In Richard Koch’s book “The Breakthrough Principle of 16x” Koch discusses the 80/20 principle, and how you can achieve greater results with less effort.  What is the 80/20 principle?  Basically 20% of the effort brings 80% of the results.  For instance out of all of the dishes in the cupboard most likely 20% are used 80% of the time.  20% of a store’s customers account for 80% of the sales.  Most of the time when people watch TV, they watch 20% of the channels 80% of the time.  We don’t have to look far to see that the 80/20 principle is everywhere.  Although Koch’s entire book was influential, I found the smaller percent that had a greater effect on me.

Chapter 4, “Focus.” The chapter begins with an inspirational story of a man, this story tells how people don’t just gain success overnight, as a matter of fact this man of success began with repeated failure.  We should find the few things that are powerful and life changing.  Focus all of our efforts to these things, don’t waste effort on the bulky things that don’t matter.  This is how we can achieve greater results with less effort, focus hard on the things that are truly important, and block anything else out.

Chapter 6, “Do it your way.”  When I was a young child, I thought that once you finished college you would be trained how to do everything you ever need to do.  I soon learned that this was not the case, and that successful people are always learning.  I also came to realize there are billions of ways to do things.  The chapter explains how we should find which way works best, and most effectively.  Do it your way, do what works.  Plan A may work for one man, but plan R is maybe much better for another.  By doing it our own unique way we can achieve more with much less effort.