Outliers The Story of Success

Cover of Outliers: The Story of Success

I just finished reading “Outliers: The Story of Success” by Malcolm Gladwell.

If you haven’t read it, I’d suggest getting it from your library, Kindle or just ordering it.

It’s the story of success as only the author can tell it. He dissects the success of Bill Gates, the Beatles and many others.

Rather than tell you about their unique genius, he really focuses on something else that should bring even more hope to those seeking to improve our results.

Throughout the book, my understanding of success was affirmed over and over again.

Years ago, I learned that Success = Opportunity + Preparation

Notice, this does not include being born rich, or extremely poor. It does not include going to the right schools, or wrong schools. Nor does it include having exceptional intelligence.

No, what the book discusses is supposed Outliers. Outliers, as defined in the book are:

1. something that is situated away from or classed differently from a main or related body

2. a statistical observation that is markedly different in value from the others of the sample.

In other words, Outliers are those who have been given opportunities – and who have had the strength and presence of mind to seize them.

The book dispels the myths surrounding the success of people like Bill Gates and the Beatles in ways you’ve never read before. And far from luck or exceptional ability, these two, and others, were given a tremendous opportunity, that they had to recognize and be prepared for – and they took advantage of that opportunity.

The Rest is History

Looking at my own life, when I’ve been clear about what I want, and worked tirelessly for certain results, opportunities appeared and I seized them.

From US Marine Corps Special Forces, building a multi-million dollar distribution business in San Francisco, or coaching entrepreneurs – every time I put forth my best on a consistent basis, the opportunities came – and I had the presence of mind to seize them.

What About You

Clearly you’ve been working for years at your vocation. You have hours and hours of practice, you’ve put in your time.

Have you noticed the opportunities all around you?

Have you reached for them?

I encourage you to pick up a copy of ‘Outliers: The Story of Success’, and rather than say; “well, that didn’t happen to me.” Consider what opportunities are around you right now that you may be missing – and then seize them.

It may not happen on the first, or even the second – but, eventually, things will start to happen – good things – and the rest will be history.

To Your Millionaire!

David Koons
FreeAgentCoach.com

Tags: Bill Gates, David Koons, Free Agent Coach, Malcolm Gladwell, outliers the story of success, success