I like this 80 20 story. A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Let anyone with ears listen. For to those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. Some will indeed listen, but never understand, and some will indeed look, but never perceive. Some people’s hearts have grown dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; so that they might not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears, and understand with their heart. But your eyes, they see, and your ears, they hear. Many people longed to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it. When anyone hears and does not understand it this is what was sown on the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears and immediately receives with joy but endures only for a while, and when trouble arises that person immediately falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke and it yields nothing. But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears and understands who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.
Your guy has some good quotes: “The two directions of thinking are the outward direction toward your material equipment which gives you your resources, and the inward direction toward your mental equipment, which gives you your resourcefulness.” ― Walter Russell
Interesting interpretation. It must have been quite interesting to live back then and try to whittle a meaning from such obscure parables...
From a focus perspective... A quick consideration by those with ears to listen and eyes to see states a basic 8020 message. Where do efforts and resources find reward? On the trodden path, on rocky ground, among weeds, on good soil. ...with ears to listen and eyes to see, there goes 80% of the typical audience out the window right there. "When anyone hears and does not understand it, this is what was sown on the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears and immediately receives with joy but endures only for a while, and when trouble arises that person immediately falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke and it yields nothing. But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears and understands who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty." A basic 8020 message A small percentage of your efforts produce the majority of your satisfaction A few critical decisions in your past are responsible for where you are today A small number of skills are responsible for majority of your daily career success Let go of the irrelevant activities so as to free up your time and resources for the critical few that matter Reduce your opportunity cost by getting rid of bad customers and retaining your best ones
I like your statement. Changes a few words for trading. A large percentage of irrationality produces the majority of losing traders.