I recently read this book called Tipping Point, by Malcolm Gladwell. It’s a wonderful book, talking about how social epidemics start. Well, you have to read the book to find out more, but…
There are three kind of people that make it possible for epidemics to start and explode into well…stuff that everyone knows about- the facebook’s and myspace’s of the world (not limited to the internet of course):
- Connectors - These people seem to know everyone. By merely knowing so many people, if an idea comes across to them, they’ll be able to spread the word to all the people they know.
- Mavens - These people accumulate knowledge and seem to have detailed information on the newest product, or the newest thing. In the web 2.0 world, they’re called the ‘early adopters’.
- Salesmen - These people convince us to use the a product or a website or try something out.
So which one are you?
I know this was posted a while ago. Perhaps a re-post is in order? It is such a good book. Me? Well, I am a Maven with a Saleman twist. Finding these types with whom to partner for projects, of any kind, is a key component to reaching ones “goal”. I also see the interenet as the ultimate of the three: it is a Maven, full of info with search engine functionality; it is a connector with its ability to reach anyone at any time; and a saleman with everything from ads and hype to ecommerce and get it whenever you want it.
By: Maureen on June 25, 2008
at 7:47 pm
Thanks for you comment, Maureen. I definitely agree with you. I think the internet makes the ‘tipping point’ easier to attain – it amplifies and expedites the connections, the information gathering and distribution.
-Sushant
By: Sushant on June 30, 2008
at 8:31 pm
Interesting post. I found it by Googleing ‘blogging salesman’.
I have not yet read this book. It is on perpetual hold at my library.
I agree with Maureen that the Internet has brought these three full circle but I would differentiate her discription a bit because there is a constant evolution occuring online. Right now the Connector is on Facebook and LinkedIn, the Maven is on Twitter, and the Salesman is on their blog.
I am interested to see what your thoughts are on this.
By: Roger on August 24, 2008
at 6:59 am
[...] and “Consumers vs. Producers” and I’m sure a ton of other “Mavens, Connectors, etc…” generalizations from [...]
By: thecapacity : What do I win… ? on September 25, 2008
at 8:14 am
I think I’m a Maven with a reasonable Connectivity
By: Tarek on January 1, 2009
at 3:33 am
What would you say are the key personality traits of each?
By: Jim on July 13, 2009
at 11:24 pm