...Outliers: The Story of Success Analysis Latasha D. McCullar Managerial Leadership MNGT 5670 Dr. Rebecca Elliott October 16, 2013 Abstract Genius is over-rated. Success is not just about innate ability. It’s combined with a number of key factors such as opportunity, meaningful hard work (10,000 hours to gain mastery), and your cultural legacy. Random factors of chance, such as when and where you were born can influence the opportunities you have. Malcom Gladwell , the author of Outliners: The Story of Success, brings alive his assertions and thesis primarily through the use of individual success stories of athletes, computer genius, musicians, artist and community cultures. Introduction Gladwell uses a straight-forward, easy-to-digest style of mixing facts with examples and anecdotes in making his point that it is not shear genius or hard work alone that results in success. Instead, the he dives deep into the story behind exceptional performance in cultures, aptitude testing trends and individual achievements around the world. Gladwell argues that the upbringing of individuals greatly impacts their likelihood to succeed, including birth dates, access to specialized resources, parenting, and community culture. Discussion Gladwell separates the book into chapters highlighting the circumstances that resulted in the creation of each "outlier" he chooses to emphasize. According to Gladwell, the vast majority of hockey stars are born in the months of...
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...Research series The role of the board in innovation PREPARED BY Dr Robert Kay and Dr Chris Goldspink GOVERNANCE LEADERSHIP CENTRE companydirectors.com.au/glc Contents Introduction 3 Innovation and directorship: a role at the core of good governance? 4 Reading the context and steering the approach 5 CEOs and innovation 7 Differences between the public and private sectors 12 Conclusion13 References14 2 GOVERNANCE LEADERSHIP CENTRE companydirectors.com.au/glc Introduction What is the role of the board in innovation? There are mixed views on this question within the governance literature. Part of the problem relates to the ill-defined nature of innovation itself, how it relates to the strategy of the organisation and the division of responsibilities between the board and the executive. This paper will draw on research conducted for the AICD during 2014 (Kay and Goldspink 2015), involving interviews with over 100 Chairs of listed, private, public and not for profit boards, as well as two other studies conducted by the authors. These additional studies involved interviews with 25 CEOs drawn from both listed and private organisations, as well as 25 Departmental Secretaries and Directors-General drawn from both the federal and state public sectors. These latter studies canvassed executive views on what innovation means to them and what it takes to innovate effectively within their respective sectors (Kay and Goldspink 2012a, 2012b). In combination, these three...
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...In many works of literature, a character is changed due to certain events and realizations in their life. A dynamic character is one who, in literature or drama, undergoes a permanent change in the course of the plot. Tom Benecke a character in Jack Finney’s “Contents of a Dead Man’s Pockets”, is an example of a dynamic character. His personality in the beginning of the story differs his personality in the end; in fact it’s the complete opposite. Tom Benecke realizes that work isn’t everything in life, and that happiness is the root to success. Tom Bececke, a work-a-holic, chooses to stay home and finish his project for work rather than going out with his wife to watch a movie that both Tom and his wife want to watch. “I got to get this done” says Tom to his wife. “You work too much, though, Tom-and too hard” says Clare, to Tom who’s paying no attention. Tom is determined to get his project done fast so his boss can look over it over the weekend, and hopefully get a “promotion” very soon. “You won’t mind though, will you, when the money comes rolling in and I’m known as the boy wizard of wholesale”. This shows his greediness for money and how he wants to be popular at work. He abandons his wife for work even though Tom really wants to go. “It was not actually true that he had to work tonight though he really wanted to”. After Clare left to the movies, Tom, thinking that he’s going to get his project done tonight, looks over to the window to find out that his valuable project...
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...Human beings strive for greatness. This drive, this urge, this passion for success fills everyone from the impecunious farmers in the countryside to the aspiring entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley. But regardless of all characteristics like race, gender, and intelligence, humans who reach these goals, who achieve these dreams, are united by one underlying trait: the ability to work hard. In When March Went Mad, Seth Davis expertly illustrates this idea through his description of the 1997 NCAA championship and the events leading up to this influential game between Michigan State and Indiana State. Davis adroitly displays his rhetorical effectiveness through his use of descriptive imagery, diction, and anecdotal evidence to create effective and convincing pathos. In When March Went...
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...have the power to heal our souls and make us better people. Around The World in Eighty Days is just such a book to me. This book is a fiction story written by a French writer, Jules Verne. In this story, an Englishman, Phileas Fogg and his new French valet Passepartout attempt to travel around the world within eighty days just because he had a huge wager with his friends at the club. Mr Fogg wants to prove his contention that one can travel around the world in only eighty days. During their journey around the world, they met many friends and faced tons of challenges and difficulties. Besides the interesting and vivid plot of the story, this inspiring book has taught me three things when facing difficulties in life: never give up, caring others, and do something meaningful in life. First of all, of the many things that I learned from this book, one of them is overcoming difficulties. Traveling around the world in eighty days is a daydream for many persons but Mr Fogg made it successfully because he insisted and did not give up. Even though this book is a fiction, from the author’s perspective, the tools that we need for success is perseverance. Throughout the whole book, I learned that there are many difficult problems we need to be confronted with in our real life. But if you try hard to conquer it and you may find a way to be success. Therefore by the end of the book I decided to study a very tough course that I never studied before. I was really interested in this course and...
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...based on my working experience in banking industry for five years. As an institution engaged in the trust, my company really put forward the human ability rather than skill ability. Human factors either managers or subordinates determine the success of the company. Everyone in the company needs to know the personality of superiors, subordinates or co-workers and how to deal with them effectively. For example, if a manager has to deal with an employee who has low competency, he should give a clear instruction to this employee. This subordinate needs detailed guidance and strict supervision. Conversely, if the subordinate has a high competency and enough confidence in performing his duty, the manager may delegate the task with a brief direction on the goal achieved. According to The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership article, the author introduces the five practices of exemplary leadership which are model the way, inspire a shared vision, challenge the process, enable others to act and encourage the heart. He also shares stories about some leaders that demonstrate exemplary leadership skill which can build and guide a talented and committed team in accomplishing exceptionally challenging goal. Based on my experience, I think failure and success of an organization largely depends on the leadership skill of the managers. To support my opinion, I...
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..."There is simply no substitute for hard work when it comes to achieving success." - Heather Bresch One of the greatest feeling someone can is accomplishing a goal. It can change everything from one second to another. When I completed my first photography portfolio it was one of my greatest achievements. To complete my first portfolio it took dedication where it sparked a personal growth and a new understanding of myself and others. When I created my first portfolio I had to put hard work and commitment in order to be able to finish my final product. I realized I loved taking pictures and I started to do a small photography business. I realized I never had my own photography portfolio, then I set my mind into completing one. I set up different photography shoots in order to set up my perfect portfolio. Each shoot was different, but they all had something similar. The photography shoots all had my personality in it and everyone could see it shine through. Each picture had its own background story and they were meaningful. I was able to pick the book and each picture going on. I went in and...
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...Personnel in Technology Amy Mullen TEC 401 July 16, 2012 Clyde Roberts Personnel in Technology Technology support teams are on the rise with new and improved technological advances are emerging. Effective technology support teams reflect knowledge, experience, and strong communication skills. Technology plays a major role in organization operations in today’s society compared to decades prior. The key to success in using the many forms of technology available is to train users about the technology and the operation of the devices. In this paper, I discuss the training and implementation programs in using technology, performance support and Help Desk technologies, and the relationships between coworkers as well as between support teams and customers. Training Training is the foundation of organizational success. Organizations and their employees should have knowledge of the technologies used in the workplace and understand the enhancement technological tools bring to the workplace. Unfortunately, end-user information systems (EUIS) training is not a top priority in a time it is necessary with the growing technological advances (Regan & O’Connor). Training, in essence, defined as a learning experience with a beginning and end differs from support as support implies an ongoing learning experience. Specified by Regan and O’Conner (2002), the...
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...Personality is all about dynamic and structured characteristics of thoughts, feelings and behaviors that make a person unique. In the case study there are three scenarios have been elaborated. A successful story of two different types personalities and importance of having people with positive attitudes and its implications to increase efficiency levels. In the first situation a group of people who are working with positive attitudes and high degree of commitment to their jobs. In the second part about the saga of Wayne Huizenga a successful entrepreneur with self confidence and risk taking personality. And finally the story of ever optimistic Steve Wynn with inherited personality and the way he motivates his employees to perform optimistically all times. Part- I “90 Hours a Week and Loving It”. Due to pleasant working conditions, structured & specified job functions, attractive packages and more importantly with the use of cutting edge technology employees at firms like Apple Computers are willing to work around- the- clock. People at the top level also play a significant role in formation of such positive attitudes, as Steve Jobs (CEO, Apple Inc.) is charismatic and influential leader, also a self monitoring and risk taking personality. According to Herzberg’s Motivation Hygiene Theory, the workforce at Apple would be categorized under Motivators as they have drive to achieve, personal growth, job satisfaction and obviously the recognition. In the local arena a good...
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...I read an interesting article in the June, 2012 issue of Success magazine entitled ‘Life is Good.’ The article is about entrepreneurs, Bert and John Jacobs, and their multimillion dollar t-shirt company called ‘Life is Good.’ The focus of the article is on the optimistic outlook they have and the positive message they portray through their slogan, Life is Good. This positivity ultimately led to their company’s success. The brothers faced difficulties for the first several years as success eluded them. As a last ditch effort they slapped their ‘Life is Good’ slogan on some t-shirts and attempted to peddle them at a local market. To their surprise, the shirts were an instant hit. It quickly became evident that the positivity of the simple slogan is something to which people from all walks of life can relate. The story of the Jacobs brothers and ‘Life is Good’ relates to organizational behavior in several ways. Specifically, I noticed that the brothers’ personality traits likely contributed to their eventual success. They both possess high internal locus of control believing that they control their own destiny. In the article, Bert says, “We get to choose at some level what we do with our lives.” The brothers recognize that their own choices and actions define their futures. They also show high levels of self-efficacy. They feel that they are capable of making their company successful. When times were hard and the company was not thriving they continued to believe...
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...In the literal work “The escape” written by W.S.Maugham, irony plays the inevitable part in making the success of the story. The narrator recites how his friend, Roger Charing, tries to get rid of a woman, Ruth Barlow, through the process in which he escape from the little lady, the author expresses his severe irony towards Ruth Balow and her scheming deeds. First of all, irony refers to the incongruity between what might be expected and what actually occurs. Right from the beginning, Maugham has stated a rather funny anecdote like this: "If a woman once made up her mind to marry a man, nothing but instant flight could save him." It sounds as if the woman is a persistent predator that is willing to chasing its prey to any corners in the world, thus no man can escape from the trap laid by a lady, especially a beautiful one. This suggests the irony towards marriage and, more importantly, expresses the sarcasm towards women in love. Ruth Barlow is characterized as a lovely angel with “splendid dark eyes and they were the most moving I ever saw, they seemed to be ever on the point of filling with tears”, eyes are considers as windows of soul, and through her doleful eyes, we can somehow anticipate her personalities as weak and fragile. Along with scornful appearance is a miserable background. She is described as “twice a widow”, that means she has suffered from the most hurting event in a lady’s life, not only once but even twice – her husbands’ funerals. Such a lady deserves intensive...
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...Rousseau, believed that every child has a unique value and children should not be seen as immature adults. He also emphasized the importance of moral development in his writing ‘Emile’, in which he believed it could be performed by living a simple life. Rousseau’s ideas had a major influence on the development of children’s literature. People raised awareness about children and children’s fantasy literature was flourishing in the 19th century. In this Golden Age, different varieties of children’s fantasy literature were written to entertain children, such as modern fantasy stories and adventure stories. The naughty image of children could be shown in many adventure stories as well, such as ‘The Adventures of Tom Sawyer’ (1876) by Mark Twain and ‘The Adventures of Pinocchio’ (1883) by Carlo Collodi. Up to the 20th century and recent decades, Naughty main characters are typical and common in children’s adventure stories, they are appealing and popular to young readers as well, for example ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ (1964) by Roald Dahl. On the other hand, Chinese children’s fantasy literature had a rather short history of development. Before the 20th century, children’s fantasy literature did not exist in China. Until the Inter-war...
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...Personality vs. Learning Style Personality vs. Learning Style Personalities tell a story about a person. Although there are things in common, people are very complex and different. Do personality and learning go hand in hand? According to Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) my personality type is Extraverted Sensing Feeling Judging (ESFJ). Some of the characteristics of this type of personality are as follows: detail oriented, people person, concerned with values, caring, and warm (The Myers & Briggs Foundation, n.d.). My RHETI Enneagram type is Type 7. The Enthusiast: Type 7 has many similar characteristics, they are multitalented, diverse, curious, juggle many different activities, and good problem solvers (Becca, n.d.). I would have to say that the MBTI and the RHETI are pretty accurate with how I view myself. According to the findings, the medical field is the perfect profession for me. I am very much a people person and thoroughly enjoy the social aspect of my job. There is nothing that I enjoy more than being a “bedside” nurse. I feel that is the place that I am most effective because I love caring for people and making sure that their needs are met. I am detail oriented and always look out for the best interest of the patients. I am concerned with their well-being and see them as individual people not just patients. I want them to feel that they can come to me with any issues or problems and that I will do my best to help them...
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...“He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.” -Muhammad Ali. Thus, being courageous will be rewarding. Bravery is key to pursuing victory. With courage comes success is the theme of Rudyard Kipling’s fictional story, Rikki-tikki-tavi. Rikki Tikki is a determined character in this story. The text states, “he remembered that a full meal makes a slow mongoose, and if he wanted all his strength and quickness ready, he must keep himself thin.” (para. 34). This implies that Rikki-tikki’s determination for being a strong, quick mongoose is shown when he realized he shouldn’t eat a full meal. He knew a full meal may slow him down, putting him at a disadvantage against Nag and Nagaina. Additionally, Rikki-tikki said, “marks or no marks, do you think it is right for you to eat fledglings out of a nest?” (para. 25) This displays that Rikki-tikki stood up against the feared Nag for the sake of Darzee and his wife. He is determined to save his friends no matter the cost. Undoubtedly, Rikki-tikki-tavi proves to be a determined mongoose....
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...Personality vs. Learning Style Personality vs. Learning Style Personalities tell a story about a person. Although there are things in common, people are very complex and different. Do personality and learning go hand in hand? According to Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) my personality type is Extraverted Sensing Feeling Judging (ESFJ). Some of the characteristics of this type of personality are as follows: detail oriented, people person, concerned with values, caring, and warm (The Myers & Briggs Foundation, n.d.). My RHETI Enneagram type is Type 7. The Enthusiast: Type 7 has many similar characteristics, they are multitalented, diverse, curious, juggle many different activities, and good problem solvers (Becca, n.d.). I would have to say that the MBTI and the RHETI are pretty accurate with how I view myself. According to the findings, the medical field is the perfect profession for me. I am very much a people person and thoroughly enjoy the social aspect of my job. There is nothing that I enjoy more than being a “bedside” nurse. I feel that is the place that I am most effective because I love caring for people and making sure that their needs are met. I am detail oriented and always look out for the best interest of the patients. I am concerned with their well-being and see them as individual people not just patients. I want them to feel that they can come to me with any issues or problems and that I will do my best to help them. I am not afraid...
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