Applying the 80-20 rule, a.k.a the Pareto Principle, to relationships boils down to choosing which sets of causes and effects we want to limit or maximize.  The 80-20 rule restated with respect to relationships goes something like this:

Roughly 80% of the effects, given a cause, come from 20% of your relationships.

My personal corollary to that statement is:

Constantly contribute 80% of your energy to the 20% of your relationships generating the effects you want to optimize for.

The concept is simple but very hard to apply. The personal thought process behind my constant relationship introspection would be:

• Accomplishing goals with doing takes time, however, life is short
• 6,782,989,098 people currently inhabit this planet (U.S. Census Bureau)
• Dunbar’s Number tells me I can personally support around ~150 relationships
• I want to leave a noticeable mark on Des Moines and the WORLD
• My current 150 may help me leave a mark on Des Moines
• My current 150, statistically speaking, will need to be adjusted to have an impact on the WORLD
• Making choices is a natural part of life
• You are defined by the hard choices you make

Selfish? Ambitious? Crazy? Right on? … I’ll let you make that call in the comments

Also, what factors do you optimize for in YOUR life?

Coworking and Open Source communities are built around including people.  A closer look reveals that there is different levels or rings associated with being included in a coworking or Open Source community.

Rings of Inclusion in an Open Source Project

Core developers make up the innermost ring on most Open Source projects. Non-core developers, active forum members, outspoken mailing list participants, and power users make up the next ring or rings.  The outer rings of the project are made up by users who attempt to stay informed about the project or those who are not users but simply keep abreast of its ongoings.

Rings of Inclusion in a Coworking Space

Full-time desks and the space owner are usually at the middle of most coworking communities. The next level out is the part-timers and others that frequent the space during the day.  Another ring out are those participating in events held at the coworking spaces. A good example of coworking Rings of Inclusion is found in the plan descriptions of Citizen Space.

Allowing participation at many different levels is one way that coworking and Open Source create thriving communities.  Utilize the Rings of Inclusion concept for your community. You won’t be disappointed.