Discover the 90/10 Principle by Stephen Covey

(This image got nothing to do with my entry but I just love this picture)

This is the first thing that I read this morning (apart from the headline in the paper where our PM is admiting the causes of BN loses)

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 happen to us. We cannot stop the car from breaking down. The plane 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 traffic 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. You daughter knocks over a cup of coffee onto your office 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 criticise her for placing the cup too close to the edge of the table. A short verbal battle follows. You storm upstairs and change you 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 100 km an hour in a 80 km speed limit.

After a 15-minute delay and $150 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 just 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 have 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 say something negative about you, don’t be s sponge. Let the attack roll off like water on a glass. You don’t let the negative comment affect you!

React properly and it will not ruin your day. A wrong reaction could result in losing a friend, 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?
Do you curse?
Does your blood pressure skyrockets?
Do you try and bump them?

WHO CARES if your arrive ten seconds later at work? Why let the cars ruin your drive?
Remember the 90/10 principle and do not worry about it.

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

Make your time to study, get to know the other passenger. Why get stressed out? It will just make thing 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, problems and heartache. We all must understand and apply the 90/10 principle.

IT CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE!!!!!!

ENJOY ........