The Secret of Achieving More With Less

Posted by Allen Baird, Partner on Jan 10, 2008 in personal development | 0 comments

Richard Koch, The 80/20 Principle: The Secret of Achieving More With Less, Nicholas Brealey Publishing, 2006

Usually, any book with the word ‘secret’ in its title should be shunned. Not so here. This unique work blends economic description with self-help prescription in a wide-ranging and creative way. You may have heard of the Pereto Principle – also nicknamed The Principle of Least Effort, The Principle of Imbalance, and The Rule of the Vital Few – and wondered, “How come?” Koch provides the best answer yet, and in doing do, turns an obscure economic anomaly into something like a world-view.

This 80/20 Principle states that 80% of consequences (outputs) flow from 20% of causes (inputs). There is a lop-sided ratio (‘non-linearity’) between reward and effort in the universe. The trick of effective people and organisations is that they work with this ‘predictable imbalance’, not against it. How? By concentrating on the all-important 20%. This gives them the leverage to achieve much more with less effort, time and resources.

What is great about Koch’s book is that he applies his principle to a wide range of examples from business, personal and social spheres. Money is mentioned, but so is happiness. The style is punchy, practical and profound – a rare mixture. It demands multiple reading, not because it is difficult, but because it is shockingly simple, in the way E=MC² is simple.

Only a little of what we do in life really matters. Reading this book is one of those vital things.