Saturday, January 23, 2010

Outlier Example

OK so I am a big Neil Peart fan and a bit of a drum geek but having heard Neil speak and his story it is an excellent example of Malcolm Gladwell's 10,000 hr rule in his Outlier book. (I have linked to my favorite solo of his on Youtube for my pleasure as much as yours)

In my opinion Neil is probably the greatest drummer in the world, if you disagree thats OK as long as you can acknowledge that he is one of the best at his craft. Neil started as a kid (pre-ten years old) laying magazines out on his bed, listening to music and beating the covers the magazines. At 10 he got a drum pad (not a set) and practiced on the pad. As an early teen every spare moment was spent on a second hand drum set. Playing along with songs he liked, making up new stuff, trying stuff he hadn't seen done before and being creative...innovating (even though he didn't see it that way at 14). Neil played in bands and played solo's eventually forming the band Rush continually driving himself to do more, get better, push the envelope.

The interesting thing that most people who are true outliers will understand is that he did this not just because he was driven to be the best (although that was 'a' factor). He did it because he LOVED IT! Whether it is Gladwell or Vaynerchuk or any of the other experts it is obvious to all that everyone should be looking to match what they LOVE doing with what they get paid to do.

The formula looks like this:

The more you love something the more you are prepared to do it, the better you get at it, the more people will find you and ask you/pay you to do it for them, the more fulfilled and happy you will feel and the better person you will be for all your loved ones.

Find your passion, follow it, work hard at it.

Are you? If not, make a change. Don't say you can't afford to...be practical about planning the swith but...can you afford not to?

Posted via web from Paul's posterous

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