Gladwell Video

[michelej1]

From The Independent (UK), February 7. 2009 by Alison Wenham

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-en...y-1604927.html

This week I also saw Malcolm Gladwell (author of The Tipping Point) speaking about his new book, Outliers. In it, he expands on the neuro-scientific theory that it takes 10,000 hours to develop a skill to world-class excellence. Using Fleetwood Mac as an example, he points out that Rumours was their 16th album, not their first or second. Years and years of practice, trial and error made Rumours; not the overnight success that today's major artists are under pressure to become.

They say you make your own luck, but the real art is to be ready when it comes along. Among the made-for-TV celebrities, there are young Charles Aznavours and Fleetwood Macs practising to make perfect.

Alison Wenham is