Readings : The Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

Why do some people achieve so much more than others? Can they lie far outside the ordinary? What is the secret of their success?

These were on the back page of the book. This Post summarises the book as I see it. In summary the ingredient for an Outliers are:

• Genetic (Inheritance in the DNA)


• Family and social background


• Timing


• Hard work


• Luck or better put Opportunities exploited


• Doing not the ordinary

Having said all this post mortem of a success will give us leads, the above give us some leads form the many post mortem done by Malcolm and other social scientists, anthropologists, psychologists etc.

Success has many godfathers and failure is an orphan. However, failure is the best teacher, not success.

The Genetic or the race helps in designing attitudes, lifestyles, health and ability and the fire to succeed. In the Indian context why do Marwaris make better businessmen?

Those who have get more, the Mathew effect. Clear example rich get richer. Ambanis get richer. Bureaucrats kids go to Ivy League colleges for sure.

There are many first generation success stories but it more than helps if there is a good social and economic family background. It helps in enriching the learning, access to resources and support. Upper caste kids have always had it betters than the SC/ ST kids in India.

Timing is important. Timing of action, timing of birth, timing of start ups etc. In India those who stated a venture early 2000 are more successful than those who are starting it now. When were you born and what opportunities your time bring you? Baby boomers? Also January kids are stronger and smarter than December kids if we categorize by age.

There is no short cut to hard work. Beatles did it at Hamburg, Bill Gates at the local University. At least 10,000 hours. The 10000 hours rule.

Luck is important. Being at the right place at the right time. The Bollywood movie "Luck by chance" in a clear example. But opportunity does not knock the door twice. Exploiting the opportunity is a key differentiators. What did Gorbachev did that Brechnev could not?

Doing the run of the mill may not help. You must do something different, take the challenge, face the consequence. Put in hard work (10000 rule), exploit the opportunity, use your background etc etc...

IQ levels alone don't make you a genius, it is the application of those and the other characteristics.

Overall an excellent book. Must read for all those who feel that they deserve success and it is eluding them. This will give them some reasons why success is eluding them or give them eye opening facts of hard work and luck. :)