I can sing the praises of the 80/20 Way and say without hesitation how miraculous it is, because I did not invent it. The 80/20 Way is based on a scientific law called the 80/20 principle, which has been proven to work in business and economics. This says in essence that 80 percent of results come from only 20 percent of causes or effort.
The 80/20 Principle , my earlier book, explained how to use the concept to increase company profits. I also included a short section explaining how the 80/20 principle could work in our personal lives, to increase success and happiness. This application to individuals caused tremendous controversy. Some critics said that it was a perfectly respectable business idea but that it would never work outside business. Yet readers who tried it out wrote to say that the principle had changed their lives.
The 80/20 Principle has been translated into 22 languages and has sold well over half a million copies. Starting as a business book, published by business houses , and sitting on the business shelves in bookstores, somehow it has also become used and appreciated as a self-help book. The idea seemed to work so well that readers who tried it told their friends, and the friends who read the book told their friends , starting a word-of- mouth sensation .
Seven years later, I receive a steady and increasing stream of letters and emails from people everywhere around the world. Very few mention their business. They simply say what the Big Idea has done for their happiness and effectiveness: how it has helped them concentrate on the few relationships and issues that are really important to them, increased their sense of freedom, turbo-boosted their careers, and enabled them to escape the rat-race treadmill. Using the principle, they say, has taken away the guilt that used to make them waste their time, working so hard at things that were not important to them. The 80/20 principle has put them back in touch with who they are and what they really want out of their lives.
This is certainly true for me personally . The 80/20 principle helped me realize what is important for me. In 1990 I ditched a conventional career. I quit being a management consultant and started living fully again. I knew that I had to remain fulfilled, which would involve some work, but I resolved that my life would drive my work and not the other way round. Since then, I ve worked extensively on projects ” writing books and being a lazy entrepreneur, by which I mean creating new businesses but not doing any of the hard work myself ” but only if they excited me.
With the exception of a year-long assignment in South Africa, I ve not held a proper job since my decision and I ve always allowed large tracts of time for family, friends, and sheer enjoyment of life. I have homes in London, Cape Town, and the sunniest part of Spain, and I take time to enjoy each place ” often with very good friends staying ” for several months a year. Yet I am not retired . By any objective standard, I m achieving far more with an extremely relaxed lifestyle than I ever did when I worked all the hours God sent.
I m utterly convinced that anyone can benefit hugely by working less and fulfilling their passions more. Rebalancing your life would not only create greater health and happiness, but probably also lead to far greater success ” however you define that.
The 80/20 Principle
introduces the idea behind the 80/20 Way
originally intended mainly for business readers
how do I use the 80/20 principle to raise the profits of my corporation, and to be more effective personally?
The 80/20 Individual
for managers and entrepreneurs
how can I use the 80/20 principle professionally, to create wealth and wellbeing as an individual?
The 80/20 Way
for everybody
how can I use the 80/20 principle personally, to become happy and successful?