In Part One we briefly discussed Malcolm Gladwell’s very interesting book, Outliers. My summation was that, as brilliantly written as it was, he – based on his personal world view – came to a conclusion about what makes one hugely successful that is highly different from mine (I, of course, operate from my own world view, very opposite of his and thus respectfully believe he is incorrect).
Mr. Gladwell believes that circumstances (i.e., luck) are mainly responsible for the ultra-success that outliers obtain. I believe that – while circumstances certainly play a part – it’s the individual who is mainly responsible for their success or failure, mediocrity, or ultra-success.
{Note: when I talk about the individual being “responsible” that is not to in any way imply that they necessarily “do it alone.”}
I believe that winners win. They simply find a way to win, regardless of the “cards they’ve been dealt.” How often do we see people with very similar backgrounds, circumstances, environments (indeed, siblings) take two completely different paths; one consistently winning and the other consistently losing?
Years ago, I recall reading in my friend, Dan Kennedy’s newsletter a quick piece he wrote about Doug Flutie, the former star quarterback. He wrote (paraphrased), “Winners find a way to win, regardless of the circumstances. Flutie won in college, won in the Canadian Football League and won in the National Football League, all leagues with different rules; one with very different field dimensions.
Okay, that’s a very simple and specific example, but within it were some key thoughts: “Winners find a way” to win, and they do so “regardless of the circumstances.”
I believe Dan hit upon the key. Winners simply find a way to win, and they do so regardless of outside circumstances. It’s just what they do. Yes, it’s part of their internal make-up. More so, however, it’s a decision.
Even if their level of talent or their circumstances would dictate that they are only statistically likely to achieve a certain level, they find the strength to persevere until they make it happen. They are able to do so, not because they believe in predetermined limitations, but because they believe in the power of every individual to create their own circumstances and rise above their own very real limitations.
This includes – but is far from limited to – real-life Horatio Alger-type “rags to riches” stories such as the inner-city minority from a broken home with difficulties in school who became a famous neurosurgeon; or the saint who devoted her life to helping the desparately impoverished; the high school dropout, drug-abusing, spent time in jail,shot in the gut and left for dead, former Pancake House cook who is now a multi-millionaire teaching prosperity to others; the abused little girl who became famous and uses her celebrity to help others in numerous ways; the young boy who went from dire-poverty to printing apprentice to Founder of a country; the daughter of a welder who would go on to found a cookie empire to…well, the list could go on and on and on.
One of my closest friends is a woman who escaped Communist Russia via a black-market plane ticket, arriving in New York City with $1 in her pocket and absolutely zero words of English in her vocabulary! Her one “contact” rejected seeing her. Starting from scratch, she has become a huge success. Alone? Not at all. But that’s hardly the point.
Mr. Gladwell, as evidenced throughout his book, will credit their success, not to them as individuals, but to everything in their background, even that which gave them the ability to take what they were given and achieve the huge level of success they achieved. And, again, I agree; it all plays a part.
But it’s the individual – that man or woman with belief in themselves and the willingness to perservere through the many challenges and pitfalls they face – who decides what he or she is going to do with it. And that – in my opinion – is why some reach the status of outlier while most do not.
What do you think?
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Bob – YOU Nailed it with this sentence “But it’s the individual – that man or woman with belief in themselves and the willingness to perservere through the many challenges and pitfalls they face – who decides what he or she is going to do with it. And that – in my opinion – is why some reach the status of outlier while most do not.”
I agree completely and think this is overlooked by Malcolm Gladwell.
Colin
Check out Dave Pelzer for a prime example of your point. He was abused horribly as a child, but made it past his circumstances and is now an author and public speaker.
Bob:
Winners always find a way to win. Left / right wing media and individuals find unlimited ways to put down and criticize. Most things of personal value are a choice and not determined by random circumstances. Just my two cents.
Mark Twain they say said “Luck is just one of God’s many nicknames.” I have to interpret the author to me, to fit his or her views into mine or reject them. It is often times difficult to assign intention to an author’s work unless they declared it. I agree with your views. The additional thought I’d like to add is I believe ’cause and effect’ is also false. After the ‘big bang’ everything is just effect, effect, effect and the snapshots of circumstances along the way called ’cause and effect’ allow people to blame something or someone besides themselves… or credit something or someone besides themselves for outcomes that are all their own making… Responsibility BEGINS with a willingness to be cause in the matter.
Bob~~
I would wholeheartedly agree with Colin !! YOU did “nail it.” Yesterday, I posted my thoughts regarding”the individual” and not the “alignment of the solar system,” that Mr. Gladwell subscribes to. HIS point of view and he’s entitled to it. I, on the other hand, have worked with children, youth and families across a broad spectrum….inner city, suburbia, and rural areas…from well below poverty to those that have plenty of $$$…and not surprisingly, it was ALWAYS the individual/family with the desire to succeed, that did just that!! I believe the human spirit is AMAZING!!! The power of the mind over circumstances, INCREDIBLE!! And, I was blessed to watch and cheer from the sidelines. YOU are right, Bob~~~Winners find a way to win! YOU are a walking testament of that!!
Great post, Mr. Burg!
~deb~
Bob,
Very simple, but yet profound, and this is a great lesson that really hits close to home for me right now. Finding a way and persevering to success are the ticket and I agree 100% with you.
Glenn
Hello Bob,
I simply love your writing and enjoy reading every single blog.
I learned many great things from you and met the most incredible mavericks. Thank you.
1) You are always Authentic. I am thankful for you.
2) If you don’t mind, I would add a few names to your list. They are the following Dr. Alexander Fleming who discovered penicillin and saved a life of Sir Churchill.
Coco Chanel and her tenacity that no one could match.
Dave Longberger, in my humble opinion, is the most remarkable entrepreneur of his generation.
He created a business that is now the $1 billion-in-sales. Yes, One Billion.
I hope all your readers will read his great book LONGABERGER: An American Success Story by Dave Longberger.
The Longaberger family employs over 8,000 employees, they create more than 40,000 high-quality baskets in Ohio. htpp://www.longaberger.com
They all embodied of the American values of independence, hard work, and BUSINESS ETHICS.
And we talked about a business etiquette this afternoon.
3) Thank you for teaching the importance of authenticity, giving, sharing, believing, dreaming, taking risk, living life, and leaving legacy.
4) Winners Always Win
They don’t know the other way but to WIN. My father would add, “It is important HOW do you WIN.” How?
5) I thought that you were clever not to mention names. As I was reading your blog, I truly enjoyed identifying my heroes. I am sure I was not alone. I love reading biographies and memoirs.
To me, a true life is more interesting than a fiction.
HERE is a gift for everyone. One of my absolute favorite quotes of all times.
Here it is.
“The Chinese use two brush strokes to write a word ‘crisis.’ One brush strokes stands for ‘DANGER’; the other for ‘OPPORTUNITY.’ In a crisis, BE AWARE of the DANGER- but RECOGNIZE the OPPORTUNITY.” ~ John F. Kennedy
With respect,
Svetlana Kim
As I’ve grown, I’ve come to realize that “Luck” is mostly myth! Luck exists in many places; games of chance, the lottery, the lucky bounce that send the ball past the infielder and into the outfield field for a base hit to win the game, etc. But here luck is a two way street; the street called Good Luck and the Street called Bad Luck.
For the most part, “Luck” to me is a result. The result of understanding, execution and timing! The better you understand something, and take action at the right time; the result will produce what some people call “Luck”.
Joe
Another awesome blog Bob! I also agree with Svetlanka Kim when she says winners always win, they know no other way but to win. There is a passion that burns and pushes a person, a knowing that drives us, although we may not always recognize it, to reach toward that which others may think impossible. There is no other way even as others find and become ensnared in the excuses and stumbling blocks. Cheers to the winners who inspire and light my path!!