THE 90/10 PRINCIPLE

[Guest guest]

THE 90/10 PRINCIPLEDiscover the 90/10 Principle: It will change your

life. The 90/10 principleis incredible! Very few know and apply this

principle. The Result? Millionsof people are suffering undeserved

stress, trials, problems, and heartache.They never seem to be a

success in life. Bad days follow bad days. Terriblethings seem to be

constantly happening. Theirs is constant stress, lack ofjoy, and

broken relationships. Worry consumes time, anger ruins friendshipsand

life seems dreary and is not enjoyed to the fullest. Friends are

lost.Life is a bore and often seems cruel. Does this describe you?

If so, donot be discouraged. You can be different! Understand and

apply the 90/10principle. It will change your life! 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 may be late arriving, which throws our whole

schedule off. A driver may cut us off in traffic. We have no control

overthis 10%. The other 90% is different. You determine the other

90%! How? Byyour 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! Let's use an example. You're eating breakfast with your

family. Your daughter knocks over a cup of coffee onto your business

shirt. You have nocontrol over what just happened. What happens next

will be determined by how you react. You curse. You harshly scold

your daughter for knocking thecoffee cup over. She breaks down in

tears. After scolding her, you turn toyour spouse and criticize them

for placing the cup too close to the edge of the table. A short

verbal battle follows. You storm upstairs and changeyour 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 driveyour

daughter to school. Because you are late, you drive 40 miles an

hourin a 30 mph speed zone. After a 15-minute delay and throwing $60

(traffic fine) away, you arrive atschool. Your daughter runs to the

building without saying good-bye. Afterarriving 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 andworse. You look

forward to going home. When you arrive home, you find asmall 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 timeto look through

the window and see your child getting on the bus. She turns and

waves. You and your spouse kiss before you both go to work. Youarrive

5 minutes early and cheerfully greet the staff. Your boss commentson

how good of a day you are having. Notice the difference. Two

differentscenarios. 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% is determined by your reaction.

Here are some ways to apply the 90/10 principle. If someone says

somethingnegative about you, do not be a sponge. Let the attack roll

off like wateron 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 the steering wheel? (A friend

of mine had the steering wheelfall off!) Do you curse? Does your blood

pressure skyrocket? Do you try andbump them? Who Cares if you arrive

ten seconds later at work? Why let thecars ruin your drive. Remember

the 90-10 principle, and do not worry about it!You are told you lost

your job. Why lose sleep or get irritated? It will work out. Use your

“worrying” time and energy 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 overwhat

is going on. Use your time to study, get to know the other

passenger,etc. Why get stressed out? It will just make things worse.

Now you know the 90-10 principle. Apply it and you will be amazed at

the results.By Arlen Busenitz