Jack Vinson asks,
The biggest question I have upon reading this book is, how I can apply these idea in my life—particularly in the life of my children. I believe that they will “do well” in school, given both of our academic interests. But how do we translate that innate talent into something that gives them what they need to succeed? Gladwell doesn’t offer an answer to that question.
I wonder if trying to answer this question ‘as is’ is an exercise in futility. It is a powerful and potentially life changing question and so a way forward must be found for as it stands, this question is unanswerable without knowing the answers to some other questions first.
Questions can be dangerous beasties. The answer to “Life, The Universe and Everything” [is well known to be 42](http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/hitchhikers/guide/ answer.shtml). The problem is we don’t really understand the question. Let me suggest the difficulty in answering such a question always comes from our belief system—the way we believe the world is. I can demonstrate this best by asking Jack some follow up questions designed to help him understand where this question comes from and why it is important to him that he answer it.
- How do you think your life would change if these ideas were applied to your own life?
- Why do you believe your childrens’ innate talent is not enough for them to succeed?
- What are you defining as success for your children?
- What mood are you carrying towards the success of your children? (One interpretation could be that Jack is resigned to no possibility of his children being successful and that is why he needs to do something to help them become successful in life. Or, he may be in a mood of wonder and is asking in anticipation of knowing how it will all work out for them. Blogs don’t hold the necessary indicators to give a clue to his mood which, I stress, only he can personally confirm.)
Several questions which if asked would lead to many more. They are designed to help Jack achive lthe clarity he needs to answer his initial question.
If you can’t find an answer you may be served by trying to find out why you are asking.