Outliers written by Malcolm Gladwell uses several stories as examples of how specific variables can predict certain outcomes. The Matthew Effect, the 10,000 Hour Rule, and Joe Flom's Three Lessons are all examples of success stories. People can predict an outcome based on certain variables such as birthdays, number of hours worked, or the date and location of a person's birth. That said, the reader must remember: “People are not born from nothing. We owe something to lineage and patronage. » The first example is the Matthew effect. The Matthew Effect is the probability that a professional hockey player will be born in the first three months of the year, because the deadline is January 1. If a hockey player is born in the first three months, he is more mature, stronger and more experienced than other players his age. The same concept applies to baseball, the deadline for an age group or league is July 31. Most professional baseball players' birthdays are in August. Similar to hockey and baseball, European football also shows the same pattern: more players in advanced leagues are born right after the deadline. The Matthew Effect also works at school. The advantage of a child born early in the year has higher results since they are usually the oldest in their class. The second example is the 10,000 hour rule. The 10,000 hour rule states that the more opportunity a person has to practice something, based on their age, the more likely they are to be better at it than someone who practices less. It is also important, and perhaps just as important, to have the opportunity to practice a particular task or skill. CEOs and professional athletes not only work harder than ...... middle of paper ...... Borgenichts to succeed. Hard work is a key aspect of happiness. In this example, the specific variables for becoming a good lawyer are Jewish heritage, having parents teach and show the value of hard work, and being born in the right era. Their country, culture, era, and family background all play a role in greater opportunity. Outliers is a nonfiction novel written by Malcolm Gladwell about people's success stories and how they got to where they are today. The Matthew Effect, the 10,000 Hour Rule, and Joe Flom's Three Lessons are all examples of looking at individuals' specific variables to determine their success. A person's birthday, how long someone has been doing something, whether they have an opportunity, and a person's ethnicity are all variables in what helped them become what she is today. Works Cited “Outiers” written by Malcolm Gladwell