80/20 Daily: Your Day-by-Day Guide to Happier, Healthier, and More Successful Living Using the 8020 Principle

by Richard Koch

From the bestselling author of The 80/20 Principle, a book of daily advice to help you live better for less effort In The80/20 Daily, Richard Koch draws on insights from a life devoted to living the 80/20 way to create a day-by-day guide to successful living. Every day he shares insights and meditations on achieving success and cultivating intelligent laziness, themed by topic and covering all the big questions from happiness and self-belief, to relationships and money. As you go through the year, you'll discover that in all these areas, very few inputs are decisive in delivering results, leaving you more time to get on with doing what you love.The 80/20 Daily is the first thing you'll turn to when you wake up to discover new ways to become happier, better off, less stressed and more successful.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Personal Development

288 pages, Paperback

Published October 8, 2024

Reviews

[Literary Redhead · Rating 4 out of 5]

A helpful guide on how to use the 80-20 rule to reduce stress, be more productive, and achieve more happiness, with loads of instructive examples. Recommended!

[Janall · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read this book in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are my own.
Im sure there is an audience for this book, but im not it. While I was initially excited to read it because I agree with the 80/20 principles- about 80% of how we spend our time in meaningless. It is the 20% that really drive us forward. Ideally the goal is to spend less time of the meaningless stuff.

I found the writing to to be glib and condescending, and very very dry. The advice is to cut your work back to 10 hours a week, and only do what you enjoy . He speak about how the ideal is to be smart and lazy- off loading as much work as possible on others who have less power, and gleefully leaving work to play tennis while your underlings work 60+ hours really started to bother me. He totally lost me when he recommend that we remove all stress from our lives. Ya, think??? But gave no advice on how to do so, especially for those that are working to survive. Then he moved on to the next subject.

[Ethan Kwong · Rating 2 out of 5]

Couldn’t finish - at the start had some interesting theories around the 80/20 principle but towards the end started just applying the 80/20 principle to seemingly random aspects of life which I wasn’t able to relate to nor learn from

[J Kromrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

“80/20 Daily: Your Day-by-Day Guide to Happier, Healthier, Wealthier, and More Successful Living Using the 80/20 Principle” by Richard Koch is a transformative work that encapsulates the essence of the 80/20 principle in a digestible daily format. Koch, renowned for his bestselling book “The 80/20 Principle,” distills the core tenets of this powerful concept into bite-sized, actionable insights that promise to enhance one’s life with minimal effort.

The book is structured as a series of daily meditations, each focusing on a specific aspect of life where the 80/20 principle can be applied. From personal happiness to financial acumen, Koch covers a broad spectrum, ensuring that readers from all walks of life can find value in his words. The underlying message is clear: a small number of causes often lead to a large percentage of effects, and by identifying and leveraging these ‘vital few,’ one can achieve more with less.

Koch’s writing is accessible and profound, striking a balance between practical advice and philosophical musings. His examples are relatable, often drawing from everyday experiences to illustrate how the 80/20 principle can turn the mundane into the extraordinary. The book encourages readers to reflect on their own lives, identify their most productive inputs, and focus their energies accordingly.

One of the book’s strengths is its versatility. Whether you’re a seasoned executive or a student just starting out, the principles laid out in “80/20 Daily” can be tailored to your individual circumstances. Koch’s guidance is not prescriptive but rather suggestive, allowing for personal interpretation and application.

In essence, “80/20 Daily” is not just a book; it’s a companion for life’s journey. It’s a reminder that we often complicate our paths to success and happiness with unnecessary detours. Koch’s work is a beacon, guiding us back to the simplicity of the 80/20 principle, where the majority of our rewards can come from a minority of our efforts.

As a book reviewer who values creativity and critical analysis, I find “80/20 Daily” to be a refreshing take on self-improvement. It doesn’t offer a one-size-fits-all solution but rather a framework for thinking that can be adapted and adopted by anyone looking to make meaningful changes in their life. It’s a book that I will not only recommend but return to time and again for its timeless wisdom and practical insights.

[Siddhesh Patwardhan · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who has read almost all of Richard Koch's works, I believe this is the best book he has written till date. Was a huge fan of the 80/20 Principle and Living the 80/20 Way but this one is going down as his seminal work!
You may have noticed the bad trend of authors who take up an idea which may deserve an article but then expand it into a whole book. Well Richard is the exact opposite. He has filled this book with SO MANY LIFE CHANGING IDEAS which could be fitted into a dozen or so books- and he generously stuffs it all into this one gem.
Also, most nonfiction/personal development books make you feel good/ give you lots of information but don't result in actual behavioral change. Richard again is the exact opposite. His primary goal is to TRIGGER NEW ACTION from the reader and he achieves it with the minimum words needed. 5 to 6 times before this I have made serious changes in direction/decision triggered by 80/20 thinking learnt from this author, but in 80/20 Daily he has took it to another level.
The author is too rich and too lazy to market his books with even half the persistence that others do, so it's upto the lucky individuals who stumble upon this gem to take action. This one is going to be my companion for decades to come!
I'd also suggest readers to create a 80/20 Journal and write in it while you go through the book- this process has helped me immensely!

[Elizabeth Harrin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy 80/20 Daily, having recently read The Plan by Kendra Adachi, another productivity book, which resonated far better with me and provided practical guidance that felt achievable. I felt the author of 80/20 Daily was disconnected from the reality of many readers' lives with his advice to cut working hours to 10 a week and to only work on what you enjoy. The premise of spending your time on what brings you happiness and gives you results is solid, and Pareto (80/20) is something that deserves attention. I love the idea of finding "quality shortcuts", doing more of what you are good at and using "lazy intelligence" to do more with less. But I couldn't get past the author's thoughts that in order to advance you can delegate/automate everything that doesn't serve your purpose, train others to do what you can do and find a job in a start up. The book was heavy on interesting, thought-provoking questions and light on how to actually make that work in real life. The book expects the reader to do a lot of work. Perhaps I wasn't the target audience - if you are a young, childless, male then this might speak more to you. Fans of Koch's other books on 80/20 might find something new here, but it wasn't for me.
If you're a 40+, perimenopausal/menopausal woman with caring responsibilities, then read The Plan.

I received an ARC from Netgalley - thank you!

[Gabriela Garcia Maloucaze · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this book –and maybe that’s why I was disappointed! Maybe the “daily” or “day-by-day guide” in the title mislead me: I was expecting the nitty gritty application of the Pareto Principle, with objective, specific and very concrete examples. Instead, the book tries to talk about all areas of life and is much more vague. One could argue that the many, many areas the author addresses make for a broad scope, but that, along with the fact that there is no table of contents (at least my Kindle copy did not have one), makes for a disorganized reading. Also, the excessive numbered divisions of the book mixed with the chapter divisions do not help (e.g., there is a topic 111 in chapter 17 – it follows no discernible logic).
A couple of quotes to illustrate the vagueness I mentioned: “If you want something to happen in the future, you have to present it to your subconscious, as if it has already happened.” “Moods produce results. And moods pass. Therefore, always strive to be in a good mood.” Obviously, I picked what for me are the worst kind just for showing what I mean.
But still, there are some good ideas and questions to make you think. It’s a very easy read.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and Richard Koch for providing me with an ARC.

[Lori Hodges · Rating 5 out of 5]

“If you expect life to be easy, you will be disappointed and frustrated. But if you expect life to be difficult, you can take the difficulties in your stride and take pride in overcoming them. By expecting life to be difficult, it is no longer difficult. The difficulty is discounted. It no longer matters, except as a stepping-stone to greater self-confidence.” - Richard Koch

I thoroughly enjoyed reading 80/20 Daily. I have not read Richard Koch's earlier works but found this book to stand on its own well. The book provides a number of examples of ways in which our lives are ruled by the 80/20 principle. As a student of chaos theory and complexity science, I could relate to the need for a change in perspective and a change in how we operate in both life and business. Recognizing chaotic patterns, learning to be okay with a lack of control, and the strength in weak links are all principles that will lead to greater creativity, more innovation and a decrease in overall stress. This book makes me want to read more by Richard Koch.

[Laura Heron · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like the concept of the Pareto Principle, so I was excited to read this book in it's attempt to translate this principle into daily habits. It managed that to a certain extent, but I felt for a book about daily habits it wasn't very practical unless you are an established professional with significant leverage. Suggestions like delegating 80% of your workload or drastically reducing working hours are simply unrealistic for those starting out, in solo roles, or in service-oriented jobs. The book's emphasis on entrepreneurial ventures as a solution also ignores the diverse realities of its potential readership.

To summarise, this book may serve as a good introduction to the 80/20 concept, but is less relevant for a broader range of readers. Those seeking more universally applicable advice may be better served by Koch's more foundational works on the 80/20 principle.

[Cherryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was an easy read and a good companion to THE 80/20 PRINCIPLE earlier book by the author. I wouldn't recommend reading this first because it lacks the exposition and structure of that earlier book, but if you're looking for self-improvement and/or productivity nuggets of wisdom (3-5 paragraphs) to reflect on in the morning and like Richard Koch's work, then this is for you. The book covers various areas of life where you can apply 80/20 thinking (time, happiness, creativity, money, friends, romance, etc) so over 365 days, you cover quite a bit of ground. Just don't expect great depth -- this is a book that itself adheres to the 80/20 principle.

[ReadandRated · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was intrigued to read this book as the 80/20 rule is thrown around often at work during projects and meetings and I thought exploring this premise from a different angle would be useful.

Based around the theory that you can focus 20% of your efforts/actions in such a way that they solve the other 80%. The book is written in a way that means you can dip in and out of the short, snappy, sections brought to the reader as daily snippets to inspire and improve your life.

I haven't read Koch's earlier book, 'The 80/20 Principle' but I wonder if this is a re-hash of that as I can't really understand how it could be much different.

Overall this offered some interesting and easy to digest insights but it didn't quite hit the spot for me.

[Sofia · Rating 4 out of 5]

80/20 Daily is a very easy-to-read book that uses various practical examples in which the rule can be applied in different spheres of life. For me, as a leader in the recruitment field, I found the references to leadership and management, approaches to more effective recruitment, and the mention of smart laziness people (and the value they ultimately bring) particularly interesting. Although these were the topics that interested me the most, the book is sufficiently comprehensive, covering almost every topic one can imagine in everyday life.

I thank the author for giving me the opportunity to access this reading in advance.

[Mollified.Moments · Rating 2 out of 5]

I recently read *80/20 Daily* and found it quite challenging. Without any background knowledge on the 80/20 principle, I hoped this book would explain the concept and offer practical tips to master it. Unfortunately, the first 5-10% of the book felt repetitive, reiterating the same points without adding any new insights.

I didn’t learn anything new and felt that completing the book would take months due to its lack of helpful content. The information could have easily been condensed into a news article. Additionally, it seems the author has a previous book on a similar topic. In hindsight, reading that one first might have been more beneficial.

[Josh Billups · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book did have some high notes but it was a daily reader that did not introduce itself as such. It also half way read like a normal book. It seemed like the author woke up each day and wrote for 15 to 20 min and said okay that’s good enough. It never had a true through line. Failed to be convincing in any one point and never thorough enough to actually tell the reader a complete thought. In the end it seemed as if he had to fill a contract with the publisher and they felt compelled to print it.

[Tove R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books you have to really take in and think about what you are reading. We spend so much time on totally useless, meaningless, or trivial things in life, but we should concentrate on the things that matter, the 20%. These are things we ought to think about. Why do we spend so much time on things that do not make us happy, or do not take us anywhere in life? The book gives good insights to these matters, and in fact gives insights regarding what matters. A great read that gets your mind thinking about what is worthy of my time and life.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a lot of information in this book, and lots of examples of people who have applied the 80/20 in their personal or working lives.

The chapters are short, the paragraphs and lots of bullet points make it easy to read.

I received this book from Netgalley in return for a honest review.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall this was an easy read. Great tips for reducing stress and increasing happiness. I enjoyed this book and recommend it to others.

[Patrick Greer · Rating 5 out of 5]

great advice for the day to day

I am encouraged to add the principles to my day to day life. A lot to think about. Check it out!

[Michelle St-jean sauve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some really good ideas, but the author rubbed me the wrong way

[David · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not for me.

[Amelia Bujar · Rating 1 out of 5]

FULL REVIEW ON MY WEBSITE
https://thebookcornerchronicles.com/2...

I gotta admit that I have had a lot of expectations and hopes for this book since I have heard a lot of good things about this book. But after reading it I gotta admit that this book doesn’t live up to all the good things I have heard about this book. But as always I will explain everything in this review so if you are interested in hearing my thoughts about this book then keep reading.

First of all its important to say that this book gives us one short lesson for each 365 days to make our lives better. But those advice we get in this book seem very generic you would hear from every fake and sketchy “self-help guru”on the internet who only tries to sell you their course to make themselves rich and not improve your own life.

Those advice we do get in this book are so generic that at times I felt like I was reading a ChatGPT advice on how to improve ones live. Which is the main reason why I hate this book as much as I do.

This book is all about the “80/20 principle / rule” which I never heard about. And this book just assumes that anyone who has ever read even one self-help book have heard of it and just doesn’t bother explaining what it is. Which is my second big issue with this book. I feel like this book would have been so much better if the author have taken the time to explain the “80/20 principle / rule”. But in the end in didn’t which I wouldn’t recommend. Because if the author wants me to buy this book and read it then he better explain everything he is talking about in this book without me needing to google what it is and spend time on it.

The writing style in this book is very generic and again feels like it was written by ChatGPT or some other AI assistant / chatbot. I felt like the author just didn’t bother to present this book is a good light as much as the author was concerned about getting the paycheck for publishing this book.

If you are looking for a good self-help book, then this book isn’t the choice. This book is in fact so far away from being anywhere “good” like comparing water to a book. Which isn’t even close.

[Mana · Rating 4 out of 5]

The universe works in mysterious ways! Results and causes can be unpredictable, but there is a pattern to them, known as the 80/20 principle. This principle states that 80 percent of results come from 20 percent of causes, and sometimes even from a smaller, more powerful portion. When you recognize these imbalances in your life, you can harness them to achieve greater results with less effort, stress, time, or money

By identifying activities with a high ratio of results to resources, such as effort or time, you can tap into the essence of the 80/20 principle. It's not just about achieving success; it's also about finding happiness and reducing stress for yourself and others. Opportunities to apply the 80/20 principle are everywhere in life, waiting to be discovered.

Traditionally, the 80/20 principle has been associated with business and economics. However, the author's mission is to expand its application to all areas of your life. By embracing the 80/20 principle, you can greatly enhance your peace of mind, joy, achievements, and positive impact on the people around you.

To make the most of the 80/20 principle, it's crucial to constantly ask yourself: What are the vital few things in my life that contribute to the majority of my success? What actions or experiences have a significant positive impact, and how can I incorporate more of them into my life? Don't assume you already have the answers; take the time to think creatively and explore the possibilities.

Whether you're in business, entertainment, media, or any other field, you can achieve success while enjoying a more relaxed approach. The true essence of the 80/20 principle lies in the pursuit of finding better ways of doing things or discovering activities that bring greater fulfillment. Embrace the mindset of doing more with less, and know that countless opportunities await you on this journey.

This book is not only informative but also an enjoyable read. It offers valuable insights and success tips that can bring about positive changes in your life. I highly recommend it to anyone seeking personal growth and a better understanding of the 80/20 principle.

[Min · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m intrigued by the concept of the 80/20 rule and chose this book hoping Richard would introduce practical concepts I can apply in my daily life.

However, halfway through the book, I’ve realized this book might not be suitable for everyone. It seems to be tailored for employees who are already well-established in their careers. Some of his ideas are simply not feasible for those of us who are just starting out or in positions where there’s only one person or no way to delegate work.

For instance, he suggests delegating 80% of your work to others and focusing solely on the 20% that provides the most value. But this approach may not be feasible for everyone, especially those who are just starting out or in positions where there’s limited flexibility.

Furthermore, he implies that starting your own business and developing your own specialty is easier than getting your workplace to recognize your value and importance within the organization. However, not everyone has the same opportunities to pursue this path. In paragraph 21, he suggests that readers should be more intelligently lazy and reduce their working hours from 40 to 30, 20, and finally, 10 hours a week. But how can readers in jobs like waitresses, cleaners, or school teachers achieve this? They simply cannot reduce their working hours or tasks to fit within this mindset.

Overall, I believe I do like the 80/20 concept and how he shares some practical stories of its application. However, I still think this book is not suitable for general readers, and not all concepts can be applied daily. While it’s a good starting point to understand the 80/20 concept, I believe he has other books on the subject that delve deeper into the topic. I suggest starting with those books to build a stronger understanding of the concept.