The Tipping Point

Resume of  Tressa Brase

Place of Employment       Wiley School District

Occupation     Title I Reading Lab Teacher

Education     Lamar High School

                    University of Northern Colorado (BA)

                    Lesley University (M.Ed)

Work Experience     First Grade Teacher at La Salle  ( 2 years)

                               First Grade Teacher at Calhan   (5 years)

                               BOCES Preschool Teacher at Limon   (1 year)

                               School Board Member   (1 year to fill a vacancy)

                               First Grade Teacher at Wiley  (12 years)

                               Title I Reading Lab Teacher at Wiley  (7 years)
                               Elementary Student Council Sponsor and School Store

INTRODUCTION

The tipping point is when an item or trend reaches a point in popularity that the scale tips dramatically and change happens all at once.  The Hush Puppies shoes became popular because no one was wearing them, however, some young people added them to their outfits as a fashion statement and it went on to a point of tipping. The decline of crack trade and an aging population tipped the scale in New York, and as a result the streets were safer.  All it takes is a small action, like a yawn, to have a contagious effect and the scale can tip quickly. 

Gladwell asserts “gradualism” is the norm, however, our society seems to have “tippers” in unexpected ways continually.   I am thinking of overnight favorites in the music industry like Hannah Montana or Justin Bieber. The fashion industry creates trends in clothing and accessories that are a must.  Changes in education and the business world may be more gradual, but even  the area of technology “tips” when everyone has to have the latest phone. Yes, I would say that our society has room for “tippers”, and now that I have read this book it will be fun to see what reaches the “tipping point” in the future.

CHAPTER I

The Three Rules of Epidemics

1.     What are the three rules of epidemics?

The three rules of the epidemics are The Law of the Few, the Stickiness Factor, and the Power of Context.

2.     What is the 80/20 principle?

   The 80/20 principle is when 80% of the work is accomplished 

    by 20% of the participants.

3.     Who is R. J. Reynolds?

         R. J. Reynolds if the manufacturer of the Winston cigarettes.  

         Their slogan “Winston takes good like a cigarette should” was

         very memorable.

CHAPTER 2

1.     What are the connectors, mavens, and salesmen?

The Connectors know a lot of people and they have a gift of bringing people together.  The Mavens are ones who accumulate knowledge and information and then spread what they know by word of mouth.  The Salesmen have the skills to persuade.

2.     What is a “small-world problem”? 

         It is a question of how we all are connected in our lives.   Are

         links world wide?  Also how does a piece of news or trend

         move quickly through the population?  Milgram tested this by

         sending a chain letter.

3.     What is “six degrees of separation”?  Can it truly be tested?

                   People choose friends of similar age, race and social circles,

                   people choose friends with similar attitudes, people choose

                   friends that like to do similar activities, people resemble the

                   friends they choose so they don’t seek friends because they

                   associate with people who occupy the same space as they do.

                   I am not certain that it could be tested effectively.

4.     What makes someone a connector?

The connector knows a wealth of people and they have the ability to bring people together socially or for whatever reason.

5.     Take Gladwell’s “quiz” on pp. 39-40.  We will discuss it when we are

able to post online.

6.     What makes connectors so necessary in society? 

Connectors can help others meet people that might help in a career, employment or move to another company.  Connectors are great at putting together people socially or for a fundraiser.

7.     What does the phrase “the strength of weak ties”mean?

This phrase means that acquaintances may know of something or an opportunity in another world outside of the one with your friends.

8.     Why did Paul Revere’s ride succeed when William Dawes’ ride did

 not?

          Paul Revere had a clear concise message of “the British are

          coming!” which was easy to remember, and he knew specific

          people to get the message to.

9.     Describe any connectors or mavens from your school, family, or

friends.

          Our daughter is a definite connector in that she knows so many

          people from her schooling and workplace settings.  It is easy for

          her to spread news of a product, a fundraiser, or an event that

          promotes the PT department in an assisted living.

          My husband’s cousin, who has been in real estate for years, is

          now at CSU serving as a fundraiser for the University with

          emphasis on the agriculture department. He is both a connector

          and  a  maven. 

          Mr. Nickell, who was our Principal at one time, is  a

          connector.  Through all of his years in education he had many

          people he knew and was good at connecting staff with them.

10.                         How much do you rely on word-of-mouth information?

As far as wondering about products to use in my home or materials to use in the classroom, I usually eagerly listen, then find information to verify it.

11.                         How did mavens influence the sales of Hush Puppies?

The mavens may have been looking for an unusual accent for their outfits, and finding out that the Hush Puppies were fairly inexpensive decided to make that a choice.  Of course when others noticed they told of the unique stores in which to buy the shoes. 

12.                         What are the positives and negatives of being a maven?

The mavens collect information, but they are obsessed with telling others.  They even help people get a good deal on an item.  The negative would be that not everyone would want someone to take them shopping and influence their decision.

13.                         What makes someone a good salesman?

The person is informed about a product and is influential in getting someone convinced to purchase the item.  My older brother has always been a top salesman!  I asked him one time how he could go to someone’s farm and it would be obvious that the farmer was using a certain company product, and yet the farmer would buy his product?  He said that he never ran down the other guys product, he just made the farmer feel that he couldn’t live without the product that he was selling.

14.                         According to two studies he cites, what are the three things that

Gladden says make salesmen so effective?

          The three things that make a salesman effective are:  they know         

          that little things make a big difference, nonverbal clues are        

          more important at times than verbal clues, and persuasion works

          in subtle ways at times.

15.                         What are “micro movements”?

          Micro movements are patterns of movement that repeatedly

          happen in a conversation between a group of people.  Their

          exchange of conversation is in harmony with their gestures.

16.                         What makes someone good at charades?

Someone good at charades has the motions and gestures

to get someone to understand a word or idea.

17.                         What traits of the connector, maven, and salesman do you see in

  yourself?

          I am a connector in that I know a lot of people from past

          schooling and teaching experience.  I have always been

          community minded so I know people in my work setting

          and at church.  As teacher I am a maven in that I love to collect

          information to share with a colleague or control how it would

          go to help a student.  I am a salesman because if I find

          something that works, I advertise it!

18.                         Which traits do you wish you possessed?

I would wish to refine my connector skills.  It is always fun to

to encourage people to meet someone who could help them

or add to their life.

19.                         Are these traits able to be developed or are we simply born with

 them?

          For the most part I feel that we are born with these tendencies.

          Having a family member model these behaviors is a plus

          in developing these traits, and we grow in their likeness.

20.                         What disadvantages are linked with any of the three classifications?

The salesman might come on too forceful and turn off the client.