"Tipping Point"

Wikipedia defines a tipping point as "a point at which a slow gradual change becomes irreversible and then proceeds with gathering pace. It is derived from the metaphor of a rigid solid object being tilted to a point where it begins to topple."

Malcolm Gladwell made this idea into a very successful book, The Tipping Point (New York: Little Brown and Company, 2002). Everything in the book is derivative, but he presented the results of studies in an interesting way and got the attention of people who probably would not have read them. Those of you who are interested in this concept should read this book. Subsequent to the book achieving cultural icon status, we've moved on to modify some of the things Gladwell presented. My only quarrel with Gladwell is in the smoking chapter, but that's for another time.

The concept of a "tipping point" is of interest for entrepreneurs who want to get their product to where its use becomes self-reinforcing. Rogers and others put this at about 20% to 30% of a "market." Of course there is a question whether in today's society a tipping point can ever be achieved because change is so rapid and we're so rapidly becoming a society of niches.

Have you ever started a business or thought about entrepreneurship? If you have any thoughts or comments, post them here.

Everything I do is entrepreneurial. For Real estate 2.0, go to www.yourstopforrealestate.com/blog. For publishing 2.0, go to www.kearneymusicschoolmurders.blogspot.com.