The word “outlier” refers to a thing or person that is detached from a main system. It is often used to describe people who do not fit in with a larger group. In his book Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell defines an outlier as an individual who does not fit in with average definitions of achievement and success.

Bill Gates is an outlier because he achieved a level of success that is beyond what most people ever achieve. Gladwell uses him as an example in this book because the book’s main claim is that people who are outliers are successful not only because of their hard work and talent, but because specific circumstances in their lives lined up to give them the opportunity to reach incredible levels of success.

In chapter 1, section 5, Gladwell provides an overview of Bill Gates’s life story. He notes that Gates was presented with an “extraordinary” string of lucky opportunities. These multiple situations of chance put Gates in the right place at the right time to become who he became. For example, Gladwell highlights how ISI happened to need someone on their staff, and that Gates happened to live within walking distance to the University of Washington.

These were all factors that gave Gates the time he needed to practice and become successful.

How many high schools in the world had access to a time-sharing terminal in 1968?

Gladwell asks.

Our world only allowed one thirteen-year-old unlimited access to a time-sharing terminal in 1968. If a million teenagers had been given the same opportunity, how many more Microsofts would we have today?