Modern life is a mistake. The way we organize our personal and social lives? Yes, that's the mistake. We're working to live, but somehow ended up living to work. Sounds like we took a wrong turn at the last evolutionary crossroads, doesn't it?But fear not! There's a way out of this topsy-turvy world, and it's called the 80/20 principle. This funky little concept by Richard Koch says that roughly 80% of results come from 20% or fewer causes. It's been...
Create More With Less
Did you know you can make a great dry martini by leaving out the Martini? It's true! And that's the doing more with less, for you. This idea has been driving human progress for centuries. Way back when, our ancestors figured out they could get more food with less danger by swapping their spears for plows. From the industrial revolution to the digital age, we've constantly found ways to boost our output while reducing our input. Just 40 years ago,...
Focus on Your Best 20 Percent
Steven Spielberg at 17, sneaked onto Universal Studios, commandeered a deserted trailer, and wrote “Steven Spielberg, Director” on the door. 3 years later, he signed a seven-year long contract with the studio. THAT's focus! See, we become our best selves by honing in on what makes us unique. It's not about being a jack-of-all-trades, but a master of your own trade. But know what the problem is?We're all trying to keep up with too much. It's time to simplify. With...
Get more in less time, and have a tonne of free time to chill
Once upon a time, this Wall Street hotshot wanted to get into spirituality. So he marched up to a Zen master asking how long it'd take to reach nirvana. "Seven years," the master replied. Our ambitious friend, not one to waste time, boasted about his Harvard degree and Goldman Sachs millions, asking how long it'd take if he really hustled. The Zen master's response? "Fourteen years."This little story challenges your "more is better" mentality. Pushing harder doesn't always lead to...
Money, Happiness, and the 80/20 Way
So what is it with money, huh? How are we all chasing after it and yet seem to lack it the most? Can the 80/20 way help here? Yes! Yes, it can. Enter compound interest - or as Einstein called it, "the most powerful force in the universe." Italian professor Vilfredo Pareto, discovered that 20% of people owned 80% of the wealth. Safe to assume, it is this powerful force behind them. Which, btw, starts small. You don’t have to...
Relationships the 80/20 Way
Each person kills the thing they love! That's just how it is. Let's face it: life today is making it increasingly difficult to find, nurture, and sustain love and relationships. Without realizing it, many of us are opting for a higher quantity of lower-quality relationships. We have more connections, but they mean less. And our romantic relationships? Well, they're becoming endangered species. Take Bob and Jane, for example: globetrotters with great careers and a seemingly perfect family. Eight years later?...
Making It Happen
For our very last lesson, we have for you a simpler, more effective approach. To life and everything. Koch tells the story of Julie and Sandra, identical twins with a shared problem: crippling shyness. Julie, bless her heart, decides to tackle this issue by taking the positive thinking route. She buys a bestseller, practices affirmations, and even downs a tonic for good measure. The result? At a party they both attend, let’s just say she was the one to leave...
Chapter 9
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Summary
As we bid farewell to the frantic pursuit of more, let's embrace the 80/20 Way. Have the courage to do less but achieve more. Your unique path awaits – one of passion, not duty. Embrace your individuality, pursue what excites you, and take action to transform your life. The 80/20 Way may require initial effort, but it ultimately offers an easier, more meaningful existence.
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About the Author
Richard Koch is a former management consultant, entrepreneur, and writer of several books on how to apply the Pareto principle (80/20 rule) in all walks of life. Richard has also used his concepts to make a fortune from several private equity investments made personally. Richard’s investments have included Filofax, Plymouth Gin, the Great Little Trading Company and Betfair. Previously he had been a consultant at Boston Consulting Group and later a partner at Bain and Company, before leaving to start management consulting firm L.E.K. Consulting with Jim Lawrence and Iain Evans.
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