I was forwarded e-mail yesterday.  You know the type, the one that always gets forwarded.  A touchy-feely one you have to wonder why you received it or how you found yourself on this guys list.  Plus, how can this guy have the time or patience to forward so many e-mails.  Anyway, for some reason, I actually read this e-mail.

His premise was a simple one… Be outstanding to all your customers equally.  Be the best you can be to the good, bad and even the downright nasty and problematic patrons.  He stated you should love, cherish and honor all your customers.

First of all, I am not saying loving your customers is a bad policy or premise.  But I am saying that he does not say anything new.  Wow, a business guru that is saying the same junk that everyone else in business is saying.  The problem I have is, I think he is dead wrong.

Has anyone ever heard of the 80/20 principal? 

It is a simple rule that states 80 percent of results come from 20 percent of the effort.  It also means that 80 percent of challenges come from 20 percent of the problems.  The 80/20 principal works with everything.  It will work for your team, classroom or work.

In the e-mail example, it means that 80 percent of your profits come from 20 percent of your customers.  It also means 80 percent of your problems come from 20 percent of your customers. 

How would you like to free up 80 percent more time to focus on your job, business or good customers that provide 80 percent of your results?

Easy, fire the 20 percent who cause problems. 

Then go work on the 20 percent that is producing results.  A good, basic plan flawlessly and aggressively completed is far better than a great, complex plan barely executed. 

Fire the bad customers.  Focus on the good ones.  Focus on what is working and aggressively drive the nail home.

Save time, effort and see better results.

Maybe Donald Trump has it right. Maybe we can all learn to say, “You’re fired.”

Let me know what you think.