The Tipping Point

Trend. Fashion. Craze. Fad. Mania. Flavor of the Month. However you want to put it. Malcolm Gladwell’s The Tipping Point offers a refreshing insight to “the latest things.” Although it was released back in 2000 (which to me, it doesn’t sound like THAT long ago, but I suppose it is) it is still just as popular and relevant today. Now, some of these trends can last what seems like forever, while others have their almost “one hit wonder” lifespan. In The Tipping Point, Gladwell proposes the idea that several factors are in play in any given trend.
Today’s world involves so much more complication than it did even 20 years and new ideas are constantly being brought up. People are thinking more and thinking about more. But, one thing that remains the same: The influence of ideas. Galdwell writes about the identity of each roll and how this effects society: AKA.. “Will it “tip” into wide-scale popularity.
This involves a few other ideas, like “The Law of the Few.” This concept allows a few highlighted must win over a product or idea before it can reach that tipping point. The way I like to think about it is, who is trying to “sell”me the idea? That could make all the success (or not).
Another important concept was the Stickiness Factor. It’s the idea of what makes people really pay attention to a concept or product. Gladwell likes it put as almost something that could be generated unconventionally.
But one of the most interesting factors in the book to ready about? The Power of Context is enormously important in determining whether a particular phenomenon will tip into widespread popularity. Even the slightest thing can make a big difference. One example I think to think of is the minute to minute changes that are everywhere in this world, like the environment or with technology. (Because in my mind, technology does change almost every minute. Hello, iPhone 5. I know you’re almost here.)
A world that is ever-changing. That’s where we live. Just look at how much journalism has changed over the years. What was once tapes is now digital. Typewriters are long gone and we live on computers and laptops. Who ever thought you could be updating your audience every second with a site like Twiiter? Who ever imagined the idea of newspapers being all online? Where will we be another 10, 15, or 20 years from now? It’s neat to think about. And mind-blowing at the same time.