Group Research Project Status

My group is great we are all focusing on getting our articles to connect to one another. Obviously we all don't write alike so we want to sound as united as possible. The thing we don't have a problem with is definitely coming up with the different topics that go along with our subject. We have come up with at least 4 articles each and once we meet up to discuss them it will run together smoothly. The thing that I am having the most trouble is confirming that the article is connected to all of our ideas. The internet is so broad so this makes it difficult to find the perfect article that tackles most of our ideas. Our group is really good on communication so this shouldn't be hard to fix once we come together with our entire project ready to go. I think the part that everyone is most nervous about is the actual presentation. This project is weird because it doesn't have a paper that goes along with it, by no means is this a disappointment, it just kinds of makes the guidance fade away. There are ways to work this out and I have total faith in my group that we will hammer out these problems. Overall I know that my group is going to do well because our admiration for complete success on this project is very similar.

Did he say the prettiest ones always win?

"A Thing of Beauty is a Joy Forever"? Jaeger has approached a topic which I have been waiting to confirm that may have some truth to it. One thing that has already given him credibility is the research that he has done. Now one thing that he does acknowledge is the previous research done on success. He talks about the specific ones that study MBA, Lawyers and many other post graduate students that have risen to success. He uses them as fuel because it eventually sets up his arguments. He describes what they studied and then gives his point to fully show you what he means. For instance, he acknowledges that previous documents have said that social stratification depends on IQ, socio-econmic background and personality traits. He uses this to add in his opinion that it also has been proven that it also depends on physical attractiveness. He sets them up greatly and makes sure that they prove his point because he wants to make sure they ultimately get back to his original point. From his research he is able to lead into points that support his main idea that physical attractiveness helps one gain success. He always refers to empirical eras that help push his point along because there is some truth. Now as far as my belief in this matter I think that physical attractiveness definitely plays a part but success isn't solely based on this.

Success in Discourse Communities.

Basketball Success

Well when it's pretty simple in basket the ultimate goal seems to achieve that end of the season trophy that dubs you as the winner of the entire league. It can be amateur, professional or even high school their success is defined by the hard work they put in all season that got them to the point to win the championship. I have a small experience in this subject because I know what it feels like to lose a championship game. It seems like all your hard work goes completely down the drain because at the end your team didn't have what it took to prevail. In the video, they said that the goal was to have fun, work hard and have skills that lead you into being a great player. This is also true when defining success on the court. As a younger player my previous coaches last words in the huddle would always be "go out there and have some fun." So with that motivation we not only enjoyed winning but we loved the fact that we could have fun and excitement while doing it. Basketball is such a fast paced game which makes it very easy to switch different emotions throughout. In my opinion though I think that the ultimate goal besides a trophy, is to have fun playing basketball. In the end, it's just a game right? 

Who's got Spirit?

Now success in this community doesn't differ too much from the previous subject that I addressed. Cheerleaders in this video seemed to want to achieve that prized trophy at the end of the season as well. Now in my opinion Cheerleaders have it tough, not only do they have to involve the crowd, they also have to come up with routines and stunts that help them become top competitors in their realm. Success for them is fun, hard work and concentration. This isn't an easy sport flipping and being thrown high into the air is an adrenaline rush. So combining all of those factors adds to success that they try to achieve, they most entertain the crowd while impressing the judges. I respect them for that, the downfall that comes along with it, is the precision, cheerleaders can make the slightest mistake and that can cost them a championship. So this is where the "fun" factor is blurred because they are now under a lot of pressure. Somehow the way of dealing with pressure and using it to fuel energy is what most cheerleaders love to do. It's that extra push that helps them achieve their goal of a championship. 

Discourse Communities

Part One

Before discussing this I never knew how many communities I had actually been apart of. 

1. Musician 

2. "Sneakerhead"

3. College Student 

4. Family 

5. Baptist 

6. Close circle of friends

7. Basketball player/admirer 

8. Social Networks ( Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr)

9. South Suburban resident 

10. Gamer.

Part Two 

"Sneakerhead"

I learned at an early age that sneakers require TLC. My older cousins, uncles and peers taught me about this "clean sneaker" concept. I learned to appreciate sneakers because of the prices that they cost, and at this time I didn't have to worry about paying. What does it mean to be a Sneakerhead? This means that one has to have a deep love and passion for sneakers. This can mean keeping up on all the latest sneaker news knowing release dates. Knowing information on the product that you are wearing. Sounds easy to become a member of this sort of group, you must simply buy sneakers right? WRONG! It is more then just purchasing sneakers at your local shoe store is the exclusivity if the sneaker. To get the label you must have sneakers that not everyone can get their hands on. Usually this is accompanied by the price that you have to pay, rare sneakers are expensive. Now with this label there are rules that come along with it. 

Power and Authority

The ones who get the most power in the sneaker realm have access to free sneakers. This can be an actual shoe designer or the owner of a sneaker boutique that sells exclusive sneakers. These are the people who actually have climbed to the top and companies care enough about their input that they send them free stuff. They have put in the extra work, research and have come across an opportunity that has allowed them to get into the position that they are in. There are rules that one must follow when trying be a sneakerhead. They must never, ever wear fake or counterfeit sneakers. Amongst all the rules this is the most important because this is the point where others can question your passion for sneakers. Once someone has purchased fake sneakers, they have chosen the easy way out instead of working hard for what they could of had. Expensive sneakers are hard to purchase when you have limited income. This is when it becomes more then just a sneaker, it is more like an accomplishment. You took time to work hard for what you wanted, which is a rule that many groups follow. Another important rule would be to keep your sneakers in good shape. No sneaker head likes when shoes are beaten up. Now that you have worked hard to get the sneaker the only other logical thing is to keep them in good wearing condition. If one follows these rules then their member ship will never be denied. 

Gain Respect

The only way to gain respect in the sneaker realm is to work hard. Once you have enough sneakers and the right people recognize you then you will be thrown into the "loop." Now you have the attention of the sneaker companies such as Nike, Adidas and many others. Now they want to send you free stuff to show off to your audience. Now you will be invited to the parties, events and conferences seeing product that no one else is seeing. The only real way to get on this path is to plan out what you want to do with your sneaker passion. It's more then just buying sneakers, it's meeting different people. It's about enlightening yourself about sneakers as a whole how they are designed and made. Being a sneaker head is a great opportunity in business one must take the steps that help get you there. 

Part Three

Now when it comes to the term success my communities share a similarities because they all follow the "hard work" theme. The groups I belong to accept that hard work will take you far. Which is why I am apart of most of the groups. The main factors that come into play with all of the groups is determination and passion. In all of the groups, taking the easy way our is not an option. The groups that I don't belong too have a different way of earning your success. I know that someday I want to be apart a black fraternity and their way of doing things is very precise and takes a long time. One must go through many tests, because all of the members want to make sure that you truly want to be a member and reap the benefits that come along with it. So not everyone gets permitted. Which is why I want to be apart of this they truly thrive off survival of the fittest. 

For the love of Music

Well, once again I think that Gladwell makes great points in the second chapter of this story. This guy definitely does his research and proves it in some of the most interesting ways. What he talks about that immediately grasps my attention is something we all can relate to, money. My aspirations of becoming a billionaire are fueled off things I read that I feel can help one get to the top. Gladwell talks about practice, his biggest point seems to be that because of the practice that these gentlemen got they had some sort of "lucky break" that helped them gain their riches. I totally agree with his reasoning, I must remind you that I am a firm believer in hard work and talent. If you want it bad enough I think that you can get it. Doors will open that will help you reach your destiny. The stories about the gentlemen's success that I wasn't familiar with such as, The Beatles and Bill Joy proved how important practice truly is.

This brings me to what I would spend ten thousand hours on to become an expert. No doubt in my mind it would be to master the guitar. This is a task I am currently still working on. Why the guitar? Music has been involved in my life for as long as I can remember. I began playing the Tuba in the 5th grade and continued to keep music in my life. Once I began improving on this instrument it was obvious to me that I had to practice to get better. I got a tad bored with the Tuba and I needed to play something new. I picked up the guitar my sophomore year of high school and haven't put it down since. The thing that motivates me the most in practicing the guitar is that one is never done learning. There is always something new to learn in the musical realm. This concept is what continues to drive me to master the guitar. Although ten hours is very long I know that it is worth it because music is one the most beautiful things to ever be introduced to Earth. I have played in many places so far, and one of the most exciting things about playing is the chance to play among those who have already practiced their ten thousand hours. They are living proof that if you work hard then nothing can stop you to getting to where they are soon. Hearing them motivates one to keep playing so that one day they are the one showing a young student what it takes. So if requires ten thousand hours, so be it, I will keep going until I master it.

"The Matthew Effect"

Gladwell has opened my eyes to a new way of thinking towards success. I am still a firm believer of hard work and talent, but he has showed that sometimes it can be how fast you mature. He proves in his passage that those hockey players were succeeding because they were introduced at an early age. His point is because they were born at that time makes it easier for them to develop key skills and at least have a couple months to enhance. His strongest point in my opinion is that the older children always seem to stand out a little better then those born after the cutoff date. It makes so much sense though, because those that are older actually mature quicker. They are able to grasp concepts a lot faster then their peers. They have the advantage of working hard and also getting better amenities that come along with early talent development. The only reason that Gladwell's analysis doesn't fully convince that it is solely based on maturity, is because it doesn't cover the world that I am studying now, the business world where success thrives off of hard work and the talents that one has. Success stories from this area are quite different, in this realm one has to "make your own luck." Nothing is given away easily, one must earn their spot. Which is where hard work comes into play, this method has stuck around so long because it is credible. It is proven that if you work hard at what you want then you will get it. Even if you do fail, it shows that you must do something different to get what you want. Although, I do agree that those who show talent earlier should have some type of elite opportunity, they have earned that part. Gladwell's reasoning doesn't fully eliminate "hard work" method, it merely shows combined with maturity your success can grow quickly.