12 Mind-Blowing Concepts From Malcolm Gladwell’s Bestsellers

Posted by Alcyone _Featured_, Channeling, Universal Principles Applied Wednesday, July 25th, 2012

Aimee Groth and Elizabeth Bogner| Aug. 20, 2011

(Business Insider) Malcolm Gladwell’s first two bestsellers, The Tipping Point and Blink, earned him a place on Time’s 2005 “Most Influential People” list; and with Outliers, the “10,000 Hour” theory made its way into the zeitgeist.

Though he’s been criticized for his choice selection of scientific and sociological research that he highlights in his books, it’s unarguable that Gladwell has had a tremendous impact on national discourse.

We paged through his titles and pulled out 12 of his most mind-blowing theories.

The Tipping Point #1: Law of the Few — How a disproportionate few affect so many

The business of spreading the epidemic of an idea, product or preference — including your own — is why Gladwell lands on so many business must-read lists.Understanding who changes minds and influences people, and the small but critical ways the change takes place, is the first step to sweeping your audience up in your epidemic. This theory also explores how you can convert minds from hostility to acceptance.

What you need is one of those special people who have the power to connect with others and bring them over to their way of thinking.

Tipping Point #2: Connectors — People with an extraordinary knack for connecting people and ideas

These connectors

Have social networks of 100 people or more
Have something intrinsic in their personalities that allows them to span many different worlds
Combine confidence, interest in and curiosity about the world in the broadest sense, social energy, and a high level of enthusiasm
Translate and make accessible to all with whom they come into contact what they care about

Tipping Point #3: Mavens — They know, they tell, people listen

Mavens

Are “information specialists”
Are the ones others rely on for the newest and the best
Accumulate the latest and best information on what is out there
Are “almost pathologically helpful” — they can’t help but know, they can’t help but share
Are the source of word-of-mouth epidemics: they know and they know how to communicate what makes things worth knowing about

Tipping Point #4: Salesmen — You want what they are selling, whatever it is

Are the persuaders
Through charisma, a level of engagement with what they know, and the skill to speak to a particular audience
Are the ones people want to agree with

The Tipping Point #5: The Stickiness Factor – Why some ideas stick

There are specific ways to present a message for maximum impact.

The Tipping Point #6: The Power of Context — We are exquisitely and unknowingly sensitive to ambient influences

The Broken Window Theory is all about context
Environment directs a person in one direction over another in tacit and therefore powerful ways
Marketers, policemen, or any agency looking to direct human behavior is aware of this

Blink #1: Thin Slicing — How a little bit of knowledge goes a long way

Our ability to gauge what is important, relevant, or meaningful from a very narrow slice of experience. In other words, spontaneous decisions are often as good as—or even better than—carefully considered ones. We live in a world so information-saturated, the idea is radical.In one example, a psychologist observed married couples: