Comments on: Are you Part of the 17 Percent?

By: Why Unreasonable, Unrealistic People Win Big | Escaping the 9 to 5

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:45:14 +0000

[...] Make reality your enemy. Who wants to lead a realistic life? Children are murdered in reality, horrible people get away with awful deeds, good people lead lives of misery… reality sucks, only a mental shift into an unreasonable thinking pattern will yield a life worth living… fight against reality, focus on unrealistic goals like curing cancer, feeding the millions of starving babies in the world, fixing the clean water problems in Africa, stopping the spread of AIDS, building up a massive corporation that is socially and ecologically responsible and provides thousands of jobs to well meaning people. These are goals worth pursuing, these are lives worth living. [...]

By: Maren Kate

Maren Kate — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:15:29 +0000

http://www.OracleLaunch.com is my main business

By: Maren Kate

Maren Kate — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:15:29 +0000

http://www.OracleLaunch.com is my main business

By: Financial Samurai

Financial Samurai — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 06:49:17 +0000

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

By: Untemplater Weekend Reading — Untemplater

Untemplater Weekend Reading — Untemplater — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 16:00:38 +0000

[...] Are you Part of the 17 Percent? – Maren Kate at Escaping the 9 to 5 Kurt Vonnegut claimed that only 17% of people in the world have lives worth living. Maren Kate pushes you to look at your life and your work and ask yourself if you’re really giving back and living a worthwhile existence. [...]

By: Steve Scott Site

Steve Scott Site — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:45:19 +0000

Hmmm….good point.

By: uberVU - social comments

uberVU - social comments — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:19:29 +0000

Social comments and analytics for this post…

This post was mentioned on Twitter by stevescott1: RT @marenkate Are you Part of the 17 Percent? http://is.gd/a58k9...

By: Maren Kate

Maren Kate — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:55:26 +0000

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

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:43:57 +0000

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

By: Maren Kate

Maren Kate — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 22:34:47 +0000

I like your excitement!!

By: Mars Dorian

Mars Dorian — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:13:00 +0000

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 !

By: Maren Kate

Maren Kate — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:57:44 +0000

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%!!

By: Maren Kate

Maren Kate — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:56:54 +0000

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.

By: Maren Kate

Maren Kate — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:56:00 +0000

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!

By: Maren Kate

Maren Kate — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:54:49 +0000

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.

By: Maren Kate

Maren Kate — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:54:11 +0000

Read the '80-20 Principle' it is an old one but if you like this post that book will rock your world.

By: Maren Kate

Maren Kate — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:53:36 +0000

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.

By: Maren Kate

Maren Kate — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:51:17 +0000

That is a great thing to strive for James

By: Maren Kate

Maren Kate — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:00:39 +0000

Thanks Lana glad you got something from it.

By: Ryan Hanzel

Ryan Hanzel — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:59:26 +0000

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

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.

By: Andrés Diaz

Andrés Diaz — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:29:13 +0000

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

By: ralphcarlson

ralphcarlson — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:22:36 +0000

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.

By: GetYourBizSavvy

GetYourBizSavvy — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:54:16 +0000

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%.

By: ami@40daystochange

ami@40daystochange — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:05:04 +0000

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.

By: Moon Hussain

Moon Hussain — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:13:27 +0000

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.

By: James Ward

James Ward — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:40:02 +0000

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.

By: Lana {Daring Clarity}

Lana {Daring Clarity} — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 06:32:07 +0000

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!

By: Ken Siew

Ken Siew — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:37:51 +0000

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.

By: Maren Kate

Maren Kate — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:34:10 +0000

Thank you so much Ben that is super rad to say!

By: Maren Kate

Maren Kate — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:30:44 +0000

I think that the fact alone that you say that makes you part of the 17%

By: Maren Kate

Maren Kate — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:30:07 +0000

Yep I agree, though you could do something like “Get Rich the Hard Way” i'd read that blog!!

By: Jamie Ontiveros

Jamie Ontiveros — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:15:55 +0000

Literally? Thanks for the tip. I'll be sure to read those posts from home.

By: Ben Weston

Ben Weston — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:00:24 +0000

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!

By: Steve Scott Site

Steve Scott Site — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:54:41 +0000

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%.

By: Ken Siew

Ken Siew — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:45:13 +0000

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

By: Maren Kate

Maren Kate — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:25:33 +0000

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.

By: Jeremy Aragon

Jeremy Aragon — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:41:20 +0000

Indeed!

By: Jeremy Aragon

Jeremy Aragon — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:18:04 +0000

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