The 90/10 Principle

Author: Stephen Covey

Discover the 90/10 Principle.

It will change your life (at least the way you react
to situations).

What is this principle?

10% of life is made up of what happens to you.
90% of life is decided by how you react.

What does this mean?

We really have no control over 10% of what happens to
us - We cannot stop the car from breaking down. The
plane will be late arriving, which throws our whole
schedule off. A driver may cut us off in traffic.

We have no control over this 10%.
The other 90% is different.
You determine the other 90%.

How? By your reaction!

You cannot control a red light. but you can control
your reaction. Don't let people fool you; YOU can
control how you react.

Let's use an example:

You are eating breakfast with your family. Your
daughter knocks over a cup of coffee onto your
business shirt. You have no control over what just
happened.

What happens next will be determined by how you react.

You curse.

You harshly scold your daughter for knocking the cup
over. She breaks down in tears. After scolding her,
you turn to your spouse and criticize her for placing
the cup too close to the edge of the table. A short
verbal battle follows. You storm upstairs and change
your shirt. Back downstairs, you find your daughter
has been too busy crying to finish breakfast and get
ready for school. She misses the bus.

Your spouse must leave immediately for work. You rush
to the car and drive your daughter to school. Because
you are late, you drive 40 miles an hour in a 30 mph
speed limit.

After a 15-minute delay and throwing $60 traffic fine
away, you arrive at school. Your daughter runs into
the building without saying goodbye. After arriving at
the office 20 minutes late, you find you forgot your
briefcase. Your day has started terrible. As it
continues, it seems to get worse and worse. You look
forward to coming home.

When you arrive home, you find small wedge in your
relationship with your spouse and daughter.

Why?

Because of how you reacted in the morning.

Why did you have a bad day?
A) Did the coffee cause it?
B) Did your daughter cause it?
C) Did the policeman cause it?
D) Did you cause it?

The answer is “D".

You had no control over what happened with the coffee.
How you reacted in those 5 seconds is what caused your
bad day.

Here is what could have and should have happened.

Coffee splashes over you. Your daughter is about to
cry. You gently say, "Its ok honey, you just need to
be more careful next time". Grabbing a towel you rush
upstairs. After grabbing a new shirt and your
briefcase, you come back down in time to look through
the window and see your child getting on the bus. She
turns and waves. You arrive 5 minutes early and
cheerfully greet the staff. Your boss comments on how
good the day you are having.

Notice the difference?

Two different scenarios. Both started the same. Both
ended different.

Why?

Because of how you REACTED.

You really do not have any control over 10% of what
happens. The other 90% was determined by your
reaction.

Here are some ways to apply the 90/10 principle. If
someone says something negative about you, don't be a
sponge. Let the attack roll off like water on glass.
You don't have to let the negative comment affect you!

React properly and it will not ruin your day. A wrong
reaction could result in losing a friend, being fired,
getting stressed out etc.

How do you react if someone cuts you off in traffic?
Do you lose your temper? Pound on the steering wheel?
A friend of mine had the steering wheel fall off) Do
you curse? Does your blood pressure skyrocket? Do you
try and bump them?

WHO CARES if you arrive ten seconds later at work? Why
let the cars ruin your drive?

Remember the 90/10 principle, and do not worry about
it.

You are told you lost your job.

Why lose sleep and get irritated?

It will work out. Use your worrying energy and time
into finding another job.

The plane is late; it is going to mangle your schedule
for the day. Why take outpour frustration on the
flight attendant? She has no control over what is
going on.

Use your time to study, get to know the other
passenger. Why get stressed out? It will just make
things worse.

Now you know the 90-10 principle. Apply it and you
will be amazed at the results. You will lose nothing
if you try it. The 90-10 principle is incredible. Very
few know and apply this principle.

The result?

Millions of people are suffering from undeserved
stress, trials, problems and heartache. We all must
understand and apply the 90/10 principle.

It CAN change your life!!!

Enjoy!