Malcolm Gladwell's 5 Steps to Success
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Malcolm Gladwell's 5 Steps to Success
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Re: Malcolm Gladwell's 5 Steps to Success
#2> 3. Discover the relationship between effort and reward.
I think that's by far the biggest stumbling block. Once there is a direct relationship between effort and reward most people behave appropriately and put forth a lot of effort. It also smooths over a lot of the lesser issues. Doing very boring things can be very exciting when doing it well results in big increases in reward. It becomes a high stakes game.
Re: Malcolm Gladwell's 5 Steps to Success
#3> 3. Discover the relationship between effort and reward. I think that's by far the biggest stumbling block. Once there is a direct relationship between effort and reward most people behave appropriately and put forth a lot of effort. It also smooths over a lot of the lesser issues. Doing very boring things can be very exciting when doing it well results in big increases in reward. It becomes a high stakes game.
I agree. This can be a difficult thing to learn, though, because most organizations obscure this relationship. And because effort is hard by definition, there's a massive mythology of low-effort success; fantasizing that reward is random allows even the slothful to identify with the successful.
Since quitting my job a few months ago, I've been learning this lesson as a consultant. It turns out that to squeeze a mere 30 billable hours out of a week, I have to work about twice as hard as I ever had in a full-time job. And I was the most productive hacker in the company. Now I'm working much harder on projects that aren't always as cool, but it's worth it because it directly affects my livelihood and the customer's desire to continue working with me and recommend me to others.
Re: Malcolm Gladwell's 5 Steps to Success
#4For those who don't click through, here are the 5 steps:
1. Find meaning and inspiration in your work.
2. Work hard.
3. Discover the relationship between effort and reward.
4. Seek out complex work to avoid boredom and repetition.
5. Be autonomous and control your own destiny as much as possible.
Re: Malcolm Gladwell's 5 Steps to Success
#5> 3. Discover the relationship between effort and reward. I think that's by far the biggest stumbling block. Once there is a direct relationship between effort and reward most people behave appropriately and put forth a lot of effort. It also smooths over a lot of the lesser issues. Doing very boring things can be very exciting when doing it well results in big increases in reward. It becomes a high stakes game.
I completely agree. The effort I exert on my projects is far and above what I exert on client work. The reward is much larger, as PG says, I'm creating my own wealth rather than wealth for others in exchange for money.
Re: Malcolm Gladwell's 5 Steps to Success
#6Let me guess without reading, based on what I know of Gladwell:
1. Learn to write pretty well.
2. Come up with a hypothesis.
3. Collect data.
4. Throw out all data that disagrees with your hypothesis, even if it is the overwhelming majority.
5. Write book/article about the data you kept.
Re: Malcolm Gladwell's 5 Steps to Success
#7Let me guess without reading, based on what I know of Gladwell: 1. Learn to write pretty well. 2. Come up with a hypothesis. 3. Collect data. 4. Throw out all data that disagrees with your hypothesis, even if it is the overwhelming majority. 5. Write book/article about the data you kept.
Some supporting evidence would be helpful. I'm not familiar with his writing or criticism of it.
Re: Malcolm Gladwell's 5 Steps to Success
#8Let me guess without reading, based on what I know of Gladwell: 1. Learn to write pretty well. 2. Come up with a hypothesis. 3. Collect data. 4. Throw out all data that disagrees with your hypothesis, even if it is the overwhelming majority. 5. Write book/article about the data you kept.
1. coin catchy phrase
2. write book
3. create a demand for books based on pseudo-intellectualism
4. make sure it appears in every airport gift shop
5. ...
6. profit!
i kid, i kid, i own and read all his books.
Re: Malcolm Gladwell's 5 Steps to Success
#9Let me guess without reading, based on what I know of Gladwell: 1. Learn to write pretty well. 2. Come up with a hypothesis. 3. Collect data. 4. Throw out all data that disagrees with your hypothesis, even if it is the overwhelming majority. 5. Write book/article about the data you kept.
Some supporting evidence would be helpful. I'm not familiar with his writing or criticism of it.
Read the Tipping Point. You'll understand him within the first chapter.
Re: Malcolm Gladwell's 5 Steps to Success
#10Let me guess without reading, based on what I know of Gladwell: 1. Learn to write pretty well. 2. Come up with a hypothesis. 3. Collect data. 4. Throw out all data that disagrees with your hypothesis, even if it is the overwhelming majority. 5. Write book/article about the data you kept.
1. coin catchy phrase 2. write book 3. create a demand for books based on pseudo-intellectualism 4. make sure it appears in every airport gift shop 5. ... 6. profit! i kid, i kid, i own and read all his books.
Is there really a question whether there is something between 4 & 6?