jordanabina
Now I need to at least come clean about something before I write my thoughts on Malcom Gladwell’s Tipping Point. I love this dude. So this isn’t really fair. Maybe there are people out there who don’t like Gladwell but I’m not one of them. I’ve read some of his other work and am a subscriber to the Revisionist History podcast as well as Broken Record. I find his way of communicating helpful, insightful and funny. So my confession is that I’m a fan, which definitely influenced my decision to read this but the book itself left a genuine imprint on my mind that wasn’t influenced by my affinity for Gladwell.
When I google leadership books or read or ask business leaders about a book that is a must read you most likely will hear of Malcom Gladwell’s books and most certainly will hear of The Tipping Point. Gladwell is interested in things that seems to have sort of consensus that he may or may not agree with. For instance many people have reasons for why things are successful or not, The Tipping Point goes deeper into those reasons.
Gladwell asks the question:
“Why is it that some ideas or behaviors or products start epidemics and others don’t?”
Gladwell walks you through why using the word epidemic doesn’t have to be a negative thing although we usually only hear the word used in a negative light. Gladwell takes time to unpack the elements and variables of an epidemic and does a really great job taking you through why an epidemic can a great thing in the right context.
Gladwell takes you on a journey of trying to find what’s “sticky” and how some companies have seemingly stumbled into making something worth remembering and how sometimes even the smallest and most unassuming factors can make something successful or not. After reading The Tipping Point I have tried to bring a better perspective about the things I’m trying to accomplish and see whether or not I’m taking the time to do the research.
I found the section of “Connectors, Mavens, & Salesmen” to be really fascinating. Connectors being people who know people or avenues of information, Mavens being people who know things, and Salesmen being people who can, well sell you what the Mavens know. I kept seeing Mavens all around me and saw parts of Connectors in my friends and colleagues. Gladwell’s insight into the different types of people who make something successful make this book worth the read. Asking the right questions about our team and strategy could save us a lot of time and headaches.
If you want to take this book out for a test drive, open up to chapter 4 and get familiar with broken window theory. This simple but insightful observation about how context and environment make huge differences in our campaigns or efforts could be the missing link to your hard work turning into the success you’re looking for.
I recommend this book to anyone looking to raise their level of leadership or feels like maybe the project you’ve been working on has stalled out.
Enjoy.
