The 80/20 Principle by Richard Koch: A Review

The book talks about a pattern which has baffled professionals like economists and investors since forever. This pattern is observed everywhere and nobody can explain why. The author talks about the 80/20 rule. A strange phenomenon which states that a lot is actually a by-product of a lot less. It states that how only 20% effort is required to get 80% results; how only 20% of our actions constitute repercussions which shape 80% of our lives. Using this principle, the author suggests a way to excel in life, both personal and professional. He also shares some business tips and tactics to succeed in career as well. He starts with explaining how pervasive the 80/20 principle is. He states the actual statistics might differ but the gist of it remains the same- “A lot more, was once a lot less”. He explains how our regular way of life is absolutely absurd if we’re looking to bring about drastic positive change in our lives. Then he also explains business strategies in purview of the same and how employees and employers can extract the most from their skills to achieve critical success for their organisation. But mostly, for the later part the book covers the universal nature of the rule and how to use its influence in our lives in the most positive manner possible.

The author asks the audience to work less but work in a manner to get noticed and earn more. Similarly he suggests to give little time but with full attention to personal relationships to strengthen them and make them act as a pillar of support in your life instead of being another source of stress. The author eccentrically enough asks the readers to forget time planning and undergo a total overhaul of their schedules; be lazy but be competent; employ unconventional investment strategies, etc. Then he asks the audience to believe in their sub- consciousness and don something which they inherently find pleasant.

All in all, I found the book a very interesting read. The author is not only insightful but also humorous and even radically innovative at times. The chapters in the middle about running a business through the 80/20 principle might not appeal to everyone as they have some technical terms and processes but the rest of it was a very well thought after effort on the part of the author in order to give us his life’s wisdom of succeeding though a weird but powerful phenomenon- the 80/20 principle.