One book that's changed my business and my life...

by 12 replies
15
Most people have heard about, or know about the 80/20 principle.

If you haven't yet, check out the books written by Richard Koch...
he has written several on the 80/20 principle.

I was first turned on to his books by Ken McCarthy when he
mentioned them in his System Letters (another great read)

I've read and reread "Living the 80/20 Way" several times in the
past year... and must say it's changed my life.

Now, sure... most of my income comes from close to 20% of
my clients... those who I've set up long term deals and relationships
with.

But here's how the 80/20 method has helped me in other ways.

In my businesses... I know that 20% of what I do will give me
80% of my results... so now, I'll spend time really focusing on
those key areas that lead to most of my success.

Before, I'd just spend a ton of time on everything like I normally
would... putting out fires here and there, responding to emails,
etc...

Since following the 80/20 method... I really only focus on those
most important things in my business... those things that will
directly bring in money... and then i just let the rest just
float away.

When I used to spend 10 hour work days focusing on
every single aspect of my businesses... I'm starting to
get it down to 3 to 4 hours or less... simply by focusing
on the top 20% of my activities that lead to 80% of my
income.

Another key area I've used it? My daily life and in my
personal quest for happiness.

The book mentions how 80% of our happiness will come
from 20% of our activities... so once again, I strive to
really "look into" my day to day life and see what makes
me the happiest.

Then, I just do more of those things and drop the rest.

Most people don't really get the power of the 80/20
principle. I mean, they say they "get it" but rarely
do they practice it.

I know.. I was one of them.

But I must say... ever since i've been trying to focus
on the 20% of ANYTHING in my life that produces most
of the results... my income and happiness has definitely
increased.

These days, i find myself doing those few activities
that I truly enjoy.

I find myself focusing on those few activities that
actually bring in money.

And sure enough, even in this short time, i'm getting
a higher payoff in less time spent.

If you haven't done it yet, check out Richard Koch
and his books... I personally found "Living the 80/20
Way" to be an easier read than the "80/20 Principle"
but either one can change your life... if you practice it.
#copywriting #book #business #changed #life
  • BS

    It's all BS.

    Think about this...you're being programed to believe in the 80/20 thing.

    Sounds good on paper.

    Let's face it Shawn...anything you sell someone with enough hype will be believable.

    It's all a sales ploy...

    It's a hook...

    You fell for it.

    It sold a lot of books. Should be a lot of people bringing home some serious bank after reading this. Not happening.
    • [1] reply

    • I'm confused as to what I "fell for"

      So, the fact that I'm making more money
      by focusing on fewer things... that's "falling for something"

      Or that I choose to focus on doing those things
      that bring me happiness... that's "falling for something"

      If so, then I'll happily fall for it any day.

      So, if someone bought a weight loss program
      and lost a lot of weight... they "fell for that"?

      Everyone has their own opinion... and that's
      all I'm offering... but to tell someone they "fell"
      for something after getting good results... doesn't
      make sense.
      • [1] reply
  • [DELETED]
  • [DELETED]
  • I have a confession to make.

    I love...

    Falling for things...

    That make me more money.

    If there's something wrong with that, then please show me the right way.
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
  • Max,

    For goodness sake if Shawn liked the book, and as he said, it transformed his life then it was money well spent.

    You and me might think the 80 - 20 thing could have been explained in a paragraph.

    But that wouldn't make the author any money and Shawn and millions of others would probably never have heard about it.

    And the good news is - it's often the simple things that make the biggest difference.


    Steve
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
    • [1] reply
    • That's BS.

      LOL...I'm in one of those moods tonight.

      Frankly, I'm pissed that I spend so much time on this site.

      I've been doing this marketing/sales thing for almost 30 years.

      I don't need another private jet, another Bentley, etc.

      80/20 is a great idea...
      • [1] reply
  • For some concrete examples...

    I've found that 20% of keywords on adwords account for almost all of
    my traffic and sales.

    Speaking of Google... I've tried every traffic source out there, and
    have found Google adwords and media buys to produce a lot of my
    income.

    So now, instead of tinkering with 20 other traffic sources, I increase
    my spend on those 2.

    For my magazine advertising... Men's Health produced a better
    ROI than 8 other magazines. so I upped my spend for a bigger
    ad in that one mag.

    When I go to the gym, I get bored pretty easy except when
    doing high intensity circuit training, which takes me about
    15 minutes. so the past 2 months, i've been sticking with
    just that and have actually gotten in better shape.

    Tabata training gives you results in a short time because
    it uses the 80/20 rule of doing just those exercises that
    matter... dropping the rest.

    About 10% of my affiliates used to account for 90% of
    my affiliate sales.

    When testing copy, most of my conversion increases
    have come from only changing the headline and nothing
    else.

    Bottom line, no matter if you call it Pareto or 80/20...
    all i'm saying is just focus more on the things that
    make a difference instead of spreading yourself too thin.

    Now, the one area it hasn't worked in...

    100% of what my wife tells me still accounts for
    100% of me not listening to her...
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
    • [1] reply
    • 20% of my success came from writing reports for Mens Health.

      I was one of the first ones that wrote a special report for Rodale.

      80% or my responses now come from idiots who have no clue.
      • [ 1 ] Thanks

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