SUBMITTED BY ALEXANDRIA DUCKSWORTH
The 80/20 Manager is an excellent guide for those who want to receive more by doing less. The 80/20 Principle is a productivity method of achieving great outcomes with little effort by accomplishing the most important projects first. This principle is also called the “Pareto Principle” after Italian economist and philosopher Vilfredo Pareto (1848-1923). He wrote “Course d’Economie Politique,” an academic paper about the elite 20% who controlled 80% of Italy during his time. A small group can produce big results.
Author Richard Koch presents many examples in his book how the 80/20 principle worked for him as an entrepreneur and a managing consultant. He outlines ten ways the 80/20 principle can be used, like time-rich management and simplification. Apple’s iPhone was Koch’s core example of simplification. The iPhone is one product (20% work) with many functions: internet, GPS, video recording, and more (80% results). Therefore, Apple has become wildly successful and prolific with the iPhone as opposed to many products with limiting operations (still, Apple make more than just phones).
The 80/20 Manager is aimed at those in business but it can be used by anybody for anything! Since I’ve read this book, my productivity habits have sharply upgraded. Every chapter was filled with rich, useful information. Instead of racing to get everything done by nightfall, knock out the work with the greatest impact and a huge chunk of the day is already done while the sun is still up.