The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell

Malcolm Gladwell is one of my favorite authors because he offers a unique and well articulated viewpoint, which inspires original thought. 

Tipping Point identifies three types of people who are required to start an epidemic or trend listed in the following:

1. Connectors- the people who seem to know everybody. This is a trait not everybody has, however, its a skill that can be acquired. The lesson from this book for connectors is that the more industries and jobs an individual has worked in, the more connections he or she will have. Staying loosely is a skill. Once upon a time this skill was for the natural born connectors. Now a days, this type of connection can be easily kept with facebook, LinkedIN and other social media. 

2. Mavens- the people who know everything about a subject and help everybody shop smart

3. Salespeople- the people take the radical ideas and trends and convert them into something normal and everyday people can understand.


For small start ups, this is a must-read.