90/10 Principle - by Stephen Covey

Author: Stephen Covey
Discover the 90/10 Principle
It will change your life
(or at least, the way you react to the 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 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. However you can 
control your reaction. Do not let people fool you. 
YOU can control how you react.

Let us use an example...

You are having breakfast with your family.
Your daughter knocks over a cup of coffee onto 
your business shirt. You have no control over what 
has 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. And scolding her, you turn 
to your wife and you 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 her breakfast and getting 
ready to go to 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 mph in 30 mph 
speed limit zone. After a 15-minute delay and throwing 
$60.00 traffic fine away, you arrive at school.
Your daughter runs into the building without saying 
goodbye. After arriving at the office 20 minute late, 
you realize you forgot your briefcase. Your day 
started terrible. As it continues, it seems to get 
worse and worse. You look forward to coming 
home. When you arrive home, you find a small wedge 
in your relationship with your wife 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 of what had 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: 
"It's okay, honey, you just need to be more careful next time."
Grabbing a towel you go upstairs and change your shirt.
You grab your briefcase, and 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 a cheerfully greet the staff.

Notice the difference?

Two different scenarios.
Both started the same.
Both ended different.
Why?
Because of how you reacted.
You really have no control over 10% of what happens in 
your life. The other 90% was determined by your reaction.

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?
You will see by yourself!

Millions of people are suffering from undeserved stress,
trials, problems and headaches.
We all must understand and apply the 90/10 principle.
It can change your life!
**Enjoy it**
It only gives willpower to give ourselves permission to 
make the experience. Absolutely everything we do, give, 
say, or even think, its like a Boomerang. It will come 
back to us. It we want to receive, we need to learn 
to give it first... May be we will end with our 
hands empty, but our heart will be filled with love...
And those who love life, have that feeling marked in their hearts...