Outliers shows us how good timing, opportunity to practice and hard work are often the most common characteristics of the most successful people. The Element shows how successful individuals are successful usually in spite of their education, a system that often focuses too much on curriculum planning and assessment and too little on nurturing human talent.

The example of the Beatles came up in both books. Gladwell cites how the Beatles had the opportunity to hone their live act, musicianship and song writing through hours of live playing on the Hamburg club scene (at least 10,000 hours is the magic number Gladwell cites). Robinson talks about Paul McCartney’s bad music teacher, and how he and John Lennon would instead mentor each other in their musical development. Robinson focuses on the diversity of talent, engagement, circles of influence and other social phenomena and inner reserves that support creativity and get people into their ‘element’. Gladwell focuses on the timing of opportunities and the advantage we get from being able to make the most of these opportunities.

All in all, a satisfying combination of books that I highly recommend.

I’m going to start this next week. I think I’ll be using OmniGraffle to build the flow charts.

Well, I’ve just spent three hours trying to sort out a Google Sites account for a community of practice that I’m in using Google Sites, and it’s been really painful. Server error is the message I get. I’d prefer a nicely crafted Google message. Oh well.

I use Crazy Egg, Google Analytics , Google Trends, and the Firefox/IE addon SEOQuake. Essential tools I reckon.

Since then I’ve dipped into it and I must say that it’s the best compendium of KM tools I’ve seen. The tips for facilitation are particularly useful. So here’s the pdf version for download. But really, you should buy it. It works better in book-form. It’s on my desk at work and is great to dip into. Patrick, Edgar and Wai Kong have done an excellent job in making the book, so it’s worth buying, really. Get it here.

I say this because after reading this report I had a brief conversation with a colleague (not 55 yet, I must say) who’s just got back from leave, sending her youngest daughter off to university. It’s been tough for her. She misses her daughters. And she told me she’s now spending most of her time on Facebook to keep in touch with them. I can only imagine how she must feel. I’ve got another 15 years or so before I have to deal with that heartbreak. It must be really painful.

Facebook is a poor substitute for being with someone you love. But it’s about the best thing out there I reckon.

I couldn’t talk to her for long, because I could feel how hard it was for her to come back to work. But I hope she gets the chance to move back home, to be near her daughters. Being selfish, I’d rather she didn’t, because she’s great to be with (one of my favourite people) and one of the best we have working for us.

Great potential. Great educational project.