Malcolm Gladwell Outliers

Most people have differing opinions on what an outlier would look like but the author, Malcolm Gladwell, of the book, Outliers, The Story of Success, defines it by the book. It says, “Something that is situated away from or classed differently from a main or related body. A statistical observation that is markedly different in value from the others of the sample.” Gladwell uses this definition as a baseline for the rest of his intriguing book. Gladwell gives us plenty of examples of known outliers in the world and through them Gladwell tells the secrets in becoming an outlier. In the first part of the book we learn about opportunities and through those opportunities given to us, we can become successful if we seize them. Talking about Bill Joy, Gladwell writes, “before he could become an expert, someone had to give him the opportunity to learn how to be an expert” (P.46).
I’ve seen that online classes save you a lot too. So after I get my two year degree I will transfer to Maranatha. It is a huge advantage to be in the spot that I am in. One of my favorite quotes from Billy Graham is, “Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened.” Like I said before, I will not have his opportunities, but because of him I am taking advantage of the ones given to me. He showed me the life I want, especially the life I want with God. When I started reading Gladwell’s logical points I realized how I arrived to where I want to go. Without my parents especially my dad I wouldn’t know God in the way that I do. If I didn’t go to North Lakes, I wouldn’t be leading a group Christians in their walk with God and I wouldn’t have ever found my love for scripture if I didn’t listen to people like Billy Graham. Like Gladwell says, “What truly distinguishes their histories is not their extraordinary talent but their extraordinary opportunities.” (P.55) I’m just curious where mine will