The 80/20 Principle cover art

The 80/20 Principle

The Secret of Achieving More with Less

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The 80/20 Principle

By: Richard Koch
Narrated by: Richard Aspel
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About this listen

Learn how you can tap the hidden potential of the 80/20 principle in your life. Richard Koch is a highly successful entrepreneur and investor.

The 80/20 Principle - that 80 per cent of results flow from just 20 per cent of the causes - is the one true principle of highly effective people and organisations. In one of the decade's most original, provocative and powerful books, The 80/20 Principle shows how you can achieve much more with much less effort, time and resources, simply by concentrating on the all-important 20 per cent.

Astonishingly, though the 80/20 Principle has greatly influenced today's world, this is the first book which shows you how to use it in a systematic and practical way.

©1997 Richard Koch (P)2007 Bolinda Publishing Career Success Management Management & Leadership

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Editor reviews

Unlock the key to success with The 80/20 Principle, written by successful businessman and investor Richard Koch and narrated by Richard Aspel. Live out your dreams of reaping 80% success on as little as 20% of work through the steps laid out in this enlightening audiobook. Here Koch will teach you that if you put in effective and quality work, the results will go much further than you ever imagined. Learn from a master in business success and turn these steps into skills that you will use forever. Available now from Audible.

Critic reviews

"Congratulations! The 80/20 Principle is terrific." (Al Ries)
"Through multiple examples, and a punchy down-to-earth commentary, Koch offers the first really useful advice we've seen in a management book for years." (The Age)
"Richard Aspel does an excellent job of enlivening to this interesting discussion of the 80/20 rule-the Pareto Principle-which states that we get 80 percent of our results from 20 percent of our activity. Koch provides background information and examples in addition to getting down to practical advice on how to put energy where it will get the greatest results. As narrator, Aspel's sensitivity is so fine-tuned and palpable that it's arresting. His approach serves to relax and soothe listeners while they blissfully absorb the wisdom offered. This is a fascinating and highly enjoyable audio that a broad range of listeners will enjoy." (AudioFile Magazine)
"The Pareto Principle--in Koch's words, "a minority of causes, inputs, or effort usually lead [s] to a majority of the results, outputs, or rewards" --is hardly new; Vilfredo Pareto discovered it in 1897. But London-based investor, entrepreneur, and author Koch traces Pareto's insight through the past century (George K. Zipf, Joseph M. Juran, IBM and other computer firms) and adds a bit of chaos theory to make the 80/20 principle a way of life. He spells out essential characteristics of "80/20 analysis" and "80/20 thinking," then explores application of this "Vital Few" approach, first in business, then in achieving personal success and happiness. Koch closes with a chapter on the social implications of the Pareto Principle, urging that this predictable imbalance between inputs and outputs is "not inherently right wing," and that steps such as spreading best practices in education to all students and giving those currently excluded from the market economy a stake in the game would generate less inequality as well as greater productivity." (Booklist)
All stars
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I enjoyed the book immensely, and have returned to it often. But once I knew an audiobook version existed, I knew it made sense and that I had to have it. My MP3 player is more portable, and ironically takes up less than 20% of the space of the actual physical book, which I have since gifted to a friend. I now have Koch in my pocket to remind me to stop wasting time and effort. I would have preferred the author to have done the narration though, as I prefer to hear a story from the horse's mouth. Nevertheless, the philosophy of the book benefits from repeated listening. Some have argued that his philosophy could have been summarised in less than 20% of his book, a point I initially thought myself. But this criticism is acknowledged and addressed in the book itself. The point is not to eliminate 80% of everything, but to eliminate the majority of things you do not enjoy or that do not add value, and to multiply what does add joy or value. If you enjoy the ride, you should want the journey to last longer. I have wasted far more time on books and movies I did not enjoy and added nothing to my life. I would argue this philosophy is worth repeating, as becoming bogged down by trivial matters seems to be a deep human flaw. Merely flicking through the book or reading a summary would not likely yield results, or change your life, as it has mine. There are people who need to be smacked round the head with this book repeatedly. You know them. You've met them. They are those who watch mindless movies, trashy books, play point and click mini-games on Facebook for hours on end, etc. This book has made me constantly reassess my life and make massive changes. Sometimes the viewpoints are subtle. Sometimes they are blunt, even harsh. I have lost friends over this book. But all that showed was how weak those connections were in the first place. I have found a life/work balance as never before. Strongly recommended.

An excellent book...worth repeat listens

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What did you like most about The 80/20 Principle?

I agree with everything Richard Koch wrote. However I would have changed the phrasing of what you should do with the rest of the 80 of your time.

He hits the nail on the head on how to prioritize and work on tasks that achieve your objectives. However I agree with what most of his critics say about trying to turn 100 percent of all tasks into personal gainers.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The 80/20 Principle?

The outlining of his critics points. I think that is the bravest and most honourable thing he could have done.

Which character – as performed by Richard Aspel – was your favourite?

none

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

getting more done with less effort

Any additional comments?

If there was any advise I would give to the readers of this book, follow his advise but remember. Life is for living. Simply use the 20% of action to achieve your goals and enjoy the rest of the 80 of effort in living and enjoying life.

Summary - Must read! Must Learn! Must practice

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An interesting take on using the 80:20 rule or pareto principle in business and for personal success, The author presents the idea clearly and shows its effectiveness and while I don't agree with all his ideas I got a lot from it.

Good ideas well presented and worth listening to again

80:20

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This book puts meat on an expression I have heard many say but never implement It repeats the same idea but this worked for me in driving home the basic idea of the book. I now find myself seeing the 80/20 principle in action all over the place. A new window on the world.

For the time poor

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Good to mull over, but not earth-shattering in its content; lots of common sense. Worth having in the back of your mind

sound

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Any additional comments?

The 80/20 rule is a fascinating concept, but this is lost within this book. It will send you to sleep. 80% of this book is rubbish - 20% of the population might find a nugget in here; perhaps that was the authors intension to prove the rule.....

Terrible

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If you read the title of this book you already know the contents. Those words recur again and again. Save your money for something less toe-curling.

Highly repetitive

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Using the theme of the book, I have to say that 80% of the content could have been covered in 20% of the time.

The 80/20 principle is a valid principle, but once you've got your head around what it's all about you don't need to listen to endless examples and a lot of repetition.

A good principle, but too much repetition

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