My Favorite Number

It may be a bit silly, but 16 has always been my favorite number.  Perhaps it was because I was raised on Disney heroines who always seemed to start their adventures at sixteen.  Whatever the reason, I always knew I liked the number, but now I have a new reason why.

 In Richard Koch’s book The 80/20 Individual, he discusses Pareto’s famous 80/20 rule.  You may recall this concept that states that 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes.  It applies to good things like 80% of the revenue comes from 20% of the customers or 20% of the products. It also applies to things like 80% of crimes are caused by 20% of the criminals.  Although the actual percentages will be different, the principle is the same.  There are a critical few that make all the difference.  In this book, he applies the principle to individual performance and says that by focusing on our own critical few talents and abilities, we can accomplish more.

So, what does that have to do with 16?  Let’s do the math.  If the vital group of 20% produces 80% of the results, that is a 1:4 ratio.  In contrast, if the “trivial group” consists of 80% of the people, but 20% of the results, the ratio is 4:1.  The difference between these is 16.  Essentially, the vital group accomplishes 16 times more than the trivial group in any particular measure.

 I have written about this in the past and will be spending more time exploring the concept of strengths-based focus in coming issues.  After all, it is what makes you remarkable!

Working Like a Dog

I read an interesting article in O Magazine the other day that I have been thinking about.  It said that in order to avoid burn-out and enjoy success we should all “work like dogs.”  Said another, way if a dog is good at retrieving, he should retrieve.  If she is good at distinguishing things with our sense of smell, that is what she should do.  Bloodhounds shouldn’t worry about trying to be good pointers or cattle herders.  Dogs play to their strengths, and so should we.

 I loved Marcus Buckingham’s book on the topic called Now, Discover Your Strengths.  I have heard others like StrengthsFinder 2.0 for the same reason.  Both include an online survey that identifies your strengths (under the supposition that things you enjoy and are confident in are probably your strengths).  I believe you will find it very interesting!

 The development team for Remarkable has taken this and found a lot of complementary and diverse strengths.  I know it will lead to some great collaboration and in the end, a stronger business and product!