In the “The 10,000 - Hour Rule” chapter of Outliers Malcolm Gladwell talks about the certain hours of practice needed to become successful. This chapter talks about psychologists who figured out that 10,000 hours of practice is needed to “make it”. Studies have proven that people who practice more than others outshined in a particular activity. Psychologists studied violinist players who all started playing the violin around the same age, at age 5. They were grouped in three different groups: those who had potential to become world - class soloists, those who were average, and those who had no hope to ever play professionally. The psychologists realized that at the age of eight these students started practicing for different amount of times, thus allowing the psychologist to later conclude that those who practiced longer hours were the ones that outshined the others. The more successful group had practiced a total of 10,000 hours at the age of 20. Gladwell states that these studies only proved that once a person gets into a top school the “thing that distinguished one performer from another is how hard he or she works”. He later goes on to speak about Bill Joy, The Beatles, and Bill Gates, all whom have made remarkable achievements in their life. Gladwell writes about all the accomplishments of these men and how they got to where they are. However it was interesting when Gladwell says that although these men worked hard to achieve success it was opportunity that also helped. Gladwell says that these “outliers” all had something in common: a kind of unusual opportunity. These men were all born around a time where their area of profession was much needed. I found this idea very interesting but it all made sense. These men became successful because their area of interest just so happened to be much needed at a certain time period. This doesn’t mean that these men weren’t intelligent it just means that intelligence and practice isn't the only thing needed to be successful, opportunity is needed as well.
I agree with you, it makes sense that the harder you work the more you are able to succeed at something. I think it was pretty amazing that people were able to find the exact number of hours needed for someone to be successful, there is something so mysterious of it being more then 10,000 hours. I think you summarized Gladwell's ideas in the last sentence very well, Gladwell tries to show that success is more then innate talent but a combination of hard work and opportunity and some sort of intelligence. It challenges the ideas of success, I ageee with you that He doesn't want to discredit people and their success but explain a deeper connection that can help us grow as a society so that it is no longer just outliers who define success.
ReplyDeleteI also agree and usually everyone connects success with hard work and dedication, however, Gladwell explains how these famous and successful people were able t make it because their area of interest was needed during that time. So, is it all just a coincidence? I really enjoy how Gladwell was able to explain something so big as success and really blow my mind.
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ReplyDeleteMalcom Gladwell, author of Outliers, emphasizes the meaning of success and discusses the different methods that help one achieve in life. Chapter two, The 10,000 Hour Rule, seems to have stood out the most to me. Here, Gladwell stresses the importance of time and effort when working towards achieving a goal, and explains how studies show that 10,000 hours of practice guarantees success in whatever goal has been set. Though talent plays a big role in many success stories like The Beatles, Bill Gates etc., “achievement is talent plus preparation.”(Gladwell 38) Although talent is a valuable thing, it does not bring success on its own. It is for this reason that the amount of time one puts into their goal counts much more than talent alone. Gladwell uses The Beatles as an example when John Lennon admitted in an interview that at first the band had “only ever done one-hour sessions,” and once they had to play for eight hours in Hamburg, they realized “a new way of playing” had to be found.(Gladwell 49) I strongly believe that hard work and dedication are what bring success. On the other side, however, there are millions of hardworking people who do not achieve the same level of success as The Beatles, if one works to become a musician, or Bill Gates, if one works to become a technologist. I guess in some cases, luck can play a role in success as well. There are millions of people working to achieve the same goals in different fields, but few become well known. You could argue that those people worked harder, but maybe, talent, 10,000 hours, and some luck, guarantee one’s success.
I agree as success requires not only copious amounts of practice but aptitude and luck. Gladwell says that in order to be successful you have to be born on a certain year and even a certain month. The version of success portrayed in "Outliers" entices yet at the same time is like a far fetched goal that only some are going to achieve.
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