Logos
To be successful, one must've had others to help guide them, an opportunity to succeed, and the willingness to practice. Gladwell proves his thesis by providing examples of the lives of the successful and what made them thrive. Bill Gates received an opportunity when he was young as he was able to use a computer by his choosing because he came from a wealthy family who strode to give him the gift of technology. Gates went to Lakeside, a private school who started a computer club. At his school, the "Mother's Club" would make rummage sales to raise money for their school and they would have so much leftover money that the rest was donated to the computer club. Well, three thousand dollars that is, which Bill Gates said was "an amazing thing" since that this took place during the early 1960's. By 1968, he got to do "real time programming as an eighth grader." He spent hours upon hours of his time in the computer room that before long he became an expert at computer programming. That's where the willingnesss to practice comes into play. Because he spent "programming practically nonstop for seven consecutive years" he exeeded the "10,000 hour rule" which states that in order to be successful at something, one must practice for at least ten-thousand hours. So Bill Gates had two very important advantages for being successful; one, he was given the opportunity through wealth and school; and two, he practiced computer programming almost everyday which gave him the hours to be an expert. Bill Gates isn't the only example of practice. The Beatles exceeded their ten-thousand hour limit too when they played almost all night and every night in a stripclub in Hamburg, Germany. John Lennon said that he, "got better and more confidence as we couldn't help it with the experience of playing all night long." He also said that "we had to play eight hours a night, so we really had to find a new way of playing." Bill Gates and The Beatles became experts overtime just by doing what they loved. Even though practice and opportunity are ways of promoting success, it wouldn't make a difference when flying an airplane. When flying an airplane, someone could have the long hours of learning how to fly, and received the right education to fly but when it comes down to the pilot and co-pilot's communication, that's key for the full success of a flight. There is a reason why the pilot is not by himself when flying a plane. A pilot who is in a bad situation needs the advice or opinion of an equally imformed individual so a quick effective decision can be made. But when help or communication from both pilot and co-pilot lacks, it can be chaotic. Gladwell says, “The kinds of errors that cause plane crashes are invariably errors of teamwork and communication.” So in order to be successful, help and communication is crucial as with practice and opportunity.