The Tipping Point through a 2020 Lens
It is safe to say that “epidemic” has become a prominent concept in our everyday lives lately. Defined by Mariam Webster as “ an outbreak of disease that spreads quickly and affects many individuals at the same time,” it is both responsible for the turbulence of 2020 and the basis of a popular book I read 20 years ago: The Tipping Point In this highly influential New York Times bestseller, Malcom Gladwell investigates the nature of the epidemic. He uses the “tipping point,” or the “moment of critical mass” to pinpoint how drastic change occurs, trends stick, and diseases spread. So naturally, I sought the comfort of Gladwell’s methodical explanation of contagious disease for a source of clarity amidst the unpredictable COVID-19 pandemic.
The pandemic adds more meaning to The Tipping Point, not only on the obvious level of the contagion of the virus itself, but in reference to the myriad social behaviors the pandemic has triggered. The three agents of change outlined by Gladwell are important to understanding both types of contagion: 1. the Law of the Few, which suggests that 80% of the effort achieving the tipping point comes from only 20% of participants, 2. the Stickiness Factor, which deals with how memorable or impactful a piece of information is, and 3. the Power of Context, which claims that humans behave differently depending on their current environment.
The few, as it relates to the pandemic, could be interpreted as those who spread the disease through travel or social interaction; those who spread knowledge about the virus, such as medical experts and reliable news sources; or those who spread misinformation and undermine protective efforts for political gain, despite the seriousness of the human consequences. Next, the “stickiness” of COVID-19 comes from its deadly nature, our lack of previous exposure to it, and our lack of preparedness and resources to respond to it effectively. Finally, the pandemic illustrates the Power of Context by creating a radically new environment that shifts human behavior, bringing out both selfish instincts, such as xenophobia and anti-masking and selfless instincts, such as frontline workers putting their lives at risk to treat patients and the general population sacrificing everyday freedoms to keep others safe.
The pandemic has forced all of us to consider where we stand as individuals in the middle of this great force. As CEO of Rover Diagnostics , I aim to to manipulate the context of the novel coronavirus and other viruses still to come by bolstering one main line of defense: widespread fast and accurate testing. I have experienced the immense scale of effort being put into reversing the tipping point in the science and technology world. It is the most high stakes race I have ever been involved in, and the restoration of normalcy at the finish line is the most enticing prize.
Originally published at https://markfasciano.com.