On the road to success, what takes the wheel: time or talent? In the “10,000-Hour Rule”, Malcolm Gladwell argues that innate talent is not the biggest factor in success, but rather the amount practiced and the opportunities given. To prove his point, he refers to the Beatles, a rock band that became famous in the 1960s, and how they went through other experiences and challenges within their career that developed them into what they were. These experiences forced them to go through extremely large amounts of practice, which coincidentally added up to around 10,000 hours. Gladwell insists that without having the opportunities they were given, the Beatles, and other famous figures throughout history, wouldn’t be where they were. To develop his
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A famous figure that Gladwell uses to emphasize the importance of opportunity is Bill Gates. While in 8th grade, Bill Gates’s school “put three thousand dollars into a computer terminal” (51) even though “most colleges didn’t have computer clubs in the 1960s” (51). This small detail is extremely important in developing Gladwell’s argument as it highlights how incredibly far ahead Bill Gates was from an early age due to luck. The emphasis on “colleges” also accentuates Bill Gate’s advantage over people in higher levels of education. Due to him learning what most people would only learn years later on in life, he is now been put on a course that is far ahead of his peers. Furthermore, Gladwell also points out how financial capabilities affected Bill Gate’s prospects for success. This is illustrated when Gladwell explains that Bill Gate’s “father was a wealthy lawyer in Seattle” and that “his mother was the daughter of a well-to-do banker” (50). Being raised in the upper class gave Gate’s access to excellent education and opportunities, allowing him to be able to pursue and develop any skill of his choosing. Due to him being given the time and resources to dedicate himself to a particular field, the likelihood of him becoming successful was heavily favored, highlighting how both beneficial and destructive financial status is. Overall, Gladwell purposefully uses allusions
A famous figure that Gladwell uses to emphasize the importance of opportunity is Bill Gates. While in 8th grade, Bill Gates’s school “put three thousand dollars into a computer terminal” (51) even though “most colleges didn’t have computer clubs in the 1960s” (51). This small detail is extremely important in developing Gladwell’s argument as it highlights how incredibly far ahead Bill Gates was from an early age due to luck. The emphasis on “colleges” also accentuates Bill Gate’s advantage over people in higher levels of education. Due to him learning what most people would only learn years later on in life, he is now been put on a course that is far ahead of his peers. Furthermore, Gladwell also points out how financial capabilities affected Bill Gate’s prospects for success. This is illustrated when Gladwell explains that Bill Gate’s “father was a wealthy lawyer in Seattle” and that “his mother was the daughter of a well-to-do banker” (50). Being raised in the upper class gave Gate’s access to excellent education and opportunities, allowing him to be able to pursue and develop any skill of his choosing. Due to him being given the time and resources to dedicate himself to a particular field, the likelihood of him becoming successful was heavily favored, highlighting how both beneficial and destructive financial status is. Overall, Gladwell purposefully uses allusions