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Steven Covey's 90/10 principles

Some of my colleagues got to go for a RM2k external training on 7 habits of highly effective ppl.
Over lunch, I joked about them using my HRDF fund (mine is never been used).
Trainings would work if employees have the right mindset/attitude.

Not being the 'senior' in the dept, sometimes, I felt very difficult dealing with those old 'seniors'. I have got to get through their old minds and at the same time, taking care of their feelings.

Darn Darn darn.. T0day, I had to talk to her who has communication problem!!
Is that what we mean by ATTITUDE problem?
I take it positively and DO What I think is RIGHT!

and.. was reading an email forwarded:
The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude to me is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than success, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, gift, or skill. It will make or break a company...a church...a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past...we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10 percent what happens to me and 90 percent how I react to it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our attitudes.

-- Charles Swindoll



Then..... I searched the internet for the email that we always receive:


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, which throws our whole schedule off.
A driver may cut us off in traffic.
We have no control over this 10%.
The other 90% is different.
You determine the other 90%.

How? By your reaction. You cannot control a red light.
However, you can control your reaction.
Do not let people fool you; YOU can control how you react.

Let us use an 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 happened.
What happens 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 zone.
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?
Answer:
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, "Its 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.
our boss comments on how good the day you are having.

Notice the difference?

Two different scenarios. 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% was determined by your reaction.

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

If someone says something negative about you, do not be a sponge.
Let the attack roll off like water on 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 on the steering wheel? (A friend of mine had the steering wheel fall off)
Do you curse?
Does your blood pressure skyrocket?
Do you try to bump them?

WHO CARES if you arrive ten seconds later at work?
Why let the cars ruin your drive.
Remember the 90/10 principle, and do not worry about it.

You are told you lost your job. Why lose sleep and get irritated?
It will work out. Use your worrying energy and time 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 over what is going on.
Use your time to study, get to know the other passenger.

Why are you 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.
You will lose nothing if you try it.

The 90/10 principle is incredible. Very few know and apply this principle.

The result?
Millions of people are suffering from undeserved stress, trials, problems and heartache.

We all must understand and apply the 90/10 principle.
It CAN change your life!

Comments

Kiddos said…
yeah true.. if everyone is like that, what a peaceful world we have.

But it takes time to change ones mindset. Let's start with ourselves.
meiyi said…
it's difficult because we were not taught that way.. upbringing issues!

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