Tuesday, March 23, 2010

The Lessons of Outliers, Pt. 1

Over the last couple of months, we've been having an extended conversation about Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers as part of our larger efforts to increase collaborative intellectual activities beyond the classroom involving students of color.

We've discussed several thought-provoking issues, including accumulative advantage, practical intelligence, meaningful work, and something known as the 10,000 hour rule.

Now that we're halfway through the book, I'm curious about the issues you've considered most based on what we've read and discussed on the blog so far?

Or, what important or overlooked issues concerning outliers would you want to bring more attention to? Why?

53 comments:

Daniel Shields said...

I believe that going into my senior year, the most important subject that I have taken from the Outliers thus far is the subject of Meaningful work. In my field if coice, mass communications, it is manitory to complete an internship in order to graduate. I think that this is extremely meaningful work.

Many students leave school with little to no work experience in their field, but I know that due to my up coming internship experience I'll actually be doing a TON of Meaningful work, not to mention also making connections for possible future references or jobs.

I have truly enjoed digging deeper within this book. I have actually taken more from it than I had expected this time around. I am very curious and interested to see what my peers have taken from the book as well.

Morris Pearson, Jr. said...

The issue that I've considered the most would be the 10,000 hours rule and that it required 10,000 hours to truly master something. I think back and look at all years I spent goofing off in grammar school and high-school, and see why I'm lacking many of the basic studying and test taking strategies. The three years of college that I've had so far has been very difficult because of all the hard classes I've taken. Every semester of every year I've had to dig my self out of a huge whole in the beginning of the semester, which creates a lot of stress for me. Now that I'm in Pharmacy School, that stress has only doubled. I think back and wonder,"would school be as hard as it is now for me if I had only payed attention in class 10 years ago"? It's a question which I have no answer for.

Kimber Barrett said...

I have to agree that I really was inspired by the chapter over 10,000 hours. Studying 20 hours a week for 10 years seems quite extensive; however, when you look at what students are accomplishing on a daily basis it is close to that. I am trying to get into medical school and getting ready to take the MCAT. I am currently studying more the 20 hours a week trying to master a single test. I have contributed many hours throughout the years -- hopefully, success will be seen in the long run. Many students have came before me and done the same things I am doing and they have accomplished great things in a professional school -- mainly due to dedication, hard work, & many long hours.

Elizabeth Flores said...

I think the most important concept I have taken from this book thus far is the 10,000 hour rule. This rule states that a person must undergo 10,000 hours of practice to obtain a certain skill. This chapter has really motivated me to put my time and effort into learning, so in the long run, I will have great professional skills. The degree I am aiming towards requires a lot of dedication, and I think if I am going to be successful in this career, I need to follow the 10,000 hour rule. My desired career path is Pharmacy. This degree requires a very studious and open-minded person to learn all of the information. After graduating, there is always new medical knowledge, and the Pharmacist has to keep up-to-date on all of this new information. The 10,000 hour rule will help me now, and hopefully in the future when I use my acquired skills to learn new information.

Ian Caveny said...

(Now I feel kinda repetitive... the last three talked about the 10,000 hour rule...)

I found the 10,000 hour rule fascinating, and, looking back at it, I feel like I want to change my stance on it a little bit. Originally I had felt that 10,000 hours was a bit extensive, but that was given that I was thinking of things in STUDY STUDY STUDY perspective.

Given recent situations in classes that I am in, I have learned that it is not studying that will help me master a subject, but it is doing the work associated with the subject (note also: "meaningful work"). I had never realized before how much high school truly did prepare me for college, and how much those things that I hated in the high school (like "show all your work" and, worse yet, "write out the notes"!) have become invaluable in college.

Maybe not an arbitrary number such as 10,000 hours, but definitely little by little doing the work will get you where you want to be in a subject.

Adriana Romo said...

I also agree that the 10,000 hour rule is the issue that most struck me. While I was in elementary school, I was always working really hard to get straight A's and be at the top of my class every single year. In high school, I continued working hard and doing the same thing which got me to receive Summa Cum Laude honors when I graduated. Since I have always been a good student and have done very well, I thought college would not need as much time put in. I was obviously wrong!
There is so much time that goes into studying and making sure all homework and assignments are completed. In college, I've actually had to work harder and have come to realize that if I want to be successful in life, I have to do this. I have to be willing to put all this time, especially if I want to be a pharmacist. I have come to believe that the more time invested in my education, will only help me be more successful in the long run. All this time is not a waste, but instead, an investment.

Hayoung Yu said...

I also was very fascinated with the 10,000 hours rule. Growing up, I felt that school work was very easy for me. I was able to excel with with less studying than most people. However, the circumstances were much different when I came to college.

I realized that with the dramatic increase in difficulty in the coursework I would not be able to excel as much. It seemed that I was studying much more than before but holding my breath to achieve my A's. This rule made me realize that college is a place where one must distinguish his/herself and changes must be made. I am not trying my best to add more studying time into my schedule and wasting less time in order to continue to be successful.

Shanee' Pryor said...

Since I've been reading the Outliers, I have a different look on education and also life. The most important thing I have read so far involves the issue of Practical Intelligence. The explanation and examples of the individuals who lack Practical intelligence was a good analysis of what happens around us everywhere.

Personally I believe that practical intelligence is very important to acquire. Although the lack of practical intelligence doesn't justify one’s intellect, it enhances one’s perspective of real life without it. We most always exceed to the best of our ability.

Robin Caffey said...

I can not choose between the ideas of "Meaningful Work" and "10,000 hour rule" because I believe they are both equally important and they go hand in hand. In order to reach my full potential and be the best in my career path I believe I must accomplish 10,000 hours of "Meaningful Work".
Everybody will have a degree and this experience will set me apart from the competition

Unknown said...

I really learned a lot from chapter three, The Trouble with Geniuses. I have always been intrigued by really intelligent people, but also somewhat intimidated.

I consider myself a pretty intelligent person, but assume much of my intelligence comes from life experiences. In my 34 years, I have had many experiences including school, work, and various travel and social opportunities. When I was in college before, I had decent grades and excelled, but never felt really smart. I still feel inferior to many of my fellow classmates in my current program. However, in reading this chapter, I discovered a new way to look at myself.

The 10,000 Hour Rule is pretty interesting as well. As someone else mentioned, it makes me think if I applied myself more in certain things, where would I be now? There is no way to change that though and all I can do is work harder now at everything I do.

Anonymous said...

Teresa Grizzle
I would have to agree with the previous comments in that the 10,000 rule is interesting because it helps everyone to realize the value and consequence of hard work. It also sheds light on how "geniuses" are really made and inspires students to go beyond the basic requirements in order to be successful.

However, I think that the 10,000 rule must be combined with meaningful work in order to be successful. If I study my nursing textbooks for 40 hours per week, it means little to me or my patients if I can't put my knowledge of care into practical use. Like Daniel, I think that students should take advantage of any opportunities to participate in the "real world".

Anonymous said...

Christan Bias said...I am also in agreement with everyone else. the 10,000 hour rule is very interesting and very important. Most of us dream of excelling and becoming professionals in areas such as sports or music, however the percentage of people that actually do is very small, so I think that it is very important that we put 10,000 hours of studying and school work so that the majority of us that don't become NBA players or Lil Wayne can become educated and make a difference in the world in other areas of importance.

Anonymous said...

Dino Anagbogu

This part of the book was really interesting to me because I didn't realize the amount of hours it takes to perfect a certain skill. I have spent numerous amount of time studying towards my major. Over a weeks work I spend about 15hrs a week studying for certain classes but all leads to the same skill that I hope to obtain in the future. I'm sure over the course of of perfecting my skill of an accountant, that I will spend over 10,000 hours of time spent.
I also have realized that those who have really succeeded in life and who are of the top of their class have spent way more than 10,000 hours of work. So I'm sure that everything we want to accomplish takes time and hard work.

Trenesa Atkins said...

I would have to say that the 10,000 hour rule is the aspect of the book that I've considered the most. In high school I wasn't really challenged by the work that was being given to me so I would spend less time studying. However, when I advanced to college, I realized that I could no longer get by with studying a few hours a week; I had to put forth a bigger effort.

In my opinion, that devotion is meaningful work that will set the foundation for what will later become my work ethic. Nothing will be handed to me and not all things will be as easy for me to accomplish; there will be times when I have to work at it in order to reach my peak which is why the 10,000 hour rule was so significant.

Jasmine Coleman said...

The most important issue in the book that I want to bring attention to is the chapter about gifted individuals. I found it encouraging to know that having a high IQ, scoring high on standardized tests, or being able to pass tests without studying is not always a guaranteed ticket to success. I think it is important, especiaily as a minority to know that I do not have to be a genius or score high on every standardized test to succeed in life. The author makes it clear that persistance and dedication towards your goals can allow you succeed without being "gifted". I can relate to this especially in terms of college education. For example, a month ago my professor handed back a test. I received a 90 and so did the guy next to me. He frequently misses class and rarely takes notes. At first I felt like I must be dumb, because I studied and made the same grade as someone who never studies. Then, I thought about the book and realized that some people are "gifted" and excell more in certain subject areas than others. What mattered was that I worked hard enough to do just as well as someone who is obviously gifted at the subject matter we were being tested on. I believe it is important for us as students to give ourselves credit for our efforts and be confident in our abilities.

Katie D. said...

I have mostly considered the 10000 hour rule. I feel that it is a cool concept that is very accurate. It not only implies time, but it also implies the WORK which goes into accomplishing something to the fullest.

I sometimes find it hard to use my time wisely. The 10000 rule is a harsh reminder that what I want in life won't be handed on a platter.

Precious Wu said...

The topic that inspired me the most was the chapter that described meaningful work. It really made me think about what drives me in school and what qualities I want to look for in a career field. While reading this book, I feel like he covers many things that I have never really thought about in depth, but are important aspects in life and success. I like how he uses scenarios and situations to guide readers.

I have to agree with everyone else as well that the 10,000 hour rule was very interesting. It did not really motivate me in the same way as the meaningful work chapter, but I like the message that it takes hard work and practice to achieve your goals.

Sheleia Phillips said...

The subject I have considered most is the 10,000 rule. I am impressed that Gladwell has pointed out such a powerful rule. As i was reading the some of the previous comments, there is one in particular that I could relate with the most. He said that some basic skills he had learned in grammar school and high school has a lot to do with his current lacking of certain study and test taking skills. I completely agree. This rule has motivated me to improve something that will help me succeed not only in school, but for the rest of my life. For example I have the tendency to procrastinate. Now that I am familiar with the 10,000 hour rule I will gradually start studying a few more hours and doing it ahead of time. I know it probably wont be the easiest thing to do, but practice makes perfect. I am also confident that this will result in better grades! It is an ideal foundation of success for many students. College is tough, but I have learned from my experiences here that you have to buckle down and get focused in all aspects to succeed. I believe that this rule will help me do just that!

Amanda M. said...

The issue that I have considered most would be meaningful work. I think it is very important to have work experience under your belt before graduating and having to look for a job. As a freshman, elementary education major, I have already started my experience in the work field. I think SIUE does a great job of getting students out in their work field so when graduation comes it is easier on the students to find jobs and not so nerve wracking. Also, I think it is very important to the public that students have work experience before graduating. For example, nobody would want to or feel comfortable seeing a doctor or dentist who has not been through residency or worked on patients before.

Amy Crabtree said...

I have noticed that many have discussed the 10,000 hour rule. I truly believe that is an important and meaningful topic, however, i feel like what ive considered most is the experience of life.

Outliers has really taught me how a meaningful life should be lived. Yes there are going to be hard times, yes you need to study in school and work hard if you want to get where you want. But i have also learned that being happy and loving those around you is just as important. And always make sure that you do work that is not only meaningful to you but the others around you.

Mercedes Pineda said...

Personally, I really took the 10,000 hour rule to heart. In the past, I really took school work light heartedly. I achieved good grades and did well in the class. However, I never tried to receive the best grades or tried to do the best in each class.
Too many times, I chose to be lazy and not give my full effort. Nevertheless, the whole time I have wanted to have a 4.0 and do well in school. I do have a desire to do well but I never wanted to do the hard work.
Now I am realizing that I need to work hard for the things I desire. Some things like good grades are not acheived with a lazy attitude. The 10,000 hour rule has shown me that hard work is completely necessary in order for me to do well in school.

Carrington Pool said...

Like a few other people I am confused between the meaningful work and the 10,000 hour rule. I feel that both are very important in order to reach my goals. Like a few other people also said, I feel like schoolwork used much more effort in high school. Now that I am in college and studying accounting I feel like I have to try so much harder and put so much more effort into studying. The 10,000 rule is something that would be of very much help to me.

Meaningful work is the only kind of work I feel like I do anymore. Every class is important and working toward my career and the rest of my life. This is part of growing up I guess and it is kinda scary.

Kim Lee said...

The 10,000 rule was hands down the one thing I will take from this book. Often times, the thought of studying for even a couple hours makes me uneasy. This really helped put things into perspective and made me realize that time along with effort is the key to achieving almost anything. I always see students getting straight A's in the most ridiculously hard classes and I always assumed they were just naturally smart, but simply putting time into something you want is my new golden rule.

Tamika Glover said...

The issue I have considered most is the 10,000 hour rule. My major is pharmacy so I know I am going to be putting a lot of hours into pursuing my degree automatically. Therefore, I feel that the 10,000 hour rule struck my attention the most because it relates closely to my life and the goals I have set for myself.

In the chapter about the 10,000 hour rule, Gladwell says how 10,000 hours of practice in a field is necessary for perfection. With pharmaceuticals being so important in our society, perfection is definitely something I want to strive for. I agree that plenty of practice and study must be put forth towards any career choice or field of study.

I believe it is possible to accomplish the 10,000 hour rule. I plan to study 2 hours outside of the classroom for every 1 hour spent in the classroom like the school has persistently recommended. I also plan to start working in the pharmacy field so I can get hours of actually studying the way it’s done and how everything works under belt.

Dometi A. Pongo said...

I learned two lessons from Outliers. One of them related directly to Gladwell's expressed ideas and the other was something I realized after taking an objective look at Gladwell's writing and research style.

A valuable lesson from outliers for me was the fact that our potential is based partly on extremely hard work (ch. 8) and partly on things we cannot directly control (ch. 1 and 2). On page 51, Gladwell spoke about Bill Gates and noted that most colleges didn't have computer clubs in the
'60s and this gave Gates the OPPORTUNITY to develop his TALENT.

I have always thought that Luck/Success = Opportunity + Preparation. Some can't excel because the component of Opportunity is missing and hard work (preparation) becomes much more important. Gladwell did a pretty good job of showing that hard work was a very important determining factor in the success of an Outlier. He also showed that "privilege" or culture played a part as well.

Andrew Quigg said...

I really like the topics of meaningful work and the 10,000 hour rule because they focus on how an individual can attain mastery of anything they so choose. By practice and immersion into the chosen topic, an individual can do amazing things.
It was the topics of accumulative advantage and practical intelligence that struck me the most. These are things that we may or may not be able to control. With all the knowledge and talent in the world, we may not be able to do great things because we have invisible obstacles in our way or do not know how to talk to people. Being able to control for these two things would greatly benefit everyone.

Dometi A. Pongo said...

(contd.)
I do have a problem with Gladwell's writing style or method of research however. He is so passionate about this subject and dead-set on making his points clear that he does not properly validate his data findings.

From this, I learned that it is important to look for the "meat" (substance) of a person rather than being enthralled by their enthusiasm or the ingenuity of their theory. I found that I enjoyed the thought of an Outlier so much that I overlooked Gladwell's proof of what actually creates one.

Dometi A. Pongo said...

For example, on pages 19-24, Gladwell made a brilliant observation about the birth dates of hockey players and how it correlated with their skill. But wouldn't this fact make a successful player born in June or even December a true outlier?

On pg. 26, he tries to drive the point home by talking about baseball players. He says "...505 were born in August versus 313 born in July." But what was the total? What were the percentages? How good are the players who were not born in the popular months and why? A number is arbitrary if we don't know the piece of the pie it represents (per my business stats class).

On page 28, he talks about education and the effects of "cutoff dates." But once again, Gladwell doesn't list the numbers of students and the percentages that would substantiate this point more with regards to the TIMSS testing. There are countless examples where the data supporting his claims are a little shady especially in the 2nd half of the book.

Finally, I wonder about his quotes. On page 18, he says that Joseph from the Bible was successful on the strength of his OWN brillance and insight...not so. God told Joseph what would happen before it came to pass and Joseph reacted accordingly. Nothing personally brilliant about Joseph aside from his relationship with God. Makes me wonder if he took things out of context anywhere else to make a point.

Gladwell paraphrases a lot and makes generalizations and to some extent, it hurts his arguments. He should make more attempts to really prove his points when the data can be quantified.

Despite this, I learned a lot from Outliers. I even learned a lot about myself by looking into his research style..My apologies for the long post.

Sherrie Jayne said...

Transferring in SIUE and in the nursing program has definitely shown me the value of the 10,000 rule. I didn't realize how much studying I would put in just to achieve my desired grade. I honestly have never studied or worked so hard for my grades before. In high school it seemed easier to make good grades with less effort. But to really achieve and master something, it takes much time and dedication. This is important in most every area in life, to succeed you must put in the work.
Along with the 10,ooo hours rule, Meaningful work, is also another important concept. You can learn so much by reading and listening but unless you don't apply it on your own, it's hard for you to really grasp what you're getting yourself into.
This book has inspired me to work harder and has shown me some very important theories to be successful.

Anonymous said...

Chapter five to me seemed to be the chapter that was really able to open my mind. To me it expressed two things that I believe will stick with me. The idea that when we choose the career of our choice, it's a toss up, you can choose the stereotypical career that entitles money and end up barely affording to make ends meet, depending the condition of the nation. But it's not the money that makes the difference, it's whether you're proud of what you do. The man that barely made a profit from selling apron's, was a story of triumph, because even though his idea didn't give him the riches we expect, it gave him inner richness. This is something we overlook, we focus to much on the profit and neglect to see the significance of the profit within.
- Cassaundra Sampson

Tyann Senaldi said...

I believe that the 10,000 hour rule is the most significant. In high school, I excelled with little effort, but I realize now in high school that I have to study much harder to receive the grades I want. I believe that those who are really successful work very hard in their craft, and put in the "10,00 hours"

I do believe that things such as community service and volunteering are overlooked by students, and it can help them in their craft.

Ashley Jeffers said...

I have really thought most about the idea behind the 10,000 hours rule. The fact that it is possible that it takes nearly that long to truly perfect/master a skill is a very intriguing thought. It truly makes me ponder what different roads I would be on if I'd truly payed attention to all those years of schooling I have under my belt? However, it gives me insight and motivation as only a freshman to keep my head on straight and try my hardest, thus ensuring that my path to successful mastery in Optometry/Med school will be a less difficult road. Lord knows I need all the help I can get throughout these next several year, and anything to help lessen stress is a MAJOR plus!

Chardae Gray said...

I think the issue that was important to me was the meaningful work because it applied to my situation the most.It inspired me to get the most out of my college education and take in as much meaningful work as I can. This knowledge can be used to help me later on in my future career and beyond.I now take time out of my day to reflect on my day and the things I accomplished,what I can improve on and what I learned.

Laura McCulley said...

Besides the fact that I have been in school for many years and want to continue my education one thing that I felt was very important was the topic of meaninful work. With so much going on from school to other activities doing meaningful work is what really matters and what makes a difference. I hear so many students say they dont learn anything and work hard on something and it didn't mean anything and thats why i believe that Gladwell was right when he stated that meaninful work is better.
This book thus far has opened my eyes to things that I wouldnt have normally wouldnt have thought about. But I also have to say I also took alot from the 10,000 hr rule because I have found that those who practice more on whatever it is tend to do better than those who don't I can't wait to see what else this book has to offer and what I can take away from it

Cristina Salabao said...

I also agree with the 10000 hour rule =] it's magical to me that only after this specific amount of time we are standouts. For normal people, we don't reach this til we're older, and then it becomes unextraordinary. We're old dogs. But when we're young... then it's something else. It's prodigious. It gets a name out there and gives that person advantages opportunities that make them names to be remembered. Perhaps it's not the fact that they are brilliant, which I'm sure some of the 10000 hour people were, but instead they were so successful because of circumstances beyond control that lead for them to be able to get that 10000 hours of practice in before the rest of us...

Unknown said...

So far there were two issues that i found most interesting: accumulative advantage and the 10,000 hour rule.

At first i wasn't buying the idea of accumulative advantage but the example of the hockey players really blew my mind. The evidence speaks for itself.

i also found the 10,000 hour rule very interesting. There is very compelling evidence to back up this theory. Often those who are the best are simply those who have had the most time to practice and have taken advantage of it.

kimCHI said...

Outliers had interesting ideas like 10,000 hours in order to master anything, certain birth months, and luck. Although very fascinating and well written, the book was lacking many fields of validity. The book changed ideas in each chapter which gave the book a feeling of a.d.h.d. Gladwell's work only had one example in each chapter and did not apply the "theory" to other fields. There was not a single citation which makes me wonder where he got all of his information. I understand Malcolm Gladwell conducted interviews, but all humans (genius or not) are capable of lying, which makes me take his work less serious.
All together I found much of the book to be a bit disappointing. Malcolm Gladwell is making scientific statements our of common sense. Of course dedicating a lot of time to anything would cause someone to master something. Of course standardized testing measures who is the best at retaining "scholastic" information. Finally, of course living in a community with high working standards leads to better health, unfortunately, Gladwell makes it seem that the city itself might hold some magical power. Leading to lazy people moving into this community and expecting to get better without effort. Gladwell's book Outliers is taking self-help readers for saps by writing 285 pages of DUH!

Christine Vu said...

The 10,000 hour rule has definitely inspired me in the greatest light. Our aspirations and passions that contribute to what we perceive as important should take more time than something that we don't care that much for. I believe that in taking the time out to fully understand how to get to our end destination, not when, can we achieve our objectives and completely understand the actions of why we do it.

N.L.W. said...

Nia Williams.

Practical Intelligence is definitely something that I want to bring to attention. I think it's a good concept and skills that everyone should have. Knowing what to say, when to say it, to whom and how. As a sophomore in college, I'm beginning to realize more, that if I want something to happen, I'm not really going to get anywhere by not saying anything. I have to speak; no one is going to know what you want unless I say something. And just knowing how to, is a plus. Practical Intelligence is just way of knowing how to communicate and communication is everything in this world. I believe that if people would speak up more, they would get so much accomplished.
My major is mass communications and am currently shadowing someone in the radio station to determine whether radio is something I want to be part of or not. How I got involved is by speaking up and asking my professor what to do and where to go. After stating what I what interested in, he was more than happy to assist me in getting started.
Same thing goes for me getting ready to study abroad. Most students don't get the opportunity to go because they don’t take advantage of it. And it's not that they can't, they don’t ask questions and seek to find out information. In my situation, I went to the right person, my advisor, stated my interests and what I planned on doing with my summer, she told me about studying abroad, I applied, and now I'm going to London for an entire month this summer. I'm so excited and blessed to have this opportunity. I don't feel that I've succeeded yet but I'm on my way. By using practical intelligence, I'm able to prepare for my future by getting experience and gain knowledge in my field. I believe that success is when preparation meets opportunity. I'm preparing and I’m awaiting my opportunities!

Mikhail Williams said...

Mikhail Williams
Being only a freshman Outliers had made me think of some aspects of life you either take for granted, or you don't realize. Although some of the other sections have taught me many things, the part that stuck with me the most was about the 10,000 hour rule. I really enjoy how Gladwell riterates the concept throughout the book. How he starts off the books shows it too, about the hockey players who get more practice in because their gifts are recognized early.
The concept that you can make a diffence even if you aren't "special" or aren't a genius is very refreshing though. I like to think that I can be great at something through enough hard work, even if I wasn't blessed with some special abilities others were. This is something that I believe motivates me every day, the thought that I can make up the gap between someone who is naturally better than me at something just by putting in more work.

Janine Villard said...

The one issue that stood out the most to me from the Outliers book was the concept of "meaningful work". Throughout school and life, one is told to always work hard. Hard work will get you to exactly where you want to be. But hard work is a simple one-dimensional concept that excludes creativity, autonomy, and passion at times. Meaningful work, however, allows for a broader, more free flowing experience. Meaningful work encompasses not just effort but also rewards for the individual and the spirit. I found meaningful work to be a concept that I could more look forward to working towards rather than simply hard work.

Megan D said...

I thought, apparently like many others on this post :), that the 10,000 hr rule was really powerful. I think it impacted me more so than the other topics because our generation is always being labeled as wanting everything now without having to necessarily work that hard for it. For example, we often see famous celebrities and think that they came across their fame overnight. But while there are those few who may have been lucky and came into a once in a lifetime chance to hit it big, those people usually do not stay in the spotlight very long because they never learned the hard work and dedication it takes to perfect their chosen craft. Most of the world's most influential people, while outwardly may have seemed to come into their fame, power, or influence with ease, really are some of the hardest working, dedicated, and anal people about their craft or field because they have put in the time and effort to make sure they are at the top of their game. While natural talent and aptitude does hold somewhat of an advantage, it can only take one so far.

Anonymous said...

I would agree with the 10,000 rule. As for most of us growing up, school was easy and we studied no where as near as much as we probably should have. I think that even if I would have studied just a little bit harder throughout my high school career then I would be doing better in some of my classes

Quince Zackrie said...

I agree with Daniel S. I am also senior and the topic about Meaningful work was the most beneficial for me. As an engineer, its important to get hands on work in your classes as well as outside the classroom before you graduate through internships and co-ops. They definitely help prepare you for the real world and most employers require that you have some experience in the field you are going into.

I have spent some time working two different internships and I can say that the hands on work I've encountered while in class was definitely beneficial once I got into my internships. I could easily relate the work I was doing to what I had experienced in class. It definitely made my work a lot easier to understand. The internship also provided meaningful work that I could bring back and share with my classmates to enhance our knowledge on things that can't be learned in the classroom.

From my experiences, I encourage everyone to do meaningful work inside and outside the classroom. It will ultimately make your careers better in the long run.

Sydney Nulsen said...

The thing I have found most memorable is that Gladwell alluded to the concept of "racial" luck in the chapter about tactical vs. practical knowledge. It is still true that women get paid less than men. Black people are more likely to get pulled over. A resume from "Shaquanda" is much less likely to be chosen over a resume from "Tom". Our society still has strides to make in terms of erasing the concept of "racial", "gender", "sexual orientation" etc. sorts of luck. On a college campus this should be somewhat diminished, but ultimately, how we are all raised in relation to others is what will start the revolution.

Phillip P. Leatherman said...

Reflections week. This has been a wonderful read thus far. In looking back over the first half of the book, the observations or points made about timing have grabbed my attention more so than the others. I enjoy the study of historical events. Malcolm Gladwell has done a masterful job of pointing out that depending on your contemporary environment your success or failure may be completely out of your control.

The example that stands out the most is the comparison between Maurice and Mort Janklow, father and son. Both are lawyers, both are intelligent and very competent; however, only one was truly successful. In short, Maurice the father was enrolled in law school in 1919. In the midst of his practice the “Great Depression” hit. As the text put it, “…the Depression killed him economically.” The text goes on to say the he scraped out a living after that. “He didn’t have the courage to take risk after that.” Whereas the son, Mort, was born in the 1930’s, a period of time called a “demographic trough”. A period of time in which the birth rate in this country dropped as a result of people not wanting to have children in economically depressed times. The text went on to detail how advantageous it was to be born during this time. Between the excess in resources and the lack of competition, this generation was virtually guaranteed success in their endeavors. Mort went on to be an extremely successful career making tens of millions of dollars.

What I took away from this and other examples like it is to be very aware of the times I live in. All the education and preparation imaginable could not overcome an event such as the “Great Depression”. I am aware of our times; there is political upheaval and a shortage of jobs, jobs that are likely not to return. I am enjoying this author’s work and I am taking it to heart.

Christiana Puckett said...

The subject that i can relate to is meaningful work. I used this concept since i was in high school. I always knew i wanted to become a nurse since i was little. Many people told me that it may not be something i would want to do because it is hard an there are many things i would see that might disgust me.
That is why i took it upon myself to take advantage of the LPN program that my high school was offering. It was a free program and i was able to find out if nursing was really for me before i came to college and actually had to pay for it.
Being my third year in college in the nursing program i found that my previous nursing classes helped me with my classes currently because i been through it already i am just adding on to my knowledge because i am going from an LPN to an RN.

Chico Weber said...

I think that most relevant to me is the 10,000 hour rule. I understand that in order to master a skill you must spend many hours perfecting it. I plan on becoming an engineer and as a result I must constantly use math and physics in order to solve problems.
I also got to say that meaningful work has to be just as important. It pains me to know that there are many students out there who want to be engineers and yet they have never used a tool in their life and have never really solved a physical problem beyond paper. I wouldn't feel confident in my skills if I never had hands on experience, thats why I think it is more essential than just text book knowledge.

Emily Smith said...

The thing that I found the most interesting was the accumulative advantage. When reading it, I did not necessarily believe it. Once I continued to read on about it, it was unbelievable to me. The examples that were given really did amaze me. I could not believe it but all the research spoke for itself. You cannot argue with facts.

The other thing that I found interesting was the same thing everyone else found interesting, the 10,000 hour rule. I understand that in order to learn a subject matter very well you need to study a lot. I do not necessarily think that you need to study quite that much to fully understand something. I also feel as though with everything that is going on in people's lives, they may not have 20 extra hours a week to study.

Lawandria said...

The 10,000 hour rule stood out to me for one simple reason. I believe practice makes perfect. In order to master anything, you have to devote time to it, and this fact is important to stress. However, to say it takes 10,000 hours to "master" a skill or art may be a bit extreme. As humans, we are capable of accomplishing extraordinary feats with little initial skill or training. Great examples of this are the many child "prodigies" i.e. piano players or geniuses that attended college before they grew facial hair. For some, it may not take as much time to become an expert and for others it may take a lifetime.

catalina trevino said...

i think the most intruiging and aspiring way of succeeding was the ten thousand hour rule. People that really want to acheive their goals in life will put forth as much time as needed to perfect their hobby. It doesn't matter to them if they have the money or the time they will work as long as they have to no matter what. This is really insipring because you don't have to be awesome at something to acheive it. People that succeed put time and effort into their hobbies. They don't just wake up one day and become a super star.

Anonymous said...

Along with many other students, I was intrigued but the 10,000 hour rule. It seems extensive to have to focus soley on one subject for that amount of time. For me, life is about learning as much as possible. I don't want to only want to know about one thing, I want to get a glimpse of many topics.
However, I think that once someone reaches a point, they do need to settle down and focus on something specific (maybe not just one thing, though. As Kimber and Morris mentioned, Pharmacy and Medical school are prime examples of those areas that need to be focused on.

-Jes Swim

Shawn C. said...

I apologize for my tardiness on this post, I misread the date and thought it was for the twenty ninth of this month.

As a freshman pre-med student the thing that really has appealed to me thus far about Outliers has the idea of 10,000 hours of practice. Not only in the field of medicine but in any field that requires some skill, which I have come to find almost all do, we will never be able to succeed if we do not have a sufficient amount of practice. A lot of people will fail in there area of study just for the simple fact that they do not put in the needed hours.

I believe no matter who we are or where we come from if we can find the will and determination to put in the time and effort to succeed, then there is no possible human force that can cause us to fail.