Regarding Malcolm Gladwell's latest book, Outliers ,

While there is some truth in any thoughtful theory espoused by Gladwell as to why we can’t, won’t or are unable to succeed due to being born without wealth or being in the “right “ time and place, it goes without saying there are at least 10,000 examples to the contrary.
In a world as complex and varied as ours, examples of every kind can be found to show successes and failures that are contradictory to Mr.Gladwell’s yardstick. If we speak in generalities his findings will be more on mark. There are at least 10,000 reasons as to why these successes and failures came to be. Talent alone won’t guarantee success nor will being born with a silver spoon in your mouth. Without overstating the 10,000 hours theory, I would estimate that amount of time as a good starting point for learning any skill but won’t guarantee a successful outcome. While I do agree that success of any kind would not happen without the help of others, public worthiness does not offset the personal inner success only you can achieve whether you were born poor or in money.
A definition for true success is as varied as those striving to achieve it. The trick is to decide for yourself what success means to you amd then strive to reach that. Some may have already found it and still don’t measure up to Mr.Gladwell’s standard. Many can be successful without notoriety or monetary gain. Many can be considered successful and still be considered poor. 
For the most part I think this whole idea is an exercise in futility and also to sell a book. If we start to think in this manner while trying to measure up to any standard other than our own, we will prove Mr.Gladwell correct.
I will concede this, if I were to judge success by his standards, I would not get out of bed in the morning for I fall into all the areas for reasons not to be successful.