Only The Strong Survive

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English 101 – 008 3 May 2011 Only the Strong Survive There has been much debate over the years about what group of individuals is successful and what group ultimately is not. Throughout time, society’s perception of only one group being successful has drastically changed. With the success rate of the less fortunate rising, the stereotype of future being solely based on background has been erased. Now that individuals from different social backgrounds are becoming more and more successful, it is being shown that anyone can be an outlier. Using Malcolm Gladwell’s book Outliers: the Story of Success as evidence, it is clear that anyone can be an outlier as long as they have the motivation, fortitude, and dedication. One major factor that contributes to one’s success is being motivated. While it is true that some have success handed to them, they are not truly successful simply because their parents were. If they don’t have the motivation to better their lives and the lives of those around them, they will fail. Michael Shermer, and author from Scientific American, quotes from Malcolm’s book “that people are not ‘self-made’ but instead are invariably the beneficiaries of hidden advantages and extraordinary opportunities and cultural legacies that allow them to learn and work hard and make sense of the world in ways others cannot (Shermer).” Every individual who becomes successful has some type of motivating force. Often those who grow up in the slums have the most motivation to become successful with the thought of supporting their family and community always in the back of their mind. This motivation is a key to success and often the only ones who truly have that motivation are those who have it the worst. As well as having the motivation to become successful, one must also have fortitude. Fortitude is the strength that keeps an individual striving towards
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