Customer Reviews

The 80/20 Individual: How to Build on the 20% of What You do Best

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

After reading the 80/20 Individual without reading Koch's first book, I can say it is well worth the read on its own. The initial chapters of the book seemed like an autobiography to me and, frightfully, I almost put it down. But the author jumps off this base of case studies and solid historical references (besides being a hugely successful entrepreneur/consultant, Koch has also a history degree in his pocket), head-first into solid, practical content. I loved the no-nonsense language. The author takes the natural selection process of business life at face-value, even referring to the value-creating knowledge from a century of capitalism as "business genes." And without spoiling the story, I would summarize the idea as this: Take the absolute best of yourself, consumate your talents with the absolute best business genes you can seduce, and leverage the combination with a business structure that places you in the direct path of credit for the results. True to the buyline on the cover, this book "shows you how".

This book was good but I enjoyed the previous book The 80/20 Principle more. My reason for that is that much of what was covered in the 80/20 Individual was just a regurgitation of the 80/20 Principle.

Author Richard Koch contends that individual initiative is responsible for most progress, given that 20% of entrepreneurs or innovators are responsible for 80% of results and new ideas. Koch focuses on how to be a successful entrepreneur by working with a small team of supporters. He discusses the importance of good ideas, great colleagues, a powerful value proposition, good partners and, of course, ample capital. He suggests a trend toward a new breed of corporations based on individualism, though Bill Gates and Warren Buffett alone do not necessarily make a trend. While Koch writes in a breezy, engaging style, the 80/20 mantra becomes generalized and repetitious. It's a popular expression, but does it always apply? The other chapters are more solid, though they restate known entrepreneurial principles and techniques, dressed in 80/20 lingo. As such, we suggest, they may be a good introduction for the new entrepreneur, if not for the rugged individual who has already mastered the percentages.

This book was a complete waste of time. I'm glad that I got it from the library before making the mistake of buying it. I suggest you do the same.

With that said, Koch's first book The 80/20 Principle is definitely worth reading. Just a little warning, his first book is filled with a LOT of information. Read the first section and ONLY the remaining sections that pertain to you (ironically that is his advice for other books). I read the section for individuals, and was able to immediately apply some of the information to better my life.

Author Richard Koch contends that individual initiative is responsible for most progress, given that 20% of entrepreneurs or innovators are responsible for 80% of results and new ideas. Koch focuses on how to be a successful entrepreneur by working with a small team of supporters. He discusses the importance of good ideas, great colleagues, a powerful value proposition, good partners and, of course, ample capital. He suggests a trend toward a new breed of corporations based on individualism, though Bill Gates and Warren Buffett alone do not necessarily make a trend. While Koch writes in a breezy, engaging style, the 80/20 mantra becomes generalized and repetitious. It's a popular expression, but does it always apply? The other chapters are more solid, though they restate known entrepreneurial principles and techniques, dressed in 80/20 lingo. As such, we suggest, they may be a good introduction for the new entrepreneur, if not for the rugged individual who has already mastered the percentages.

This book is the best book I've read this year, giving concrete ideas on how to get more, I do mean more, in your life. Whatever your passion, be it starting a business, or in his case businesses, hobbies, relationships.

One exercise Koch suggests is coming up with a list of your 10 best friends and rate them 1-10 (that in itself was fascinating) then put a percentage next to each friend. Are you spending the right amount of time with your closest, or more time with those less dear to you?

His many insights will lead you in new ways to think about your life, your business, your family and friends.


If you want to find new ways to think about your life, if you are in a rut and can't figure out what to do, if you are like me always busy and sometimes wondering am I doing the right things--this is a book for you.


Richard Koch has written on this subject before and this is the best book for the individual.

This book, a follow-on of previous writings on the Pereto rule, applies is to individual performance. Like "Now, Discover Your Strengths" and "StrengthFinder 2.0", this book recommends each individual focusing on their strengths (the 20% of things that they do the yield results, as opposed to the 80% that don't). It acts as an accelerator of success. Like the quote at the beginning of Chapter 2, "Give me a single place to stand, and a lever, and I will move the Earth." (Archimedes). This book sparked off some interesting dialogue on my professional blog at http://creativeoutletlabs.wordpress.com/2008/02/18/my-favorite-number/. Enjoy the book and discovering what makes you remarkable!

Jennifer B. Davis
http://jenniferbdavis.blogspot.com

Once in awhile when I feel there are a lot of things pulling at me all at once, I will read this book to guide me/ give me ideas to sort out all the pulls. Highly recommended for those who find works in the connected world expect us to attend to all details and requests immediately but we know that are not the right deals for us.

What can I say about this book. Everybody must understand 80-20, that is the key of successful. This is it! the first book is better.