Last Saturday, I realized how a small number of individuals can cause a great amount of change. Malcolm Gladwell states is his book "The Tipping Point" that a select few are responsible for driving [an] epidemic forward.(p.233)" This theory is not only true for tipping massive epidemics that spread throughout the country, but it is also true when it comes to causing change within a single person.
For example, on occasions I like to consume alcoholic beverages. My beverage of choice is Hennessy straight or with a dab of water mixed in. Last weekend while pouring my drink, I asked myself, how did I start drinking this? I quickly thought of my initial drinking experiences and found the answer directly related to Gladwell's example of how a few people caused most smokers to take their first puff. I didn't start drinking Hennessy because it was the coolest and tastiest drink. I started drinking Hennessy because those cool, influential people in my life drank Hennessy. This is a prime example of the law of few and how it can be directly related to influencing change in one person.
Brandon, I love how you applied a real-world situation to "The Tipping Point." Your honesty is admirable. Drinking alcohol seems like it could be tied to the Power of Context as well. If everyone around you is drinking alcohol their reactions from it will either deter you from drinking or provoke you to engage. Nevertheless, a small significant few people have an enormous impact on you, I and not to mention the rest of the world.
ReplyDeleteBrandon,
ReplyDeleteOne time for admitting that your drinking habits were influence by “cool-influential” people. Many struggle with admitting that their actions are influence by others. We tend to let our pride and egos get in the way when it comes to why we make the decision we make.
I believe that there are numerous things we do that are greatly influenced by Gladwell’s law of few as well as the power of context. Your drinking habit you have adopted may be influence by an influential person in your life or it may be influenced by habits of others you have been around and your environment. Nevertheless, Gladwell does an awesome job opening his reader’s eye to why they do the things we do.
I really laughed out loud to this! I thought about that too! I tend to stray toward Hennessy and/or some type of top-shelf tequila. I realized that while I was growing up the local rappers swore by Hennessy and 1800/Jose Cuervo so that's what everyone I was around used to drink. When I started drinking, I naturally went to those types of liquor. Hennessy isn't the coolest or best-tasting drink and neither is tequila, but people at home drink them because "cool" people endorsed them.
ReplyDeleteI guess we are influenced whether we realize it or not.
This is neat, my favorite drinking was influenced by a few people that I know. I also read "he Tippinf Point," so does this mean you along with other people were influenced, and are now straight Hennessy drinkers?
ReplyDeleteHa! As Yelena mentioned I definitely laughed out loud when I read this post. I also said to myself, "Yep, that sounds just like Brandon". Cudos for being able to take context from the book, make it conversational and keep your personalitiy present in the process :) Also in reference to "The Tipping Point" it's interesting to analyze these concepts and apply them to real situations. We see trends in social behavior, fashion, music and much more. Eveyone is doing what is popular....common. Who is setting these trends? The "few" are and the masses are following.
ReplyDelete