The Outliers by Gladwell - Research Paper Example

? Helping People: From the Individual to the Organization Introduction In the world of today, each one of us is so busy in our lives that we hardly ever get the time to sit back and evaluate the proceedings of the day gone by. We never make an effort to find out if we have pleased someone or made someone’s life easier or if we have caused trouble for someone. This however, is very important for one’s personal growth. Unless we will evaluate our progress of the day, we will never improve. We are sent in the world to be a blessing for others and to make our lives and the lives of everyone around us much better and cherished. We should help ourselves most importantly. But the question arises that how can one help himself? Research has proven that people who help themselves by invoking positivity in their attitude and general outlook to life and usually more successful. One can help himself by making wise, thoughtful decisions instead of making spontaneous, emotion-driven ones. This will help instill positivity in actions and as actions speak louder than words, there would be positivity everywhere. One can help others physically, by removing obstacles from the road, helping the underprivileged by ensuring shelter and food for them, reading out news to the old and helping them with their chores. These things may seem meek and too little but if each one of us starts doing these the world will be a much better place soon. What Gladwell believes… Gladwell’s book “The Outliers” is a master piece. It tells how the extra ordinary distinguish themselves from the ordinary. We all want to excel in life but too few of us struggle for excellence. We want our path to excellence to be an easy one; very few of us want to burn midnight fuel to prosper. We assume God will keep sending us large bags of goodies no matter what hence eliminating the fervor to struggle. However, those who want to make it big someday would always go beyond the traditional limits. They would surpass their standards for standards that are much higher. The most beautiful of Gladwell’s concept is that of helping others. He does not consider those people extraordinary who reach excellence by pulling other people’s legs. In fact, he believes such excellence is short lived. True excellence can be obtained when a person helps himself by working harder than ever. He should be willing to give up the pleasures of life and live a life which is much harder but eventually, more paying. Gladwell believes that a truly extra ordinary person would always take the flock with him. He would never fly alone but would help all those around him to prosper too. He would see his success as a combined success of all those working with him. He will always appreciate and acknowledge other people and accept their share in his success. Nobody would have gone to the moon or nobody would have cured all the different diseases that existed had people been working alone. It is always the group effort that pays off. Hence Gladwell promotes the message of helping oneself and those around one to succeed. Ellerman Contradicts Gladwell Ellerman (2006), however seems to disapprove of Gladwell’s point of view. He takes the debate in the political and financial regime and says that he believes that the World Bank has not supported the under developed nations by giving them heaps of aid but has crumpled their own ability to earn that money. He believes that helping someone further deteriorates that person’s capability to struggle for it. Of course, a meal in the plate is easier to eat than the meal that’s left for one to cook and eat. Ellerman (2006) is of the opinion that the many development assistance agencies that exist are just cutting down on the capacity of people to help themselves. Contradicting Gladwell , who believes that helping the society is the best of all virtues to succeed, Ellerman (2006) proposes that there should be a sudden, drastic reduction in development assistance for the nations to prosper on their own. Once a beggar, always a beggar is Ellerman’s contradictory motto. However, Ellerman does recognize that helping individuals may make them better off but he regards this to be a short lived phenomenon. He believes that true success can be achieved by helping others in a way that in indirect so that others may maintain their autonomy and can own what they have. Although Gladwell and Ellerman seem to think differently, both agree on helping oneself. Gladwell goes on with supporting the concept of helping others while Ellerman discourages that. Morsch speaks along the lines of Gladwell… Morsch (2006) believes that every human, in any sphere of life, be it a five year old child, a house keeper, a banker or a ruler; can help make the lives of others much simpler and worth living for. Morsch’s motto is that each of us should get on our helping shoes and spread love, care and sympathy around the world. He gives great examples of helping others in times of need, such as the relief funds that were arranged around the globe after Hurricane Katrina and the ongoing relief efforts in Afghanistan. Morsch believes that being mortals, every man should feel responsible of doing his share of good in the world. Without that, his life is meaningless. Hence, Morsch supports Gladwell’s view of making life easier for others. Nelson agrees with Gladwell Like Gladwell (2008), Nelson (1997) also uses a lot of examples in his text to prove that helping others helps achieving success eventually. Gladwell explores a very intriguing observation that Asian children always score higher on Math tests than kids from other ethnicities. He relates this to the persistence of the laborers working in Asian fields who plough the fields, sow the seeds, water the crops and harvest them-all this using their hands and minimal machinery. Gladwell asserts that this does not mean that a rice growing heritage gives the Asian students an edge over other students but it is basically their own persistence and determination that helps them succeed. While other students would sit back if they find percentages or ratios difficult, an Asian student is more likely to keep struggling with it till he is confident. Also, Gladwell states that no professional athlete, no rock star and no software billionaire make it so high alone. Every successful man is supported and helped by many others hence it is not a higher IQ alone that guarantees greater success. Nelson (1997) agrees with Gladwell’s point of view completely and in a very touching way, puts forward a story for the reader that signifies that one can only succeed if he lets go of his selfish motives and secret desires and instead works for the benefit of all. Nelson believes that no society can prosper if its inhabitants will work for personal growth only. It is much more important to look at the bigger picture. However, at the same time, one should also help himself and not lose his identity in the group. Just like it is said that a painting is more than the sum of its pieces, for example a meadow alone is flowers, trees and the sun shining bright rays but when put together, there is magic. Nelson put forwards Gladwell’s point of view in a very emotional coating. Gladwell states his point straight and upfront where as Nelson states the same in a very emotion driven way. Nonetheless both pieces of work successfully deliver the message of helping oneself and the community. Conclusion The world around us needs us. There are many people without the access of clean drinking water, many more without shelter over their heads and even more without decent clothing. There are millions of innocents dying every day of pointless wars and invasions. There are lots of people committing suicide because of helplessness and destitute. Instead of mocking at them or pitying them from far, it is time that the world stands together like a single force against the wrong doers and the unjust law upholders. We all have two options, the first one being, thinking about oneself only and struggling to live peacefully despite the injustice and lack of tranquility that surrounds. The second option is a much wiser one, it is to identify what is keeping the world at such a difficult position. It is to realize that the tortured souls in Afghanistan and Iraq are also humans, it is time to embrace them and help them with their troubles. Calling someone a terrorist and shooting them in their heads would not end the problem. It is time to re-evaluate norms, ethics and values and to reconsider helping people who are suffering from hard times. However, in the struggle for combined growth, true success lies in taking personal growth hand in hand. References: Gladwell, M. (2008). Outliers: The Story of Success. Little, Brown and Company. Ellerman, D. (2006). Helping People Help Themselves. University of Michigan Press. Morsch, G. & Nelson, D. (2006). The Power of Serving Others: You can Start Where You Are. Berrett-Koehler Publishers. Nelson, D. & Morsch, G. (1997). Heart and Soul: Awakening Your Passion to Serve. Beacon Hill Press. Read More