80/20 Friends

As I spent 10 hours driving yesterday, I listened to one of my assigned textbooks on CD.  The 80/20 Rule by Richard Koch is largely about understanding where you are most productive and spending more time there. While I gleaned many bits of potentially life-changing information from it, it was mostly just one more book that I had to read for class. It was only when the author got to the section on friendships that I considered it something deep.  I sat up in my bucket seat and listened while hurling myself northward at 80 miles per hour.

Mr. Koch suggests that we need to have fewer friends, and therefore more time to invest with the ones who really mater. Deeper and less wide streams, if you will.  He posed the questions “who are the (not family) people that if they died tomorrow, you would be devastated?’.  I immediately thought of 5 or 6 people. As he kept talking my list grew to about a dozen.  His suggestion is to foster those relationships to a deeper level, and cut out the relationships with people you don’t enjoy.  I do believe that I concentrate my energies on those special few . . . and feel blessed to have those special few.  However, I feel convicted for not finding the time for the list dwellers who are harder to spend time with.  Sure, being in another city poses it’s challenges, but I can pick up a phone or jump on a plane whenever I want.  I am going to work harder at seeing those people who are most special in my life.

What about those who aren’t on the list?  Well, they didn’t make the cut and therefore will not be given priority access to my life.  Maybe that makes me sound like a b*tch, but there is only so much of me to go around. . .and if I spread myself too thin, not only will I suffer. . .but so will my friends.

So, if your on the list . . . plan on seeing more of me.

Blessings,

Jules

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