There are specific situations so powerful that they can overwhelm our inherent predispositions. - Malcolm Gladwell

The notion that the only way you can critically engage with a person’s ideas is to take a shot at them, is to be openly critical — this is actually nonsense. Some of the most effective ways in which you deal with someone’s idea are to treat them completely at face value, and with an enormous amount of respect. That’s actually a faster way to engage with what they’re getting at than to lob grenades in their direction…
If you’re going to hold someone to what they believe, make sure you accurately represent what they believe.

Outliers are those who have been given opportunities — and who have had the strength and presence of mind to seize them.

An innate gift and a certain amount of intelligence are important, but what really pays is ordinary experience.