An
intriguing look at why some things snowball into popularity and why
other things, despite their merits, do not. Why some products become a
success, and others don’t manage that same success has to do with things
like “The Law of the Few” – that “word of mouth epidemics” ripple out
from a few to the wider populace because of 3 very influential groups:
Connectors, Mavens, and Salesmen. Connectors are sociable individuals
with a large network of acquaintances to apprise of a product or service
they are aware of. Maven’s are innovators or early adopters, who are
willing to try new things and pass along knowledge. Salesmen are people
with a contagious charisma who can persuade those not in the know. These
three significant and influential groups help to spread an idea to the
masses. It almost takes a perfect storm of sorts. Your idea, product or
concept has to be good, but you also need these 3 groups for it to reach
a “Tipping Point”, when it suddenly catches fire with the population at
large.
Another
concept I found intriguing was his “Rule of 150”, that the number of
people you can maintain a coherent social relationship with is about
150. He also delves into the “Stickiness Factor” and the “Power of
Context.”
He
cites quite a few examples of epidemics and how they spread. Everything
from the resurgence in popularity of HushPuppies, the rise of Sesame
Street, to crime waves.
I
like how Malcolm Gladwell examines and explains ideas that normally one
would never really consider or just totally overlook and gives the
reader a whole new appreciation of the subject.
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