The 80/20 Rule 10/05/2010
 
You've heard of this idea right, the 80/20 Rule?! Basically it's saying, 20% of something will drive 80% of the results. Some examples: 20% of your sales staff will drive 80% of the company's sales, 20% of your clients will be what drives 80% of your revenue, 20% of your contacts will lead to 80% of your connections...etc. It is SO true and applicable in every area of our life so WHY do I get so surprised when my results aren't 100%?! Maybe it's because I'm a perfectionist that wants to please everyone and win everyone over.

But, here's the reality....alphaChicks ARE the 20%. We are the 20% that will give to our community 80% of its support. We ARE the women in the top 20% of your contacts that WILL provide 80% of your connections. And, we ARE in a smaller pool of like-minded women and NOT for everyone.

I struggle with this battle in my head to "win the numbers war". I struggle and compete with wanting more followers and more 'likes' and more women in our email distribution list. But, I know we don't need to win that war to be successful. We don't need that to provide HUGE value for those who commit their time and energy to alphaChicks. We are the TOP 20% and at alphaChicks, we are 100% committed to each other, our businesses and your dreams. Who could need more than THAT?!?!

-Stephanie Williams, Founder

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. It's the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead
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It was a time in my life when I had two children at home and I was working to build my business that I found myself out and about everywhere. I attended just about every event I could find and that result was a HUGE stack of business cards sitting on my desk, haunting me daily. Also, was the amount of meetings I had added to my calendar for "one-on-one" appointments at local establishments like Starbucks.

These meetings were always interesting and I did truly enjoy getting to know other people and how they came up with the business they are in or how they found their way to the role they were in. And, I REALLY enjoyed my meetings with those people where it just clicked. You know what I mean?! The ones where you talk for two hours and didn't realize how that happened. You had a back and forth conversation of ideas, passions, dreams, etc...etc..

The problem came when I got busy after those awesome meetings to go on and have the "flip-chart" meetings. I'm sure you have been there (and hopefully you weren't the one doing the flipping...). The one where the other person gets out their flip-chart and proceeds to talk to you one-sided for 45 minutes and asks you at the end how you can refer them or join their business? AAAHH!! I HATED those and one day I had had my last one. I came home from work to my two kids, turned to my husband and said, "there HAS to be a better way". There has to be a more efficient way to meet and stay connected to those people I "clicked" with and avoid the ones that I just don't.

Now, I'm NOT saying quit trying to meet people, or start judging from the cover, but I am asking you to look at the places you have gone and analyze the ones where you found those people. Maybe there is a pattern, maybe there is a single source, and spend your time there. Work to meet those people and the people they know. It is great to have the opporunity to gather 60 business cards in one meeting, but what does it really mean? It probably means you will end up over-networked, lose some quality productivity time trying to filter through them and probably sit through some flip-chart meetings. Save yourself, your business and your family some time and just focus on the quality sources that bring you the support you need.  
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