Global leaders representing over 60 countries came together under one roof at the Lincoln Center in New York City to celebrate the launch and momentum of the new Colliers International. With 450+ clients and Collier International executives in attendance, best-selling author Malcolm Gladwell shared the common characteristics found amongst highly successful and creative individuals and organizations.Using the long-running career of Fleetwood Mac as an example, Gladwell began to demystify the magic of “overnight” success. Truth be told, it took the band 10 years and 15 albums before they made it big. This is no surprise to Gladwell who states that true innovative breakthroughs take time. Often the recognition of success is void of any acknowledgment of effort. Success and innovation are the fruit of experience and hard work.
So what can we learn from those who turn the ordinary into extraordinary? There are three key lessons:
1) Success takes effort and hard work. It doesn’t happen overnight.
When looking at highly successful and creative people, it takes hard work. On average, it takes about 10,000 hours of focus, commitment and hard work, or approximately 10 years, before one has a major breakthrough.
2) Learning through adversity is better than a capitalization strategy.
The success of highly motivated and creative people is closely aligned with learning through adversity. Studies show that those with access to resources have different learning experiences than people who experience adversity, or a life of hardship, because they are hungrier therefore they work harder.
3) You have to take risks in pursuit of something bold and innovative.
Pursuing something bold and innovative involves risk. It could call into question one’s ethics, popularity, reputation.
So what is the alchemy that separates good organizations from bad? Gladwell believes the foundation of great organizations is based on the commitment to back talented people with characteristics similar to those listed above. Firms with the institutional attitude to recognize this kind of success will rise above all others.
