-middle class, who ask questions and interrupts when he feels necessary and with other 9-year-olds that are rather shy when it comes to talking to an "authority figure." I found this section really interesting because we often overlook this detail, and it is really helpful to look at every aspect of a successful person to help others improve.

The Ten Thousand Hour Rule And Success

In his novel, Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell redefines our understanding of success and how one can become successful. One of the most thought provoking concepts that I found interesting was the 10,000 hour rule. It is a customary and conventional belief that if one works hard, then in the long run, they will inevitably become successful. Gladwell uses this popular belief to change how we define success. We often interpret success as hard work, but Gladwell’s main objective in this book is to debunk our preconception that success is derived from hard work and talent. This novel in general, made me reevaluate my decisions and my background to better accommodate my life so that I can be successful in the long run despite what society already has planned for me. Throughout our lives we often take note of the local prodigies and how they are deemed successful by the media, their parents and even ourselves. Gladwell helps us understand these outliers and exactly how they become one, not because of their talent nor their hard work but because of “hidden advantages” that they are given. In Chapter 2 of Outliers, Gladwell takes into account the lives of Bill Gates, owner of Microsoft, and the Beatles. Before he even begins, he juxtaposes these two outliers and their success in the future to show us that there is not a distinct person who becomes an outlier and that an outlier can be anyone, from any background. Bill Gates, for instance, had a tremendous amount of opportunities given to him by his parents, his local school, and even where he lived. Gladwell uses the lives of Bill Gates and the Beatles to reveal these “hidden advantages” that they had yet, we as a society only take into account their immediate actions that led them to their successful and luxurious lives. I chose this section of the novel because it stood out to me the most of how I define success. Throughout our lives as teenagers, we are often seen as incapable of ever reaching the standards of success that society sets out for us yet, Gladwell changes that. Outliers, in general, makes us think and evaluate these hidden advantages that we possess that can help us become successful in the future.

The 10,000-Hour Rule Explained

To start out I would like to point out that I found this book to be amazingly well written, and truly made me think about the different perspectives of success and how to achieve it. Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell, talks about success, a very intriguing topic in my opinion. Out of all the perspectives Gladwell depicts of how to achieve success, “The 10,000-Hour Rule” is seemingly my favorite. In this chapter, Gladwell points that "The emerging picture from such studies is that ten thousand hours of practice is required to achieve the level of mastery associated with being a world-class expert-in anything"(Gladwell 40). With this, he also provides examples that Mozart and the Beatles practiced for 10,000 and more which is equivalent to years. Although bringing up these examples may result in the reader being well surprised, this fact, I believe was implemented by Gladwell to show that success is not always something that happens overnight or that happens in a year, sometimes the most successful take years to achieve that success, but what it truly takes at the end of the day is commitment and dedication. I personally believe that success is something one achieves by putting their mind to it, if one commits and puts all their effort into completing a goal, they will achieve it no matter how long it may take. This is the idea Gladwell is trying to convey in “The 10,000-Hour Rule” and I completely agree.