Success is such a mysterious word, isn’t it? Its meaning can change depending on people, perspectives, and conditions. However, according to the Pareto Principle—which was named after Vilfredo Pareto, an Italian sociologist and economist—80% of the success in a group comes from 20% of its members. Unlike Pareto’s Principle, our ancestors said, “Success comes with perseverance,” which highlights the importance of patience and hard work in achieving our goals. Both quotes are well-said, even though I agree with one more than the other.
On the one hand, there is the Pareto Principle. It suggests that 20% is the real reason behind 80% of the success, which I agree with. If the 20% isn’t successful or is too successful, the remaining 80% will either appear to achieve something that is too hard or fail because almost nobody was successful. The same applies to schools. In schools, the top 20% lowers the average score of exams the most, which causes the other 80% to look more successful than they really are. Similarly, in the LGS exam in Turkey—a high school entrance exam—if the last 20% performs very poorly, the first 80% seems more successful. This doesn’t mean they are as successful as the top 3%, but the effect is still noticeable.
On the other hand , there is the quote, “Success comes with perseverance.” This quote is partially correct since there are too many exceptions. However, exceptions don’t change the rule, so I would still call it partially correct. It is true that perseverance leads to success. However, we don’t always need perseverance to achieve something. For example, some people, like prodigies, don’t need hard work and patience because they are naturally gifted . While perseverance is important, it can sometimes be replaced by other factors. Furthermore, it is not the only key to success. Intelligence, talent, or even luck can play major roles.
To sum up, I believe success is a variable concept, and there are many ways to achieve it. While perseverance is valuable, I find the Pareto Principle more logical. The impact of the top 20% in a group is significant and shapes the overall success in noticeable ways.