90/10 Principle
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, etc.
The other 90% is different. You determine the other 90%.
How?
By your reaction. You cannot control a red light, but you can control your reaction.
Don’t let people fool you; YOU can control how you react.
Here is 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 ” D”.
You 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, “It’s 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?
Why? Because of how you REACTED.
If someone says something negative about you, don’t be a sponge. Let the attack roll off
like water on glass. You don’t have to let the negative comment affect you! React properly and it
will not ruin your day.
We all must understand and apply the 90/10 principle.
It CAN change your life!!!
Related ~
This is really a wonderful article. this really touches heart and show us to be control on us. I really like this article.
Thank you. Rohit.. :)
This has really left a great impact on my life. i will never react stupidly again.
hi mr micheal sync, your positive article realy touched me and i decided to pass it down to mydownline.and that i would want to read more from your many article