By C.P.K.
We’ve heard the phrase before – “He’s wise beyond his years.” When I described to a friend David Archuleta’s modesty about his success, his care and appreciation of fans, his love of family to keep him grounded and the wisdom to know, “there but for the grace of God, goes a career that never got off the ground or flamed out,” (to paraphrase a well-known cliché), my friend responded.
“He’s an old soul, isn’t he?”
How did he become so wise, I wondered. Was he born that way? It seems he was – and he is wise enough to know that he is a lucky young man. Yes, he was born with talent, charm and good looks. Many are born with those attributes, so says Malcolm Gladwell who wrote the book, Outliers. But only a few become extraordinary successes.
What is an outlier? In science, it’s something that lies outside the norm. In human endeavor, it’s a person of extraordinary achievement who becomes a superstar in whatever field he or she enters – people like Bill Gates and the Beatles, for example. Talented, for sure, but what else contributed to their long-term, billion dollar careers?
Like David, the outliers in Gladwell’s book had other factors that made their success possible. And David, in his wisdom, knows this – perhaps he doesn’t think about it every day, but because he an “old soul,” he knows it. He also knows that it takes discipline and hard work.
What are the factors Gladwell says that create extraordinary achievers?
First, practice!
From the day David heard Les Miserables and listened to it over and over, he was “practicing” for his career. He was playing by the “10,000 hour rule,” as Gladwell describes it
The author contends no one gets to the top unless he or she puts in 10,000 hours of practice in a field, be it computer software or music. David began singing at age 6, and he is now 18-1/2. To accrue those 10,000 hours, he would only need to practice singing an average of a little more than two hours each day for 12.5 years. My guess is that he’s achieved it. Doesn’t he say he, “sings all the time?” Is he a genius at music?
He doesn’t think so, because he is an “old soul.” He knows there’s more to being a genius than practice.
Gladwell agrees.
Factor two that leads to extraordinary achievement is being born at a certain time. Bill Gates was born when computers were infants, and he was at the right place at the right time to “practice” programming on a complex computer system that very few young men his age had an opportunity to access. And with him were his “genius” friends who were the founders of Microsoft.
The Beatles started their careers in Liverpool nightclubs, but it was the year they spent in Munich, playing long hours night after night where they gained the skills to be “ready” when the opportunity arose. And it was there the group came together as a unit after their original drummer left, and Ringo joined them.
It was also a time when the music scene needed a new “idol,” and four came along. And finally, the Beatles had a brilliant manager in Brian Epstein who taught them the business.
David was born when American Idol was the place Americans went to vote for a “star.” Think of it. If he had decided to keep his summer job as a “techie” in Utah, where would he be now – and what would he be doing? Singing, no doubt, but where?
He’s wise enough to know how one decision to go to tryouts changed his whole life and gave people worldwide an opportunity to hear him. And what they hear is a grateful and soul who knows how fortunate he is to be where he is today.
How many incredibly talented people do we know who have been unable to enjoy the success he is experiencing? David knows this – and says it often. Remember the Filipino singers who sang his songs so beautifully – and how he was awed by their talent. It was sincere. He is an “old soul” who knows he is one of the talented, lucky ones.
A third important factor, Gladwell says, creates outliers.
It’s the people who surround them. David knows his mother, his father and all the family that love him so much have made his success possible. He inherited his talent from parents who are musicians. But just as important, they knew how to nurture him and create a climate that allowed him to “practice,” to take him to a place – American Idol – where he could be seen (his dad to the finale of American Idol which fueled his ambition; his mother kept the family running and taught him, as David has said, “to be a good person.”)
David knows all these things – even if he only “feels them.” His “old soul” has made him wise beyond his years – and those who love his music also embrace his soul.
And believe he is – and will be a superstar outlier, too.
awwwwwwww we are sooo proud of David
he is such an amazing person
he never lets his fans down
we love David Archuleta
thanks fan scene for posting this i really enjoyed reading it
Dolores frisella(Quote)
Thank you so much for this article. The hours of practice and hard work are often overlooked by people who think they can find a shortcut to success. But David’s old soul knows it takes hours of practice, hard work, and determination to be successful. I would also suggest a fourth attribute which is gratitude. David acknowedges his fortune–his voice, the right timing, and supportive parents who nurtured his faith and allowed him practice time and exposure to the music industry–and gives credit to God, family, friends, business associates, and fans. Gratitude is something David has a wellspring of and he never hesitates to express it. Yes David is on his way to being a superstar in the eyes of the general public, but to me he already is.
Susan M.(Quote)
Thank you for the great post. I agree that David is an unbelievebly talented young man. That he has an old soul is about the only way to account for his genuine acceptance of everyone and recognition that service to others is what counts. When I saw him at the Demi concert with all the glitz it was glaringly obvious that he is not Disney. His gift is from God and will carry him to places that truely matter. He is an angel unaware and we are all the better for it. Thanks David!
Phyllis(Quote)
Thank you CPK for your beautiful article! As far as “outliers” go – David is the cream of the crop. As I listen to much of what is on the radio today – I agree with you — David came at the right moment – we need him and his old soul. Still – Waiting on the World to Change — but as Susan pointed out as well, David is a superstar to many of us.
ArchieFanDoc(Quote)
what a great article. We know that even if we do not see what happens to David in the future. We can trust that GOD will guide him all the way. His faith in the lord is such an amazing thing to look at! It makes me want to follow God more passionately than I already do. We must realize that God is the reason for all of this. David just follows God intently. That is the reason why God has blessed him so much.
Joey(Quote)
Hours upon hours of practice do not a prodigy make. Whatever talent David has, genetics, encouragement or diligence was just the beginning. I’m partial to the God and “old soul” hypothesis, but even that remains to be seen. All I know is David has a gift. From whence it came is only something we can continue to ponder. I thank God David’s gift is a blessing which now belongs to all of us.
Anonymous(Quote)
Perfectly said Anonymous.
archiefandoc(Quote)
Excellent article CPK…I hope you write more for AFS!
Back in Feb. 1964 when the Beatles arrived in America, this country was in deep mourning and shock from the assassination of President Kennedy …The four lads from Liverpool brought joy back to a heatbroken world.
Now we have David…not only a great talent but a young man so different from the shallow celebrities and in your face reality shows that seem to dominate our culture. We are living in a time of many challenges…but David makes us feel hope again…we begin to believe that we can make a difference…we can make this world a better place.
Perhaps God added just a pinch more enlightment in David…just enough to make us take notice but not so much as to seperate us from him. We too can be old souls if we put in a few thousand hours!
Judith(Quote)
CPK THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR AN AWESOME ARTICLE!! Blessed are those who feel, hear and GET David!!
Yes, I do have to agree that you have to be born with being an “old soul”, but at the same time life experiences have A LOT to do with it. Life has a way of teaching all of us from our every day situations.
Yes, David is an extraordinarily hard worker because he KNOWS that practice does NOT make perfect it makes you better. He had to learn this at a very early age with his vocal chord paralyzes.
His family have been and will always be a VERY important part of his life in the midst of this crazy entertainment music world!!
But best of ALL David Archuleta recognizes and understands that it all stems from the gift that our Lord has entrusted upon him. He himself has said that he will DO everything in his power to reach as many people as possible with his music. The only way this can be accomplished is by his STRONG faith and the love for humanity!!
Thank you again and hope to read lots more articles on our David!!
China80(Quote)
as almost every celebrity out there are losing their good reputation to riches and fame, David will be last man standing and the world will see that he is a virtuous, kind young man, he represents all good things that are fading away today, the whole world know will come to know that David Archuleta is a superstar outlier.
alaska_chick(Quote)
Thanks for a great article C.P.K. And I’m really enjoying reading all of your awesome comments.
marc(Quote)
C.P.K., thanks so much for this awesome article! I don’t have much to say; everybody here expressed how I feel about David. I deeply respect and admire him; he is simply the best. We love you David!
Sandra DB – Venezuela(Quote)
C.P.K. – I never tire of reading and hearing the thoughts and opinions regarding David (gift, soul, spirit, character, etc). Thank you for writing (in my opinion) a VERY accurate statement describing why David is here in our world blessing us daily. He is weaving love and hope throughout mankind through his singing and example. He is our modern day light when we needed him the most. God’s timing is perfect! Thank you to David for hearing God’s call and sacrificing himself in many areas to pursue his mission.
SherylNotCrow(Quote)
nice write up, and I also agree w/ the #2 comment, I love david’s attitude of gratitude, that alone will take him far.
Lisa(Quote)
I loved the article! David has this amazing gift to draw people to him. His music is so beautiful at times it brings me to tears. He doesn’t need the glitz and glamour and sex-infused songs and concerts that many of the so called “artists” of today use. His music is fresh, clean and so amazing! He is a great role model to younger people. He is a wonderful gift to all of us. He gives 100% each time he performs and to everything he is involved with. He is grateful for his family, friend and fans and he lets everyone know this. From the lst time I saw him on AI, I was drawn to him and his music. We are truly lucky to be his fans!!!!
Cassie(Quote)