The 80/20 Individual: How to Build on the 20% of What You Do Best

This book, a follow-on of previous writings on the Pereto rule, applies is to individual performance. Like "Now, Discover Your Strengths" and "StrengthFinder 2.0", this book recommends each individual focusing on their strengths (the 20% of things that they do the yield results, as opposed to the 80% that don't). It acts as an accelerator of success. Like the quote at the beginning of Chapter 2, "Give me a single place to stand, and a lever, and I will move the Earth." (Archimedes). This book sparked off some interesting dialogue on my professional blog at http://creativeoutletlabs.wordpress.com/2008/02/18/my-favorite-number/. Enjoy the book and discovering what makes you remarkable! Jennifer B. Davis http://jenniferbdavis.blogspot.com

Once in awhile when I feel there are a lot of things pulling at me all at once, I will read this book to guide me/ give me ideas to sort out all the pulls. Highly recommended for those who find works in the connected world expect us to attend to all details and requests immediately but we know that are not the right deals for us.

Author Richard Koch contends that individual initiative is responsible for most progress, given that 20% of entrepreneurs or innovators are responsible for 80% of results and new ideas. Koch focuses on how to be a successful entrepreneur by working with a small team of supporters. He discusses the importance of good ideas, great colleagues, a powerful value proposition, good partners and, of course, ample capital. He suggests a trend toward a new breed of corporations based on individualism, though Bill Gates and Warren Buffett alone do not necessarily make a trend. While Koch writes in a breezy, engaging style, the 80/20 mantra becomes generalized and repetitious. It's a popular expression, but does it always apply? The other chapters are more solid, though they restate known entrepreneurial principles and techniques, dressed in 80/20 lingo. As such, we suggest, they may be a good introduction for the new entrepreneur, if not for the rugged individual who has already mastered the percentages.