The 80/20 Principle

While a was reading another blog this morning, I was reminded of a principle that has been around from some time. It was created by Vilfredo Pareto who “noted the consistently lopsided relationship between inputs and outputs” and ever since we’ve called it the 80/20 Principle. This statistical pattern that 20 percent of your effort produces 80 percent of the results is universal.

The 80/20 principle is all around us. From a buinsess prerspective, the 80/20 principle goes like this:
• 20 percent of your donors give 80 percent of the budget
• 80 percent of your sales come from 20 percent of your customers
• One-fifth of your time (equivalent to one day a week) produces 80 percent of your important work
• 80 percent of your people problems come from 20 percent of your staff
• 20 percent of your volunteers do 80 percent of the work

What sucks us into the negative side of the 80/20 principle are low-value use of your time.

Things like, things other people want you to do, things that have always been done this way, things you don’t enjoy doing, things that are always interrupted.

But on the positive side, there are two things that can produce alot of wonderful things . The two I am thinking of include “things that you can get other people to do for you with relatively little effort on your part,” and “things for which it is now or never.” Can you relate?

As we look toward another wonderful year, let the 80/20 principle effect your planning and outcomes.

Have a Great Day

David

To close or not to close

Last week, we had a little storm blow through here in Oregon and the discussion started around the leadership team wither the weather should have an effect on our services. in the 11 years our church has been open, we have only closed once because the person that was to unlock the building (the High School we were using) put his car into the ditch (it was snowy). Other then that, we have been very fortunate.

In respect to our main services on Sunday’s, we understand that weather conditions in our area can vary substantially from one neighborhood to the next.

I also realize that being in a neighborhood, there might be some who can walk to church and would like to fellowship with us. SO

With that those thoughts, I normally do all that I can to keep our place open for main events.

HOWEVER, even though the building may be open or an event has not been cancelled, people need to decide whether conditions in your area will allow for safe travel.

I think the only reason we would close our main service is if the building its self was unsafe or that the city would close the roads leading to our facility

Is that to harsh .. I hope not.

Have a Great Day

David

Time for God

The New York Times, Los Angeles Times and The Charlotte Observer). The news recently hasn't been all that encouraging on the economic front:

• The jobless rate has jumped to a 14-year high.
• College campuses are experiencing the tightest belt-tightening in years (even the Ivy League ones).
• GM and Ford lost over $75 million a day in the last quarter.
• Banks are restricting credit everywhere.
• People are losing their homes at an alarming rate.

When Jesus was concluding his 40-day fast in the wilderness, he was challenged by the devil to exercise his power to change the stones before him into bread. It made sense, the fast was over and since he had created the earth, it was within his power to command creation towards any end that he deemed necessary. But Jesus responded by quoting something out of the Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 8:3) when he said "Man shall not live by bread alone."

The context of the original verse revolved around God's revelation that Israel's journey thorough the wilderness would be His opportunity to use that occasion to build a complete dependence on Him. The manna was God's immediate answer to their dilemma, and with no options left but Him they would soon discover that every day He would show up and meet their need.

While sound financial management is always important, it's just too easy to default to our present economic answer being the reduction of oil prices, increased consumer spending, bail-out incentives across the globe or reduced interest rates. Given the choice to grab a lifeline, let's opt for "every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord!" (Deuteronomy 8:3). Rumor has it that shoes and clothes last longer in that economy!

Have a Great Day

David