Mar 9, 10

Are you Part of the 17 Percent?

Written by: Maren Kate // Comments
Are you Part of the 17 Percent?

I love Kurt Vonnegut, granted our political, religious and sociological views different massively. But he was an amazing, inspiring writer whom wrote a treasure trove of classics. The other day I was rereading Time Quake and a sentence out of that book stuck with me…  Vonnegut writes that him and a friend decided that “only 17% of people in the world have lives worth living”. Now many people disagree with him, as do I to some extent (like I believe almost all people have some kernel of worthwhile in them – sans predators, perverts and sadists), but the power of the statement shook me to my core. After I read that I continually asked myself “Am I part of the 17%”? It is a sobering concept to think about, because you can have all the riches in the world and still be worthless as a person. In the same breath you can be desperately poor while being an angel among men.

So today I encourage you to look at your life, your dreams and your entrepreneurial path and ask yourself if you are part of the 17 or part of the 83?

Here is how I do it:

  • Is my business giving back anything?
  • Is my life giving back anything to others?
  • Do I bring happiness to others or sorrow?
  • How can I become more like the 17% and less like the 83?

Answer these questions honestly and you will find yourself striving for more. More freedom to do what you like, more inspiration to help others and more gumption to lead an extraordinary life as opposed to just a run in the mill “existence”. I also focus on my blog trying to be part of the 17% of blogs in the world that are worthwhile vs. the 83% that are just make money online get rick quick scheme jargon. I believe in getting rich quickly, but the problem is their is a BIG word missing… the saying should read: You can get rich quick, but it will be very HARD & you must be VERY CREATIVE.

Alright, that is my short rant for the day, stay tuned I have two AWESOME cewebrity interviews coming up this week that you won’t want to miss, they’ll inspire the pants of you… literally, you’ll be pantless.


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  • Howdy Maren, love Slaughterhouse V!

    Curious, what exactly do you do Maren? Do you have a link that highlights how you make money?

    Cheers, Sam
  • www.OracleLaunch.com is my main business :)
  • Maren,

    A very thought provoking post. Whether it's 17% or not (it could well be because it's very closely fits in with the 80/20 rule); it certainly rings with elements of reasoning with me.

    I'm working towards the 17% with the changes I making in my life, some by choice others not so.

    Thank you for sharing this enlightening fact.

    Regards

    Paul
  • I agree, it is so close to the 80/20 principle.... I am sure you are well into the 20% that matter Paul :)
  • Hell ya,

    life's way too short for an average run-of-the-mill blog.
    I've worked my soul off to create the ultimate blog x-perience for my readers.
    I even invented a special "program" that will consist of creative online entrepreneurial info-tainment.
    It's going to be sooo valuable and fresh - 17 % here I come !
  • I like your excitement!!
  • Great post, I would hope my blog is a worthwhile blog to visit. Don't think I am in that 17% yet but I am still working on it :D

    I don't know about getting rich from my blog, I really find it fun and challenging to constantly try and release fresh content as well as improving. Maybe one day what I love to do will make me money. I can only hope.
  • I always hear that the people who make a living blogging fell into it, not set out like they were on a search for gold, so it sounds like you are on the right track :) and I dig your blog so for me it is part of the 17%!!
  • That's indeed an interesting question to ask myself. Thank you for making me think about this today (not kidding).

    That quote of Vonnegut brings back to my mind Vilfredo Pareto who gave us this wonderful Pareto principle. Even if it describes that 80% of the output is generated by 20% of the input it's linked to Vonnegut's thought.

    Those 17%, however, unlike the Pareto principle, have to be related to something first: The words "worth living" don't really help, it's a matter of interpretation.

    Anyway, it's a nice question to think about, in order to define "worth living" and keep on improving our lives =)

    Best regards,

    Andrés
  • Thanks Andres (Sorry i can't get that little mark on my keyboard!) i do LOVE the 80/20 principle and you are right "worthwhileness" really depends on each person's interpretation.
  • ralphcarlson
    That comment is why I dislike the elitism of guys like Vonnegut. I read it like this:only 17% of people live worthwhile lives like mine-smirk. I know what you are saying is more like only 17% are really using all their talents and abilities but I won't give Kurt the benefit of the doubt even though in my youth I enjoyed his books.
  • Lol :) Thanks Ralph, true the comment is very controversial, and I am sure he considers himself and other writers within that 17% but I still think it is something worth chewing on. For even if it is completely based in fiction at least it would get people to strive to be better and to positively effect the world more!
  • I've never read Time Quake and that is an interesting statistic. I think it's really important to consider yourself in that top 17% because if you're not, you're lost somewhere in the 83%.
  • You are right, from the moment I read that I started asking myself that question daily. Also it ties in with the 80/20 principle very well.
  • Maren: your last question is critical: How can I become more like the 17% and less like the 83?

    I think we all have 83% moments AND 17% moments - our task in life is to steer towards the 17% goals, vision, purpose and action and away from the 83% preoccupation, obsessions, habits and distractions.

    another thought-provoking post, thanks.
  • Read the '80-20 Principle' it is an old one but if you like this post that book will rock your world. :)
  • Interesting, Maren. I guess it depends on what his definition of "worth" is. Is it people who are famous? Is it people who've changed the world (we could argue Hitler, argh)? Is it people who make a difference i nother people's lives no matter how small?

    Oh and by the way, I'm at work and if your cewebrity interviews are going to leave me pantless.... maybe I shouldn't read your interviews, haha. Pantless at my desk?? :O

    Love your humour, btw.
  • Haha :) Oh my... yep I actually had some serious technical difficulties with the recorded interviews :( so the pantlessness will have to be put off for a few days, so everyone is safe... for now! I guess you are right, even very evil people have changed the world and in some cases their evils have led to great good being done - i.e. nations banding together to defeat Hitler. Interesting point! But I don't think 'famous' people are 'worthwhile' necessarily, usually I think they are a waste of space.
  • James Ward
    Kurt Vonnegut's writting was transcending! Great piece of work to reflect upon. I "try" to make a point of making a difference in someones life everyday. And by making it a point to look for ways, it has cause great things to happen in my own life.
  • That is a great thing to strive for James :)
  • The paradox of life is that the more we focus on giving, the more we receive. That's I think exactly what 17% understands. Powerful post Maren. Thanks!
  • Thanks Lana glad you got something from it.
  • Literally? Thanks for the tip. I'll be sure to read those posts from home. ;-)
  • I think it's both sobering and exciting to ask whether you are a part of that supposed 17%. It allows me to not only realize and be appreciative of the parts of my life that do give back but also to then know where to focus my attention on.

    As for you, Maren, I think you're already a part of that special 17% in the blogging world! Somehow, you manage to pump out post after post that is chock full of valuable content. Keep it up!
  • Thank you so much Ben :) that is super rad to say!
  • To be honest...I've never read anything Vonnegut. He's on a pretty long list of authors to check out.

    Anyway, that's a pretty sobering statement that he made. Definitely liked the list of qualities that would make a good blog. I know right now, I'm probably in the 83%. But before I write each post, I ask a simple question... "what value is this post going to give the reader?" I figure by consistently asking this question, I'll eventually arrive at the point where I join the 17%.
  • I think that the fact alone that you say that makes you part of the 17% :)
  • Hmmm....good point.
  • Getting rich is HARD, period. I actually thought about writing a blog about "making money online" but I figured it'd just be another me-too blog, instead I chose to focus on making a difference in people's lives. I think that's a better way to live and get rich +D
  • Yep I agree, though you could do something like "Get Rich the Hard Way" :) i'd read that blog!!
  • Ahhh that's a great idea! Still trying to decide on a niche to get into, I have so many things on my mind (entrepreneurship, personal finance, self improvement, marketing, blogging) that it's taking a while to finalize on one.
  • Will you cease to amaze me?! I have declare this to be the quote of the day!

    "It is a sobering concept to think about, because you can have all the riches in the world and still be worthless as a person. In the same breath you can be desperately poor while being an angel among men." - Maren Kate
  • Indeed!
  • Thanks Jeremy! Knowing my track record the answer to your first question is "probably yes" since now I have an expectation to live up to :) Glad you liked the post, I know it is a controversial issue but I think it rings true in a lot of ways.
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My name is Maren Kate. I'm an entrepreneur, aspiring internet marketer and avid writer. This is my journey of escaping the 9 to 5.

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