Free Paper on Why Our Families and Friends Mean More in the Development of Our Success

As one of the most successful business writers who have an in-depth understanding of audience success needs, Malcolm Gladwell denounces the traditional rags to riches narrative and proves how the nuances of where people come from, including their unique life experiences, family, culture, and generations matter in the success journey. In his book The Outlier, Gladwell believes that we have little control over our success as it solely depends on our past life experiences, culture, family, and generations (Gladwell, 19). According to Gladwell, “Successful individuals don’t rise from nothing, instead, they owe something to their patronage and parentage” (19). In line with this thought, our families and people outside our families who decide to help us as our mentors play a significant role in our success journey, and our achievements tend to rely more on the efforts they put into supporting us. No man is an island. Companionship and a shoulder to lean on are essential in everyone's success journey. It is here where the family and friends who act as our mentors come in to ensure that we are successful.

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Extensive research indicates that supportive relationships are one of the strong pillars of our mental well-being and guard us against mental illness that often hinders our success (Huxhold et al. 375). Therefore, a supportive network consisting of our families and friends plays a crucial role in supporting and comforting us in both our times of distress and joy which is typical of any successful journey. It is psychologically proven that friends and families as mentors often help increase our self-confidence and sense of belonging and help reduce anxiety and stress that characterize most of our successful paths. Moreover, friendship is never outgrown, and most psychological studies indicate that older adults who prioritize social goals and are socially active enjoy late-life satisfaction (Huxhold et al. 375). Therefore, friends and families encourage positive mental well-being that is core for our success regardless of our age.

Besides, different people fulfill distinct roles in our success story by bringing out various aspects of our personalities. For instance, an extrovert friend can bring out our socialization aspect and keep us in the mood to celebrate our achievements. On the other hand, an introverted friend may be a loyal and a good listener who always comes in handy with solutions when we open up about problems. Generally, different types of friends can also help us view our problems differently, giving us a more complete and clear picture of the given situation.

Quite often, difficult situations are what make us see the needs of our families and friends. When such obstacles inevitably arise, a little help from friends and families helps us keep our goals in perspective. Our families and friends are always the people in our support network who will always be there for us when we feel overwhelmed in our quest for success. A support system consisting of our families and friends makes us face each challenge with courage and determination- a positive attitude vital for any successful journey.

Although toxic friends and family members may sometimes be an obstacle, especially in our professional and personal lives, we need to cultivate a social support system that always keeps us in check and that we can benefit from in all our life endeavors. We need to build this network by keeping in touch with family members and friends who specifically play a significant role in our mentorship. A supportive network of friends and family helps us maintain positivity which is vital in our daily life success.

Works Cited

Gladwell, Malcolm. Outliers : The Story of Success. New York, Back Bay Books, Cop, 2013.

Huxhold, O., et al. “Benefits of Having Friends in Older Ages: Differential Effects of Informal Social Activities on Well-Being in Middle-Aged and Older Adults.” The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, vol. 69, no. 3, 16 May 2013, pp. 366–375, 10.1093/geronb/gbt029. Accessed 14 Oct. 2019.‌