Numerous individuals assert that we obtain the ability to create our own eminent destiny by working hard and remaining determined, while others consider that a successful destiny is predetermined by one’s innate ability. Which statement is correct? Authors David Epstein and Malcolm Gladwell, take two opposing sides on this subject. David Epstein, Author of The Sports Gene, maintains that innate physical ability far outweighs continuous practice to improve skills that are naturally not present. On the contrary, Malcolm Gladwell, the Author of Outliers: The Story of Success argues that repetitive practice to better skills is significant as opposed to innate talent due to the hard work that is imputed. With dominant facts and expert opinions,
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In Outliers: The Story of Success, Gladwell specifies the results that psychologist K. Anders Ericsson and two colleagues conducted in their research. Gladwell notes, “... by the age of twenty, the elite performers had totaled ten thousand hours of practice. By contrast, the merely good students had totaled eight thousand hours, and the future music teachers had totaled just over four thousand hours” (Gladwell). This illuminates, that once a musician has enough ability to get into a top music school, the thing that distinguishes one performer from another is how hard he or she works. Meaning it does not matter if an individual goes to a “top school” what differentiates them reveals how hard they work to have a successful destiny. To further support his claim, Gladwell examines expert testimony on the talent of magnificent composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who he acknowledges, “Famously started writing music at [age] six” nevertheless “didn’t produce his greatest work until he had been composing for more than twenty years” (Gladwell). In other words Mozart is the perfect example where an individual is continuously practicing to better themselves to attain success, Gladwell’s evidence debunks Epstein’s claim by demonstrating how much preparation and practice the composer’s best work required. This wealth of
In Outliers: The Story of Success, Gladwell specifies the results that psychologist K. Anders Ericsson and two colleagues conducted in their research. Gladwell notes, “... by the age of twenty, the elite performers had totaled ten thousand hours of practice. By contrast, the merely good students had totaled eight thousand hours, and the future music teachers had totaled just over four thousand hours” (Gladwell). This illuminates, that once a musician has enough ability to get into a top music school, the thing that distinguishes one performer from another is how hard he or she works. Meaning it does not matter if an individual goes to a “top school” what differentiates them reveals how hard they work to have a successful destiny. To further support his claim, Gladwell examines expert testimony on the talent of magnificent composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who he acknowledges, “Famously started writing music at [age] six” nevertheless “didn’t produce his greatest work until he had been composing for more than twenty years” (Gladwell). In other words Mozart is the perfect example where an individual is continuously practicing to better themselves to attain success, Gladwell’s evidence debunks Epstein’s claim by demonstrating how much preparation and practice the composer’s best work required. This wealth of