The Matthew Effect
No One Formula for Success
A Review of the Matthew Effect
Lorri Thompson
Lone Star Community College
Abstract
In The Matthew Effect chapter of Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell states that a person’s success s attributed to the timing of their birth date as it relates to the cut-off dates of sports and education. He believes that this one random date is the start of a series of advantages that can ultimately lead to success. Although timing of a birth date and opportunities can play a significant factor in one’s success, they are not the sole determination of success. Gladwell fails to acknowledge the vital role an individual’s ambition and natural born talent play in creating success or the crucial impact family influences can have on one’s success.
Over-Simplified
Since Biblical times, groups of people were separated by the haves and the have not’s. Matthew 25:29 states “For unto everyone that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance. But from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.” (Gladwell, 2008, p. 15) In chapter 1, of the Outliers (2008), Malcolm Gladwell has a similar argument in “The Matthew Effect”. He argues that personal success is attributed to hidden advantages, such as someone’s birth date, which in turn, creates opportunity through accumulative advantages. (pg. 19) Gladwell calls these successful people “outliers” which he defines as “men and women who do things that are out of the ordinary” (pg. 17). Although timing of a birth date and opportunities play a significant factor in one’s success, Gladwell’s theory that those are the sole determination of success is over simplified because it does not take into consideration the impact of one’s individual ambition, talent, and family influences.
Ambition In Outliers, Gladwell states that “people don’t rise from nothing” (pg. 19) and completely discounts the role an individual’s ambition plays in achieving success. When a
A Review of the Matthew Effect
Lorri Thompson
Lone Star Community College
Abstract
In The Matthew Effect chapter of Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell states that a person’s success s attributed to the timing of their birth date as it relates to the cut-off dates of sports and education. He believes that this one random date is the start of a series of advantages that can ultimately lead to success. Although timing of a birth date and opportunities can play a significant factor in one’s success, they are not the sole determination of success. Gladwell fails to acknowledge the vital role an individual’s ambition and natural born talent play in creating success or the crucial impact family influences can have on one’s success.
Over-Simplified
Since Biblical times, groups of people were separated by the haves and the have not’s. Matthew 25:29 states “For unto everyone that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance. But from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.” (Gladwell, 2008, p. 15) In chapter 1, of the Outliers (2008), Malcolm Gladwell has a similar argument in “The Matthew Effect”. He argues that personal success is attributed to hidden advantages, such as someone’s birth date, which in turn, creates opportunity through accumulative advantages. (pg. 19) Gladwell calls these successful people “outliers” which he defines as “men and women who do things that are out of the ordinary” (pg. 17). Although timing of a birth date and opportunities play a significant factor in one’s success, Gladwell’s theory that those are the sole determination of success is over simplified because it does not take into consideration the impact of one’s individual ambition, talent, and family influences.
Ambition In Outliers, Gladwell states that “people don’t rise from nothing” (pg. 19) and completely discounts the role an individual’s ambition plays in achieving success. When a
References: Gladwell, Malcolm. Outliers, The Story of Success. New York City: Little, Brown and Company, 2008. 15-34. Print.