The Tipping Point

“A Tipping Point is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips and spreads like wildfire.” – from the back cover

What causes these tipping points? This is the question that Malcolm Gladwell explores in his book, The Tipping Point. Overall, there are 3 rules of epidemics (whether that be an epidemic that is an idea, trend or social behavior).
• 1. Law of the Few
• 2. The Stickiness Factor
• 3. Power of Context
Malcolm takes the reader through these three rules, and then shows real-life scenarios where these things have played out. This is an insightful book that is applicable in all areas of life.

Some quotes I really liked:
P. 258 “We must underlie successful epidemics, in the end, is a bedrock belief that change is possible, that people can radically transform their behavior or beliefs in the face of the right kind of impetus.”
P. 259 “Merely by manipulating the size of a group, we can dramatically improve its receptivity to new ideas. By tinkering with the presentation of information, we can significantly improve its stickiness. Simply by finding and reaching those few special people who hold so much social power, we can shape the course of social epidemics.”
P. 259 “Look at the world around you. It may seem like an immovable, implacable place. It is not. With the slightest push- in just the right place- it can be tipped.”

So, the question I think Malcolm leaves the reader with is, where in the world, in your realm, is there a tipping point ready to happen? And what can you do to help that along?