Malcolm Gladwell: Disadvantages Can Improve Your Chance of Success | Inc. Magazine

Summary

The transcript explores the concept of 'desirable difficulty' in learning, introduced by the Bjork couple from UCLA. It posits that intentionally making tasks slightly more challenging can enhance learning outcomes. The discussion extends to dyslexic entrepreneurs like Richard Branson and Charles Schwab, who attribute their success to the skills developed due to their dyslexia, such as delegation and negotiation. However, the speaker also acknowledges the significant number of dyslexic individuals in prisons, indicating that the impact of difficulty is subjective and depends on individual capabilities, support systems, and other life factors.

Takeaways

• 📚 The concept of 'desirable difficulty' is introduced as a beneficial challenge that can enhance learning outcomes.
• 🧠 The idea originates from the Bjork's, a husband-and-wife psychology team at UCLA, who studied the effects of difficulty on learning.
• 🔍 The Bjorks found that sometimes making learning tasks slightly more difficult can lead to better learning due to increased concentration and effort.
• 💡 Desirable difficulties can force individuals to develop skills such as delegation, communication, and negotiation, which can be advantageous later in life.
• 🤝 Dyslexic entrepreneurs like Richard Branson and Paul Orfalea are highlighted as examples of individuals who attribute their success to their dyslexia.
• 🎓 These entrepreneurs often mention that their struggles with reading in school forced them to develop alternative strategies and skills that proved beneficial.
• 🏢 The narrative of dyslexic entrepreneurs includes learning to listen, delegate, and form teams, which are valuable in business.
• 🌪️ The 'perfect storm' for making a difficulty desirable is complex and depends on individual capabilities, support systems, and other life circumstances.
• 🚫 There is a noted contrast between the high success rate of dyslexic individuals in entrepreneurship and their overrepresentation in prisons, indicating the importance of context.
• 🤔 The speaker aims to spark a conversation about how to intentionally introduce desirable difficulties in a way that is beneficial rather than overwhelming.

Q & A

What is the concept of 'desirable difficulty' discussed in the book?

Desirable difficulty is a concept from a husband-and-wife psychology team at UCLA, suggesting that intentionally making learning tasks slightly harder can lead to better learning outcomes because it forces the learner to concentrate more or engage with the material multiple times.

Who are the Bjork's mentioned in the transcript?

The Bjork's are a husband-and-wife psychology team at UCLA who are known for their research on learning and memory. They introduced the concept of desirable difficulty in the context of educational psychology.

How does the author suggest dyslexia can be a desirable difficulty for some individuals?

The author suggests that dyslexia can be a desirable difficulty because it forces individuals to develop alternative skills such as delegation, communication, negotiation, and team building, which can be advantageous in certain contexts like entrepreneurship.

What is the connection between dyslexia and successful entrepreneurship as discussed in the book?

The book discusses a disproportionately high number of successful entrepreneurs who are dyslexic, suggesting that the challenges they faced due to their dyslexia may have inadvertently honed skills that are beneficial in business.

Can you name some successful dyslexic entrepreneurs mentioned in the transcript?

Some successful dyslexic entrepreneurs mentioned in the transcript include Richard Branson, Paul Orfalea, Charles Schwab, John Chambers, Craig McCaw, and David Neeleman.

What is the role of adversity in learning according to the transcript?

The transcript suggests that a certain level of adversity is necessary for learning, as it can lead to the development of valuable skills and resilience. However, the type and amount of adversity should be determined on a case-by-case basis.

What factors contribute to making a difficulty desirable, as discussed in the book?

Factors that can make a difficulty desirable include individual capabilities, support systems, and the presence or absence of other disadvantages. The right balance of these factors can turn a challenge into an opportunity for growth.

How does the author view the role of parents in managing their children's difficulties?

The author argues against the idea that parents should remove every obstacle for their children, suggesting instead that some level of adversity is necessary for learning and growth.

What is the 'million-dollar question' regarding desirable difficulties as mentioned in the transcript?

The 'million-dollar question' is how to determine the perfect storm of circumstances that would make a difficulty desirable, which the author acknowledges has no simple answer and depends on various individual and environmental factors.

Why does the author believe that not all individuals with dyslexia will find it a desirable difficulty?

The author believes that not all individuals with dyslexia will find it a desirable difficulty because the outcome depends on additional factors such as intelligence, family support, and other life disadvantages. For some, dyslexia could be overwhelming rather than beneficial.

What is the author's goal in discussing the concept of desirable difficulty in the book?

The author's goal is to start a conversation about how to balance the challenges children face to foster growth and learning without overwhelming them, and to encourage parents to consider the value of certain difficulties.