The 90/10 principle developed by Stephen Covey states that 10% of life is made up of external events outside of our control, while 90% is determined by our reaction to those events. An example is provided of spilling coffee on a shirt in the morning - the spill is 10% but one's reaction, such as cursing or calmly changing shirts, determines the 90% outcome of the rest of the day. The principle advises focusing on controlling internal reactions rather than external incidents to have more positive outcomes.

1. 90
PRINCIPLE
10
STEPHEN COVEY’S

2. WHAT IS THE
90/10
PRINCIPLE

3. 10%
of life is made up of what happens to you

4. 90%
of life is determined by your reaction to what has
happened to you
10%
of life is made up of what happens to you

5. IN SIMPLER WORDS

6. You have no control over incidents that take place in life
The plane will
arrive late,
throwing your
schedule off

7. You have no control over incidents that take place in life
The plane will
arrive late,
throwing your
schedule off
You can not stop
a driver from
cutting you off in
traffic

8. You have no control over incidents that take place in life
You can not
stop the car
from breaking
down
The plane will
arrive late,
throwing your
schedule off
You can not stop
a driver from
cutting you off in
traffic

9. But you have control over your reaction to
these incidents
You have no control over incidents that take place in life

10. LET US USE AN EXAMPLE

11. You are having breakfast with your family
Your daughter knocks over a cup of coffee on to your
business shirt

12. You are having breakfast with your family
Your daughter knocks over a cup of coffee on to your
business shirt
10%

13. What happens next is determined by
how you react.

14. You CURSE You SCOLD your daughter for knocking the cup over
Your daughter BREAKS DOWN in tears
You CRITICIZE your spouse for keeping the cup too close to
the edge of the table
You STORM upstairs and change your shirt
Your daughter has been too busy CRYING to finish breakfast and get ready for
school and misses the bus
Your spouse must leave immediately for work. You RUSH to the
car and drive your daughter to school
A short VERBAL BATTLE follows
After a 15 minute DELAY and a $60 TRAFFIC FINE
you arrive at school
Your daughter runs inside the building
WITHOUT SAYING GOODBYE
Arriving 20 minutes LATE at work, you realize you FORGOT your briefcase at home

15. AND THE DAY KEEPS GETTING WORSE.

16. You look forward
to going home…

17. You look forward
to going home…
Only to find a small in your
relationship with your spouse and daughter

18. WHY DID YOU HAVE A BAD DAY?
Was it the coffee?
Was it your daughter?
Was it the policeman?
Was it you?

19. WHY DID YOU HAVE A BAD DAY?
Was it the coffee?
Was it your daughter?
Was it the policeman?
Was it you?
IT WAS YOU.

20. You had
no control
over the coffee
BUT
Your
reaction
in those 5 seconds is
what caused your bad day

21. THEREFORE
Coffee = 10%
Rest of the day = 90%

22. Here’s what
&
happened
could have should have

23. Coffee spills on you. Your daughter is about to cry.
You gently say, “It’s okay 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 see your
child get on the bus. She turns and waves. You
arrive 5 minutes early to work and cheerfully greet
the staff. Your boss comments on how good the day
you are having.

24. NOTICE THE DIFFERENCE?

25. 2 different scenarios
Both started the same
But ended different

26. 2 different scenarios
Both started the same
But ended different

27. BECAUSE OF HOW YOU
REACTED

28. REACT PROPERLY
AND IT WILL NOT
RUIN YOUR DAY

29. Being fired
A wrong reaction could result in

30. Being fired
A wrong reaction could result in
and more.

31. Don’t be a
SPONGE
to negative criticism.

32. Don’t be a
SPONGE
to negative criticism.
Let the attack roll off like water on a glass.

33. WHO CARES
if you’re 10 seconds
late to work?

34. DON’T
let the cars ruin
your drive!

35. DON’T LET
PEOPLE FOOL
YOU YOU
CONTROL HOW
YOU REACT

36. THIS IS THE
90/10
PRINCIPLE

37. TRY IT.

38. TRY IT.
YOU HAVE
NOTHING TO LOSE.

39. Asma Ansari
Twitter: @asmaansari7