WORTH READING 28 Sep 2007

90/10 Principle
By: Steven Covey

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 cannot stop the car
from breaking down. The plane will be late 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 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 eating
breakfast with your family. Your daughter knocks over a cup of coffee
onto your business shirt. You have no control over what just what
happened. What happens when the 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 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 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 40 miles
an hour in a 30 mph speed limit. After a 15-minute delay and throwing
$60 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 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? DYou had 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 says something negative about you, do not be
a sponge. Let the attack roll off like water on glass. You do not have
to let the negative comment affect you! React properly and it will not
ruin your day. A wrong reaction could result in losing a friend, being
fired, 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? A
friend of mine had the steering wheel fall off.Do you curse? Does your
blood pressure skyrocket? Do you try to bump them? WHO CARES if you
arrive ten seconds later at work? Why let the cars ruin your drive.
Remember the 90/10 principle, and do not worry about it. You are told
you lost your job. Why lose sleep and get irritated? It will work out.
Use your worrying energy and time into finding another job. The plane is
late; it is going to mangle your schedule for the day. Why take out your
frustration on the flight attendant? She has no control over what is
going on. Use your time to study or get to know the other passenger. Why
are you stressed out? It will just make things worse. Now you know
the90-10 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, trials, problems and heartache. We all
must understand and apply the 90/10 principle. It CAN change your life!

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