DISQUS

John Wall · 7 months ago

HTOTW should be available as a Kindle book, any chance that could happen?

whitneyhoffman · 6 months ago

Matt is reading Outliers right now, so we are debating this book yet again. I think you have to stitch many things together to begin to answer the big questions, for example:

Outliers + The Dip = 10K of experience gives you the experience and perseverance to know what's actually going on, and hopefully some insight into whether or not you can get through tough times towards success, or whether it's time to cash in your chips and try something new.

Tipping Point + Buying In + Predictably Irrational= You can make a guess at what people will or will not buy, product or service, by whether it fits a need, but success overall requires the ability to sustain a business through the rough patches to the Tipping Point, after which general popularity, fads, and the business model become self-sustaining. People won't always act perfectly rational and make the best decision, so if you can make your best case of why you have a better product or service and why you fill a need, you have a better than average shot at success.

We like to think in sound bites, but I think we all know these possible pearls are not yet a necklace. And even the outliers, like General Motors, can be vulnerable to opponents that know the game as well or better, and are willing to take chances, experiment, and make mistakes the well established companies may not. Even Outliers are outlived and replaced by new outliers. I think we have to focus less on the being lucky part, and more on building a strong foundation with tools on hand to leverage the assets we do have and make the most of it.

It works for me, every day.

billhanifin · 6 months ago

If you've ever been surprised by an interview question "what are your greatest strengths or weaknesses?", then you know how important it is to know yourself. Add this to the mix: to go a little deeper, make a list of 5 things that scare you aand knock them off one by one. You'll find that the big brick wall of fear is paper thin.

obilon · 6 months ago

Another great post Chris. I wondered the same thing when reading Gladwell's book. How do you account for the Outliers that didn't get the same advantages the examples in his book received. Certainly there are many who overcome the odds and didn't go the way of his one example in Chris Langan. The Business Week review stated exactly what I was thinking: " One wonders: Did he leave out evidence that contradicts his thesis about success?" http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08...

blancastella · 6 months ago

Hi Chris, I was looking for your post on backups and found this article. Thanks. It is just what I needed. Having encountered many challenges, I would say that getting to the first position of knowing yourself and your enemy is worth the uphill battle.

So number one priority is finding yourself...and even though it is a lifelong process..there is a point of inner strength that you just know won't fail you. At that point then, finding the team with the same mindset is what I find the most difficult.