| "Things that matter most, must never be at the | | | | companies now offer retirement plans other than |
| mercy of things that matter least." Johann | | | | the 401K type plans. |
| Wolfgang von Goethe | | | | Box 2 people are typically professionals who have |
| Most of us don't work out what we want. And | | | | a drive for recognition by their peers or who |
| most of us end up with lopsided lives as a result. | | | | want to be the best in their field. They want to |
| We may get work right and relationships wrong | | | | be independent and do not fit well into |
| or the other way around. The 80/20 Principle | | | | organizations. If you are like this, you should |
| records this sorry state. Twenty percent of what | | | | become self-employed as quickly as possible. You |
| we do leads to 80 percent of the results. But 80 | | | | should also resist the temptation to employ other |
| percent of what we do leads to only 20 percent. | | | | people as they want to avoid professional |
| We are wasting 80 percent of out effort on | | | | dependence on others as far as possible. |
| low-value outcomes. | | | | Box 3 people have high drive and ambition, hate |
| If we follow the 80/20 Principle, we can work | | | | being employed but do not want the lonely life of |
| less, earn more, enjoy more, and achieve more. | | | | the sole trader. They may be unconventional, but |
| To do this we must start with a rounded view of | | | | they are builders: they want to build a web or a |
| everything we want. | | | | structure around themselves. They are |
| Do you enjoy life? | | | | tomorrow's entrepreneurs. If you want to work |
| Am I living with the right person or people? | | | | with other people, but not for them, you are a |
| Am I living in the right place? | | | | Box 3 person. |
| Am I working the right hours and do they match | | | | Box 4 people do not give a high drive for career |
| my ideal work/play rhythm, and suit my family | | | | achievement but do enjoy working with others. |
| and social needs? | | | | They would ensure that they spend many hours |
| Do I feel in control? | | | | a week doing so, either in a conventional job or in |
| Can I exercise or meditate when I want? | | | | a voluntary role. |
| Am I nearly always relaxed and comfortable with | | | | Box 5 people are not ambitious but do have a |
| my surroundings? | | | | strong desire for autonomy in their work. Rather |
| Does my lifestyle make it easy for me to be | | | | than set up their own firm, the best role for Box |
| creative and fulfill my potential? | | | | 5 people is as freelancers, working on particular |
| Do I have enough money and are my affairs | | | | projects for other firms to suit their own |
| organized so that I don't have to worry about | | | | convenience. |
| them? | | | | Box 6 people are individuals whose need for |
| Does the lifestyle facilitate whatever contribution I | | | | career achievement is low but who enjoy the |
| want to make to enriching the lives of people I | | | | process of organizing and developing others. Many |
| want to help? | | | | teachers, social workers, and charity workers are |
| Do I see my close friends enough? | | | | Box 6 people and are well suited to their roles. |
| Is the extent of travel in my life just right, not | | | | For Box 6 people the journey is everything; there |
| too much, or too little? | | | | is no need to arrive. |
| Is the lifestyle right for my partner and family | | | | Many people gravitate toward their "right" box, |
| too? | | | | but where alienation at work exists it is often |
| Do I have everything that I need right here: do I | | | | because the person is in the wrong box. |
| have it all? | | | | What about money? |
| What about work? | | | | What indeed! Most people think it's more |
| Almost everyone needs to work, whether it is | | | | important than it is and more difficult to get than |
| paid or not. We should not allow work to take | | | | it is. How do you obtain money in the first place? |
| over our lives, however much we claim to enjoy | | | | The best answer, one that works surprisingly |
| it. The 80/20 Principle can provide a good | | | | often, is to do something that you enjoy. |
| measure and a good way to see whether you | | | | If you enjoy something, you are likely to be good |
| should work more of less. If you are happier | | | | at it. If you are good at something, you can |
| outside of work than at work, you should work | | | | create something that will satisfy others and they |
| less and/or change your job. If you are happier at | | | | will generally pay you well for it. |
| work than outside of work, you should work | | | | Once you have a little spare cash, it can be easily |
| more and/or change your social life. You haven't | | | | multiplied. Save and invest. |
| got it right until you are equally happy at work | | | | I have a friend, Dave that does quite well |
| and not at work, and until you are happy at least | | | | pumping stocks. Dave has found some stocks |
| 80 percent of the time at work and 80 percent | | | | that are cyclic and he has set guide lines for |
| of the time not at work. | | | | buying and selling. When a stock reaches his high |
| There does not have to be any conflict between | | | | goal, he sells and then places a buy order at the |
| your work life and the things you enjoy outside | | | | low goal. When the stock reaches his low goal, he |
| of work. You may be able to work in an area | | | | buys and then places a sell order again at the high |
| that is your hobby or even turn your hobby into | | | | goal. He does not have to work hard or keep |
| a business. Enthusiasm can lead to success, it is | | | | track of the stocks, only waits for the orders to |
| often easier to make an enthusiasm into a career | | | | execute. |
| than to become enthusiastic about a career | | | | If this sounds complicated, then just buy a index |
| dictated by others. | | | | fund and hold it for the long haul. |
| Whatever you do, be clear about the optimum | | | | What about achievement? |
| point you are trying to reach and view it within | | | | There are people who want to achieve and then |
| your life's total context. This is easier said than | | | | there are sane people. All motivational writers fall |
| done: old habits are hard to break and the | | | | into the trap of telling you that you need direction |
| importance of a lifestyle is easily set aside for | | | | and purpose in life. Then they tell you that you |
| career. | | | | don't have it. Then they put you through the |
| Which type of career will make you happiest? | | | | agony of deciding what it should be. Finally, they |
| Do you have a high drive for achievement and | | | | tell you what they think you ought to do. |
| career success? | | | | So if you don't want to achieve anything specific |
| Would you be happiest working for an | | | | and are happy enough going through life having it |
| organization, as a self-employed and self- | | | | all (minus achievement), count yourself lucky and |
| contained individual, or employing other people? | | | | read no further. |
| Draw 6 boxes, three on top and three on the | | | | But if you want achievement and want to |
| bottom, label the upper three High and the lower | | | | increase it, the 80/20 Principle can help you. |
| three Low. From left to right label the left two, | | | | Achievement should be easy. It shouldn't be "99 |
| "Prefer working in organizations," middle two, | | | | percent perspiration and 1 percent inspiration." |
| "Prefer being a self-employed sole trader," right | | | | Instead, see if it's true that 80 percent of your |
| two, "Prefer employing or organizing others." | | | | achievement to date, measured by what you |
| Number the boxes 1 through 3 on the top and 4 | | | | yourself value, has come from 20 percent of |
| through 6 on the bottom. Try to select the box | | | | your inputs. If true or nearly true, then think |
| that describes you best. | | | | carefully about this top 20 percent. Could you |
| Box 1 people are highly ambitious but prefer to | | | | simply repeat the achievements? Upgrade them? |
| work in a context organized and provided by | | | | Reproduce similar ones on a grander scale? |
| others. These jobs are with large organizations | | | | Combine two previous achievements to |
| and the need for these jobs may be falling. If you | | | | compound the satisfaction? |
| want this type of role, you should recognize this | | | | What about relationships? |
| and pursue your ambition, however unfashionable | | | | We've dealt with work, with lifestyle, with money, |
| it may become. Large organizations still provide | | | | and with achievement. To have it all, you also |
| structure and status even if they can no longer | | | | need a few satisfying relationships. This will require |
| provide security. I retired from this type of | | | | another article or read The 80/20 Principle, By |
| organization at a time when they did provide | | | | Richard Koch, ISBN 0-385-49174-3. |
| security in the form of a retirement plan. Few | | | | |