Weekly work...
These are time sensitive. You do not receive credit if you write them after the deadline each week.First, there's a blog entry (about 250 words) which will have you respond to a hopefully thought-provoking question. Each week, you must do the blog entry with enough time left in the week to be able to enter into dialogue online with your classmates. Write, reply, write more, reply more, and then write and reply more.Second, there's a reading. There’s no blog entry associated with this. Just read.Third, there's a written response to the reading. Your reading and writing on the blog must be completed by the SATURDAY (by midnight) of the week in which the reading falls. This entry should be a long paragraph. YOU DO NOT NEED TO RESPOND TO OTHER STUDENTS' PART THREE EACH WEEK.'
WEEK EIGHT WRITING ABOUT WHAT YOU READ
What do you think of
The Tipping Point thus far?
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ReplyDeleteI did not know what the book was about or how it is going to turn out. It is hard to sit down and read a novel, because of life being so busy. When I first started reading the book, The Tipping Point, I could not put the book down. From the first few pages, it talked about how the Hush Puppies became a boom in the shoe business. It all started out a simple shoe, then many people started to notice and hear from others of how great of a shoe they were. Malcolm Gladwell brought it out as, "little changes had big effects." Throughout the book, he continues to use examples of how the smallest rumor or advertising sign can lure people in to buying a product or marking a time in our History books. Paul Revere became an important historical person because he told his acquaintances and friends about how the British were coming soon. The word-of-mouth epidemic still has that same impact today. A small piece of information can travel far to expanding businesses, restaurants, or marking important events in History. I have enjoyed reading it thus far and hope to finish reading it soon!
ReplyDeleteI enjoy the book, as its one that should be read slowly and I’m no stranger to the 80/20 rules. I’ve seen it in many different companies, from manufacturing to health care. You come to accept that. Now, can those few make all the difference in a company’s success, no. But, those few have influence others do not have. I think that’s what the tipping point hints at. The few can influence the many, make changes in television programming, set fashions styles, and have a network of friends to tell/share photo’s/get seen doing it all. I think it's very interesting how a small few can influence so many. Brands for instance. Aside from an items name, only its durability and cost should be the concerns of purchase. People who have influence can upset that scheme or promote it. For example coffee, when made it’s black, has a bit of flavor, but all ,will do the job in the end. Therefore, it’s cheaper to buy it black and then dress it up afterwards and not have a barista do it. If, I was one of the few that may catch on after awhile, as my friends and co-workers see me do it. Wouldn’t that be a great thing though? I’m reading it and trying to place me in one of the categories. It’s a difficult thing to do. I think the most interesting to me is how they worked out the successful format for sesame street. Those researchers, to go into the classroom setting and having to watch each kids reactions, so simple, and yet made huge differences to the program success. But, then you have the shoes rebound just by chance. It’s madding. I love it. I’m chanting the few, the stickiness, and the context.
ReplyDeleteIf the formulas right, then we should be able to use it in any company framework. I’ll give it a shot.
From what I have read so far, The Tipping Point , written by Malcolm Gladwell, has been a rather interesting and informative read. To me, the overall theme was about how the few can influence the many. From the beginning of the book, Gladwell talked about how the Hush Puppies, a type of shoe, became a sudden hit because of gossip spreading about how great the show was. This trend continued throughout the book with examples of rumors spreading awareness. One that stood out to me was the one involving Paul Revere. By controlling word-of-mouth epidemics, he managed to warn his friends and acquaintances on time about the british invasion. I believe this would still have a similar impact today because even the smallest piece of information can influence many. Another trend found in the book was advertisment signs luring people into purchasing certain products. This reminded me about how brand names play a big role in what we purchase. Instead of focusing on cost, usefulness or durability, our main concern is usually the brand of the product. This has been an enjoyable read thus far, and will aim to finish it soon.
ReplyDeleteI did not know what to expect when I first started reading The Tipping Point. Well, to be honest I expected it to be a boring book about business, but after getting past the first chapter I found it fascinating to see examples of how small things can have such huge impacts. I had never really given much thought to fashion trends and other social ideas being related to epidemics, but this book made a very convincing argument. When one person is able to "infect" four people with an idea and then those four people "infect" four more and those people do the same, you are already at 64 people. It is amazing how fast it can grow after that! That is what I believe that author was saying is the essence of the "tipping point." Once something gets big enough, it seems to spread like wild fire. However, out of all the good arguments in the book, my favorite page was when the author was talking about how contagious yawns were. I tried so hard not to yawn was I was reading it, but after the he used the word yawn the third or fourth time it was inevitable. There was no one sitting around me or I would have tested the theory and looked up to see if anyone else was yawning! I am even yawning now just thinking about it! I know that part of my comment was a bit off topic, but I just had to share my favorite part of the book so far with everyone!
ReplyDeleteWhen I read the summary, I thought the book would be fairly interesting. I'd always been curious about how something suddenly becomes popular or how something that used to be popular many years ago would become popular again. I haven't gotten that far into the book due to a busy schedule at the end of the school year, but it's been fairly interesting read thus far. It's amazing to me that a small group or individuals can create a trend that can spread so quickly. It started out with the shoes called Hush Puppies, and I had never heard about them. I actually looked them up so I could have a mental image in my head when I began this book. After looking them up, I realized I actually had shoes that were the same style as what they sold. It's amazing to me that even I have been affected from this as well, and I had never known the backstory. Malcolm Gladwell seems to expand on this same idea and similar stories the deeper you go into the book. I'm excited about what lies ahead. Can't wait to find the time to really get into it.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading The Tipping Point, I have realized that things don’t always seem the way they’re supposed to. One of the things that the author mentions is that popular things don’t just become popular because of its interest or beauty, but rather because people find a way to connect with others by sharing the same interests. Some of the things that have become popular and fashionable are a common way for people to feel part of that trend. According to Malcolm Gladwell things that become successfully popular and important in society is due to the word of mouth of respectable individuals. These respectable individuals have a way to provide people and influence their opinion about a certain place or thing, in order for their friends to go and try the place or the thing because it's recommended by their popular friend. In a way, popular things become popular because of the word of mouth. People look into things that are not really important but because others have it, people are pressured into getting something they don’t really need, but because these so called respectable individuals recommend it, therefore, fall for the deception of major corporations and popular individuals. Another thing that I found interesting in the tipping point, is that things that become popular are greatly influenced by who and where the recommendation comes from. For example, if it’s some actor or someone famous then people will want to know what he or she likes. Therefore leading to want and have the things that famous person has or likes. This book also mentions that in order for someone to like or listen to what others might have to say, has a lot to do with the charisma and personality and this will make things to become popular and fashionable.
ReplyDeleteAt first, I did not know what to expect of this book, but so far it has me intrigued. Malcom Gladwell speaks of people who he defines as connecters, mavens, and salesmen they are the few that are responsible for spreading new ideas and trends. For example, Paul Revere and Dawes both were carrying out similar messages but Dawes message did not spread as well as Reveres. Why is it? According to Gladwell, any social epidemic is dependent on the involvement of people with a social gift. So far, the message of this book is how some people are able to connect, spread, and others cant. He is allowing us to see between the lines of the changes that occur in everyday life. By that, I mean fashion trends, growth of a company, a spread of a message, and as well as crime rates. This also reminded me off social facts According to Durkheim, social facts can be norms, values, rules, and social structures. Everything of social or cultural nature that influence an individual’s social life. For example, according to Durkheim, suicide or any choice made is dependent on society instead of the individual.
ReplyDeleteI was not sure what to expect from the Tipping Point. Once I started reading it, I became more and more interested. The book exposed the small changes that we as a community make that will impact an entire generation and sometimes become a culture phenomenon. The Tipping point lays out how we as a people ultimately drive the sales and push of the products today, mainly by word of mouth. We become walking billboards for most products by just wearing them. It taps into how in society we value certain looks that allows us to put a price on beauty. I have not gotten all the way through the book but based on what I have read I definitely see why most companies always say “The customer is always right!”
ReplyDeleteAs consumers we have the ability to make or break a product. This book opened my eyes to why it is so important for most major companies like “Sprite” to endorse celebrities. With their ability to reach so many people that exposure will ultimately become the “Tipping point” of their product. I can truly say this book has brought light to a lot of business choices, and ideas for small or big business owners. I have never been a fan of self-help books or like guides on how to do something, but this book is defiantly a book that any business owner or aspiring business owner should read. Thus far I am enjoying the Tipping point and look forward to finishing it all the way through.
I was not sure what to expect from the Tipping Point. Once I started reading it, I became more and more interested. The book exposed the small changes that we as a community make that will impact an entire generation and sometimes become a culture phenomenon. The Tipping point lays out how we as a people ultimately drive the sales and push of the products today, mainly by word of mouth. We become walking billboards for most products by just wearing them. It taps into how in society we value certain looks that allows us to put a price on beauty. I have not gotten all the way through the book but based on what I have read I definitely see why most companies always say “The customer is always right!”
ReplyDeleteAs consumers we have the ability to make or break a product. This book opened my eyes to why it is so important for most major companies like “Sprite” to endorse celebrities. With their ability to reach so many people that exposure will ultimately become the “Tipping point” of their product. I can truly say this book has brought light to a lot of business choices, and ideas for small or big business owners. I have never been a fan of self-help books or like guides on how to do something, but this book is defiantly a book that any business owner or aspiring business owner should read. Thus far I am enjoying the Tipping point and look forward to finishing it all the way through.
When I first enrolled in the class, I got excited by the opportunity that I would be reading two novels; one that I have read before, The Tortilla Curtain, and a book that my friend’s have recommended, The Tipping Point. When I started to read Malcolm Gladwell’s novel, I was very excited. However, to my disappointment, there were only some parts that were interesting. There was a lot of different stories of people’s lives which highlighted the point, but to me, it wasn’t all that fascinating. Before reading the novel, I thought that Gladwell’s book would be similar to The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene. His novel has similar structure/content that highlights specific laws to help the reader improve in a certain component.
ReplyDeleteOf the sections that were interesting, I would like to share some of the parts that I did find intriguing and that I had connected to. Gladwell talks about how people come together and become friends. He states “We’re friends with the people we do things wit, as much as we are with the people we resemble. We don’t seek out friends, in other words. We associate with the people who occupy the small, physical space as we do.” I thought that this was interesting because we don’t interview people and decide to be their friend; we usually start talking with them either in class, a store, etc. The point is, people make friends in the same space as each other. Another interesting point is the differentiation between Paul Revere and William Dawes. Gladwell states that the only reason why Revere succeeded and was able to warn his towns was because he was a “Connector.” He knew a wide range of people in different occupations and a lot of people knew him back. William Dawes however did not know as many people and was not as successful warning his towns. In other words, Gladwell states that people should be connected with a lot of various people because of the opportunities that is created.
So far The Tipping Point is pretty interesting. I thought it was going to be really a serious business or economy book but it makes a lot of great points that we all can relate to. Trends, especially in today's society, can quickly make or break a company. For example, retail. Everyone is more worried about name brand than the actual products they are purchasing. Nike can create an exceptional sole for their shoes and if Kmart used the same product, people would still buy the Nike brand for five times the price. Why? Because we want the swoosh logo of course. Once past the "tipping point" these trends become so powerful and we begin to see them as necessities. Social media and word of mouth are the most affective forms of advertisements in today’s society and can spread trends to millions in just a few hours. Companies now are also spending so much money on celebrity endorsements just trying to get their product’s name on the market. And well, it’s working. Teenage girls see Selena Gomez wearing pink Nike Free Runs, so now they need them too. Malcolm Gladwell does a good job of pointing out small everyday actions that can make such big impacts. I’m sure we have all been pleasantly surprised about how we all can relate to this book and partake in these actions without even realizing it.
ReplyDeleteSo far the book hasn't been very intriguing to me as I have read the first couple of pages. So far I have a foundation that it will be about the disease that spread. I think it's quiet unfair that the people claim it comes from the poor, because in reality disease can come from and go to anyone. A disease doesn't personally choose you based on race, gender, or income. I also read about some of the rules, but to be quiet honest I've become confused. I really have to sit down and focus 110% to this book. I hope it gets better, which I do not doubt since many of my peirs seem to enjoy it! I hope to have a better understand!
ReplyDeleteI expected The Tipping Point to be a very formal book with key points on economics and politics. I quickly learned that this book holds some ideas that are useful in everyday life. I have never been interested in fashion and commercialism, but Gladwell’s general idea that a tipping point is the “moment when an idea…crosses a threshold…and spreads like wildfire” can be used in multiple arenas.
ReplyDeleteI started thinking about the final essay questions, and I realized that this general theme can be applicable to many careers. For scientists, research can cross that threshold. As soon as a breakthrough discovery is made, other scientists are willing to learn and conduct research about this idea. For college students, it can be when one student gains an understanding of something that was said in lecture, applies it to their life, and then spreads the idea through their actions. Although this book has some pretty thick language, I definitely see how his ideas can be widespread. In fact Gladwell’s ideas may cross a tipping point of their own.
I did not know what to expect from The Tipping Point. I thought the book was about the economy and business, and was not too excited to start reading it. After struggling to read the few chapters, I thought the book was quite interesting. There are many points that in today’s society we can relate to. I thought it was really interesting reading how trends start and how items become popular. Personally, I love watching and keeping up with fashion and makeup trends. However, I had never really even wonder or thought about how these trends even start. It was really interesting seeing how items become popular or how they come back in trend after many years. I’m really looking forward to finishing the rest of the book.
ReplyDeleteI honestly did not know how I would feel about reading The Tipping Point. I have been reading a few different books this quarter and they have all been interesting reads so far. Since I was reading other books I kind of put this book to the side and decided to start reading it last week. Once I began reading the book I felt bad that I judged it by it's cover, no pun intended. I was interested in this book from the first couple pages. Next thing I knew, I was a few chapters into the book and even more hooked on to this reading. I really liked that the author decided to discuss the Hush Puppies shoes in the opening of this book as it captured my attention. I googled the shoes because I wanted to know if I had seen them before and sure enough I have. This topic really made it clear as to what this book would discuss. It really is interesting to read and take some time to think about how epidemics in our society work. In the case of the Hush Puppies, a fashion trend that seemed to have almost died, suddenly made a turn for the better. When some young adults were seen wearing these shoes at a night club then other people wanted to buy them. Eventually, well known fashion designers and stylists were also helping promote this shoe. I took some time to think about trends that I have seen lately and I thought about the waist-trainers. I thought about all the celebrities that post pictures online in these things and it makes other people think that if it makes that person look good and skinny then they will buy it too. It is safe to say that this has been a good read so far and have enjoyed thinking about things in a different perspective.
ReplyDeleteI thought the book was about the economy and business, and was not too excited to start reading it. After struggling to read the few chapters, I thought the book was quite interesting. There are many points that in today’s society we can relate to. I thought it was really interesting reading how trends start and how items become popular. Personally, I love watching and keeping up with fashion and makeup trends. However, I had never really even wonder or thought about how these trends even start. It was really interesting seeing how items become popular or how they come back in trend after many years. I am excited to keep reading the book and finding out more about how epidemics in our society work.
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