Redefining Success: Why Outrageous Success Is More Than You Think

Every generation has that one person who seems to just “get it right”. They create this never-before-seen product, system, or whatever it is (like a pet rock, how dumb?) that hurdles humanity further down the road of advancement. Bill Gates with computers and Microsoft, Elon Musk with Tesla, or even Joe Flom who created a whole stereotype about Jewish Lawyers because of his success. They reach levels of accomplishment only storybook heroes can achieve. But how? And why? What’s the secret? There’s got to be something special about them. Well, maybe. But, maybe not in the way we, as people would expect.

                By now I’m sure you have heard something similar to “success is 50% effort and 50% luck”. But what if that percentage is more like 20% effort and 80% luck? I bet that’d take the wind right out of your sails. You’re probably thinking “What’s the point of me trying so hard if I put twice the effort for half the growth?” And I would agree with you, what is the point? What is the point of working over forty hours and skipping lunch breaks just to be passed up for a promotion you worked years towards? You could’ve spent those hours with your family or done something different. You could’ve started a new hobby or invented something yourself! What did Bill Gates or Joe Flom do differently? Nothing. They were the outliers.

Malcolm Gladwell dives deep into all the compelling and circumstantial evidence-based examples to support the idea that sheer timing, place of birth, and family culture play a bigger role in how successful we are. Roseto, Pennsylvania is where we start our story. This small town, in a world of its own, had no suicides, no high cholesterol, and no heart disease. When tracing all the families back to the southern region of Foggia, Italy it was like nothing changed, not even the dialect. No one went hungry, no one became lonely, and no one developed any ailments so easily found in the next towns over. What was the secret to the success of everyone’s health? Culture.

Of the top 74 richest people in history stretching back to the pharaohs, 42 are Americans; 14 are born within nine years of each other. A single generation. This generation welcomed the railroad system, and we still hear some of their names: Rockefeller, Carnegie, and J.P Morgan. The timing of their births allowed them to capitalize on the railroad and become national icons. If they had been born so much as two years later, their success stories may not have made the history books. What was the secret to history-book success? Timing of their birth.

But let’s talk about Mr. 37 on this list: Bill Gates. He just so HAPPENED to live within biking distance of The University of Washington where his best friend’s mom just so HAPPENED to oversee the computer room that was not so easily accessible to the public. What’s the secret to his successful technological revolution? Place of birth.

                I have to say, as someone who has experienced an average level of success in my life, this theory brings a lot of comfort to me. The myopic viewpoint of success only being measured by “how far you go in your career” is a condescending, superficial, and fellatio-pleasing poppycock message that should never be the center of someone’s life. Society tells us that we “[you] always want more, get more and it will make you [we] happy”. Although 2 of the 3 examples I pulled from the book are wealth-based, Gladwell presents all kinds of examples to strengthen his theory.

                I believe this book should be required for school reading to open the eyes of young aspiring adults freshly stepping out into the world on their own. And be required to read WELL before any talk about college from counselors saying, “You will only be successful if you go to college”. Based on what criteria may I ask Mr./Ms. Counselor; yours or mine? I do say this as someone who is actively pursuing a Master’s Degree and am very happy to do so, but I am also in the STEM field. I cannot recommend this book enough.

                While you are reading, I suggest pairing this book with a wine that invokes the same feeling of curiosity for understanding success and what it means to you. Something that matches the heightened sense of awareness and need for more knowledge but keeps you grounded and centered on the vine. A to Z Pino Gris gives this exact feeling. The strong honeydew and cantaloupe flavor right off the bat carries most of the palette through the bottle’s story. While classically referred to as a fruity flavor, I categorize it as an “earth fruit” flavor: meaning it’s sweet but understated. It tastes like it’s still growing; it tastes like it's blooming. Perfectly reflecting your blooming knowledge of growth and development in how you define success.

                Fun Fact 101: Pino Gris is the French cousin of Pino Grigio. So, if you want to pair this wine but can’t find Pino Gris on the shelf, substitute it with Pino Grigio!

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