Reflective Writing: Chapter 2

The first of the three rules of epidemics is The Law of the Few. In Chapter Two, author Malcolm Gladwell talks about Connectors, Mavens, and Salesmen. These are the three types of people who can start a word-of-mouth epidemic. The Law of the Few enables certain people to cause the "tip" of an epidemic. The first example is about Paul Revere's ride of warning people that the British were coming. This shows how a word-of-mouth epidemic can start.

Malcolm goes on to discuss what a Connector is. "Connectors know lots of people. They are the kinds of people who know everyone." (Gladwell 38) One person he describes as being a Connector is Roger Horchow, a businessman from Dallas. Gladwell described Horchow as a collector of people, since he has so many acquaintances with so many people. Gladwell stated that, "the point about Connectors is that by having a foot in so many different worlds, they have the effect of bringing them all together." (Gladwell 51) Connectors bring people together, just as Paul Revere did on his midnight ride. I related the Connector to be similar to my grandmother while I was reading the chapter. She knows a lot of people and a lot of people know her.

Paul Revere was also a Maven. The definition Gladwell gives is, "the word Maven comes from the Yiddish, and it means one who accumulates knowledge." (Gladwell 60) One thing Gladwell describes about Mavens is that they remember prices and information most people wouldn't acknowledge or think twice about. Another ability of Mavens is that they can recommend information, hotels, restaurants, etc. to you and most people will take their word on it and try it. Mark Alpert is a Maven Gladwell talks about in this chapter. Alpert wants to share the information he had with the people he meets. He is also one who wants more information, to find out what others know, in order to pass the information along. I thought this was an interesting part of Chapter 2. I thought it was interesting how Mark Alpert retained so much information, but was also open to learning new information so he could share that with others that he meets.

The third group of people are the Salesmen, "with the skills to persuade us when we are unconvinced of what we are hearing." (Gladwell 70) According to Gladwell, Tom Gau is an example of a Salesman. Gau is a financial planner, who loves and is enthusiastic about his job. He is also an optimistic person. Gau is a natural at persuasion. Gladwell states, "He seems to have some kind of indefinable trait, something powerful and contagious and irresistible that goes beyond what comes out of his mouth, that makes people who meet him want to agree with him." (Gladwell 73) Gladwell also talks about how people's movements and facial expressions can influences others around them.

"In a social epidemic, Mavens are data banks. They provide the message. Connectors are social glue: they spread it. Salesmen, with the skills to persuade us when we are unconvinced of what we are hearing." (Gladwell 70) Each of these types of people contribute to word-of-mouth epidemics. I like hearing about how just a few people can cause a social epidemic, just as Paul Revere did on his midnight ride. In each section of talking about the three types of people, Gladwell conducts interviews with people of each group. He gathered statistics and new information from each person he spoke to. Each person was enthusiastic about what they knew and the information that they shared with Gladwell. Gladwell concludes the chapter by reminding us how the word-of-mouth epidemic of Paul Revere's ride all began.