Comments on: “Best” = Interesting or Useful? http://personalmba.com/best-interesting-or-useful/ Helping You Learn Essential Business Principles Without Mortgaging Your Life Mon, 15 Mar 2010 12:13:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Oz http://personalmba.com/best-interesting-or-useful/comment-page-1/#comment-405 Oz Mon, 19 Jan 2009 04:33:45 +0000 http://personalmba.com/?p=276#comment-405 I get your point. Gladwell did not set out to write an how to book. I believe he has achieved his aim. I also think that saying you have not used any concept garnered from Gladwell's book might be a stretch. I am still a fan anyway. I am slowly plowing through your list of books. I get your point. Gladwell did not set out to write an how to book. I believe he has achieved his aim. I also think that saying you have not used any concept garnered from Gladwell’s book might be a stretch. I am still a fan anyway. I am slowly plowing through your list of books.

]]> By: Josh Kaufman http://personalmba.com/best-interesting-or-useful/comment-page-1/#comment-404 Josh Kaufman Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:52:41 +0000 http://personalmba.com/?p=276#comment-404 Glen - thanks for your thoughtful comment; I appreciate it. A clarification: Gladwell does present a few useful concepts in his writing, which you mentioned. The difference is primarily focus: Gladwell presents the concepts primarily to tell an interesting story, not to teach the reader how to work differently. Practical applications are largely an afterthought. In my opinion, you can learn the same practical concepts much more quickly and effectively by reading books like "Made to Stick" and "The 80/20 Principle," which teach the reader *how to use* the concepts Gladwell mentions in his work. My inclination is to recommend these types of books to PMBA readers, since the intent of this site is to help people maximize their educational return on time invested. Hope this helps! Glen – thanks for your thoughtful comment; I appreciate it.

A clarification: Gladwell does present a few useful concepts in his writing, which you mentioned. The difference is primarily focus: Gladwell presents the concepts primarily to tell an interesting story, not to teach the reader how to work differently. Practical applications are largely an afterthought.

In my opinion, you can learn the same practical concepts much more quickly and effectively by reading books like “Made to Stick” and “The 80/20 Principle,” which teach the reader *how to use* the concepts Gladwell mentions in his work. My inclination is to recommend these types of books to PMBA readers, since the intent of this site is to help people maximize their educational return on time invested. Hope this helps!

]]> By: Jill Anderson http://personalmba.com/best-interesting-or-useful/comment-page-1/#comment-403 Jill Anderson Wed, 14 Jan 2009 02:29:14 +0000 http://personalmba.com/?p=276#comment-403 I enjoyed reading your assessment Malcolm. Actually, I really enjoyed the fully belly laugh I had while reading. Personally I am a big fan of Seth Godin (both his blog and books(Tribes, the Dip, Purple Cow, etc...))....He provides real value -- not a candy bar. Cheers, Jill I enjoyed reading your assessment Malcolm. Actually, I really enjoyed the fully belly laugh I had while reading. Personally I am a big fan of Seth Godin (both his blog and books(Tribes, the Dip, Purple Cow, etc…))….He provides real value — not a candy bar. Cheers, Jill

]]> By: Glen Taylor http://personalmba.com/best-interesting-or-useful/comment-page-1/#comment-402 Glen Taylor Wed, 24 Dec 2008 00:27:53 +0000 http://personalmba.com/?p=276#comment-402 I respectfully disagree with your conclusions as to the usefulness of Malcolm Gladwell’s works. In particular, I want to demonstrate the usefulness I found in the ideas explained within Galdwell’s The Tipping Point. In the book Gladwell describes three major elements that can lead to a word-of-mouth contagious result 1) the law of the few, 2) the quality of the message, and 3) the context of the message. Here is how I utilize these principles in my work as a Director of Information Systems. First, with regard to the law of the few, Gladwell describes the powerful factor that people he calls connectors, mavens and salesmen have on how quickly and effectively a message can be spread. In my work I have taken this principle and identified the people within my organization that have these attributes in order to more effectively get my department's viewpoints out across the organization. People tend to listen to these people more intently than they would listen to the ‘IT’ staff members. Second, Gladwell’s concept of the quality of the message is imperative for change. The ‘stickiness’ of the message is the difference between a dry technical announcement about a new technology rollout and an intriguing message about a new feature presented in terms that the end-user can relate to. Finally, the context of the message is also imperative in my field. I have discovered that if I create training opportunities that are lead by my IT staff alone there is far less positive response than if I pair my IT staff with members of the administrative assistants on staff. This makes for a positive paradigm whereby the context of the message is much closer to the end-users’ paradigms. I agree with your conclusion that we should seek books that provide usefulness. However, I disagree with the example of Gladwell’s works as the vehicle to prove your parable. I respectfully disagree with your conclusions as to the usefulness of Malcolm Gladwell’s works. In particular, I want to demonstrate the usefulness I found in the ideas explained within Galdwell’s The Tipping Point. In the book Gladwell describes three major elements that can lead to a word-of-mouth contagious result 1) the law of the few, 2) the quality of the message, and 3) the context of the message. Here is how I utilize these principles in my work as a Director of Information Systems. First, with regard to the law of the few, Gladwell describes the powerful factor that people he calls connectors, mavens and salesmen have on how quickly and effectively a message can be spread. In my work I have taken this principle and identified the people within my organization that have these attributes in order to more effectively get my department’s viewpoints out across the organization. People tend to listen to these people more intently than they would listen to the ‘IT’ staff members. Second, Gladwell’s concept of the quality of the message is imperative for change. The ‘stickiness’ of the message is the difference between a dry technical announcement about a new technology rollout and an intriguing message about a new feature presented in terms that the end-user can relate to. Finally, the context of the message is also imperative in my field. I have discovered that if I create training opportunities that are lead by my IT staff alone there is far less positive response than if I pair my IT staff with members of the administrative assistants on staff. This makes for a positive paradigm whereby the context of the message is much closer to the end-users’ paradigms. I agree with your conclusion that we should seek books that provide usefulness. However, I disagree with the example of Gladwell’s works as the vehicle to prove your parable.

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