A pretty fascinating discussion on GPS this morning with the authors of this book:
The married couple, while in Harvard Law School, noticed that certain groups, both ethnic and religious, seemed to do much better in the school, disproportionate to the population. The three they noticed were a) Asian-americans, b) mormons, and c) Nigerians. Upon graduation they got a grant and started a study trying to find out why, or if there were similarities between these three that gave them the leg-up; there were. They are:
1. A sense of Exceptionality. This can come from ethnic beliefs (Asian americans, it was fascinating to learn that first-generation Asians get about a 140-point advantage on aptitude tests against the overall average, but that advantage completely disappears in 3rd-generation Asians!), religious beliefs (mormons), or achievement beliefs (Nigerians in American law schools come from extremely successful families)
2. A sense of Insecurity. This kinda seems to negate #1 and they didn't spend hardly any time on it, and
3. Strength in Delayed Gratification, the ability to hold back, and waiting for what's important. They cited an unusual study that took place over 30 years ago, and just recently came to an end. A scientist tested many children, setting a marshmallow in front of them and telling them, "If you can wait 15 minutes before eating this marshmallow, you will get a second one!" They were then left alone. Some kids could wait, and some couldn't. That scientist decided to track those kids over the years, and almost to a person, the ones that could wait were noticeably more successful in later life.
The authors said that all three of the above conditions must be met to make a real difference; and their book discusses that these traits CAN be learned. I've added it to my Basket, sounds like a fascinating read.
The married couple, while in Harvard Law School, noticed that certain groups, both ethnic and religious, seemed to do much better in the school, disproportionate to the population. The three they noticed were a) Asian-americans, b) mormons, and c) Nigerians. Upon graduation they got a grant and started a study trying to find out why, or if there were similarities between these three that gave them the leg-up; there were. They are:
1. A sense of Exceptionality. This can come from ethnic beliefs (Asian americans, it was fascinating to learn that first-generation Asians get about a 140-point advantage on aptitude tests against the overall average, but that advantage completely disappears in 3rd-generation Asians!), religious beliefs (mormons), or achievement beliefs (Nigerians in American law schools come from extremely successful families)
2. A sense of Insecurity. This kinda seems to negate #1 and they didn't spend hardly any time on it, and
3. Strength in Delayed Gratification, the ability to hold back, and waiting for what's important. They cited an unusual study that took place over 30 years ago, and just recently came to an end. A scientist tested many children, setting a marshmallow in front of them and telling them, "If you can wait 15 minutes before eating this marshmallow, you will get a second one!" They were then left alone. Some kids could wait, and some couldn't. That scientist decided to track those kids over the years, and almost to a person, the ones that could wait were noticeably more successful in later life.
The authors said that all three of the above conditions must be met to make a real difference; and their book discusses that these traits CAN be learned. I've added it to my Basket, sounds like a fascinating read.
(The takeaway from Gladwell is that self-made success is pretty much BS; that in almost every case imaginable (from Bill gates to NHL all-stars) "success" is the result of numerous specific factors (dates, ethnicity, locales, etc.) that form the perfect success storm.)
