What Factors Most Determine Success?

When it comes to the topic of success, most of us will readily agree that there are various ways to define success. Whereas this agreement usually ends, however, is on the question of what factors most determine success. Whereas some are convinced that “The Triple Package” is essential, others maintain that there are many factors that determine success. Malcolm Gladwell states numerous examples of what can bring on success. Some of these factors are culture, luck, and practice. Another point of view is in his book “Outliers,” Gladwell writes “When outliers become outliers it is not because of their own efforts. It’s because of the contributions of lots of different people and lots of different circumstances, and that means we, as a society, have more control about who succeeds - and how many of us succeed – than we think.” (pg. 7-8; Reading Group Guide) is what composes long-term success. I personally believe that success is brought upon by culture, luck, and hard work.

In their recent work, Amy Chua and Jed Rubenfeld have offered harsh critiques of what factors they believe is required for success. In their article, “What Drives Success?” Chua and Rubenfeld explain to their readers that they believe “The Triple Package” is a requirement for a person to become successful. The triple package includes superiority complex, insecurity, and impulse control. They explain this in more detail by saying superiority complex is “a deep-seated belief in their exceptionality. The second appears to be the opposite- insecurity, a feeling that you or what you’ve done is not good enough. The third is impulse control- the ability to resist temptation.” (pg. 3; What Drives Success?) Chua and Rubenfeld state, “In isolation, each of these three qual...

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.... In the chapter, “The 10,000 Hour Rule” he talks about how the Beatles became such outstanding musicians. The reasoning behind it is all the time they put into practicing. “Practice isn't the thing you do once your good. It's the thing you do that makes you good.” (pg. 42) He repeatedly mentions “The 10,000 Hour Rule”, claiming it is the key to success.

In conclusion, as I compare and contrast my ideas of success to Malcolm Gladwell and Amy Chua and Jed Rubenfeld's idea of success I found that there are more similarities than differences. Therefore, success can be ascertained by many different factors, it all comes down to the individual striving for it.

Works Cited

Gladwell, Malcolm. Outliers: The Story of Success. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2008. Book.

Chua, Amy, and Rubenfeld, Jed. “What Drives Success.” The New York Times Jan. 25, 2014: Print.