In the early 1900s, an Italian renaissance man Vilfredo Pareto introduced a concept. The concept now known as The Pareto Principle is a rule that states in most situations roughly 80% of the outcomes emanate from 20% of the sources.
Pareto Principle: Inside The Numbers
From the observation of land ownership in Italy and the growth of Vilfredo Pareto’s garden, a socio-economic theory was born. Today, business owners not only believe this 80/20 theory but they apply it in a number of ways. For example, business owners understand that:
- 80% of profits come from 20% of the customers
- 80% of internal grievances come from 20% of the staff
- 80% of profits come from the efforts of 20% of the employees
- 80% of customer complaints comes from 20% of the sales
The aforementioned is not an exhaustive list of the economic applications of the Pareto Principle but merely a few examples which now make up a business rule of thumb. In short, business owners expect 80% of everything good to come from 20% of the possibilities and 80% of everything bad to originate from 20% of the possibilities.
Vital Minority
The Pareto Principle also delineates the importance and power of great parenting and the danger and influence of mediocre to sub-par parenting. When the Pareto Principle is applied to the outcomes in our children’s lives, we recognize that 80% of everything that happens to children on a daily basis originates from the interactions with 20% of the people in their daily life. As it is in business, there are a few rules of thumbs parents should make note:
- 80% of bullying originates from 20% of students
- 80% of children’s academic success originates from 20% of their teachers
- 80% of a lack of self-confidence emanates from 20% of their surroundings
- 80% of what is learned occurs within 20% of the school day
As with business, the application of the Pareto Principle to our children’s lives has unlimited permutations. However, what I hope is singularly apparent is the influence created by 20% or 2 out of every 10 people in our children’s lives.
Silent Majority
As Pareto revealed, 2 out of 10 people can make all the difference in the world of a child. Thus, every child should have and needs no less than two people who encourage, inspire, guide, support, protect, educate and love them. Ironically, every child is born with a pair of parents – 2 people – who make up the 20% who account for 80% of our children’s outcomes and disposition.
This is why the role of a parent cannot and should not be understated. Parental involvement and interactions with children can make all the difference in the world. Without immersed and connected parenting, a child’s journey becomes elongated and perilous.
As such, the next time you doubt the influence your words may have, choose not to attend a school function or question your need to get involved in your child’s personal life, remember the Pareto Principle. It only takes 2 in 10 people to make a child’s day positive or negative. It only takes 2 in 10 people to convince your child that life has immense possibilities or that life is worthless.
It All Adds Up
Finally, I’d like you to consider and answer which 20% are you apart.
Are you one of the 2 in 10 people who your children can count on to encourage, inspire, guide, support, protect, educate and love them or are you one of the 2 in 10 people your children can count on to discourage, bore, mislead, abandon, damage, fail and despise them?
Sixty percent of the people in your children’s life are silent while twenty percent are willing, scheming and planning to work against them. Pareto’s Principle adds up just how important it is that you stand with and stand up for your children. Numbers don’t lie! It just takes two! Your children need you now and they are counting on you now more than ever!
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