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Number of 150, which (as stated by anthropologist Robin Dunbar) is the number of stable relationships one person can have; I would’ve gotten on the Internet when about 25 of my friends had done it first. Other research, however, says it might have taken fewer people. As reported by scientists at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, it only takes 10% of the popu- lation to create a shift in opinion. If those 10% hold an “unshakable belief,” it will always be adopted by the majority of society. “When the number of committed opin- ion holders is below 10%, there is no visible progress in the spread of ideas,” said Professor Boleslaw Szymanski, director of the Social Cognitive Networks Academic Research Center at Rensselaer. “Once that number grows above 10%, the idea spreads like flame.” As an example, Szymanski references the Arab Spring in Tunisia and Egypt, “In those countries, dictators who were in power for decades were suddenly overthrown in just a few weeks.” As a rule, people do not like holding unpopular opinions. They feel more comfortable belonging to the majority. This is probably a throwback to our caveman days when acceptance by the clan or tribe meant the difference between surviving or not. As few as two people can change the opinion of a third person. Sameet Sreenivasan, another researcher at Rensselaer, found if a test subject heard an opinion or belief from one person, he or she would not accept it, but if it was heard from two people, the subject would adopt it as his or her own. Malcolm Gladwell, author of The Tipping Point says, “The tipping point is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire.” He compares it to how a single sick person can start a disease epidemic like the flu. A good example is the American Revolution which was far from a majority. At most, one-third of the colonists supported the revolution, but it was actually fewer than that. Only 3% actively fought the British; 10% provided material support to the soldiers; and another 20% preferred the revolutionaries, but did nothing to sustain them. At the same time, one-third of the colonists supported the crown; while another third were indifferent to either side. By the end of the war there were actually more American colonists fighting for the crown than for the revolution. And yet, the rebels succeeded. The world is a marketplace of ideas, opinions, and beliefs. When the next new trend comes around, will you be an early adopter or will you wait for consensus? Perhaps it wi l l be your idea that wi l l spread like wildfire - so be careful with your next social media post - it may go viral! Robert Robert is an author, humorist, and innovation consultant. He works with companies that want to be more competitive and with people who want to think like innovators. For more information on Robert, visit www.jumpstartyourmeeting.com or contact him via e-mail to michele@ worldwidedrillingresource.com Wilson cont’d from page 26. '&+ + & ')% +#'& & ' #&* "'& 1 / % #$ )' #&* +. ')! ... +!. ')! # $ " ! % # !& & ) '* % **0 ,#+ * '& ) & &+ ) & ) '* ! % # " % #! " # " ! +' - $'( ()'%'+ & ()'+ + / * !)',& . + ) 34 JANUARY 2017 WorldWide Drilling Resource ®