"Je préfère gagner 1% des efforts de cent personnes plutôt que 100% de mes propres efforts"

The core idea here is about leveraging the power of collaboration and collective effort, rather than relying solely on your own hard work. When you think about it, it’s about working smarter, not harder. Instead of burning yourself out trying to do everything on your own, why not tap into the abilities and efforts of others? You end up achieving more with less strain. This concept is at the heart of effective leadership and entrepreneurship.

The historical context of this idea traces back to John D. Rockefeller, the oil tycoon. He knew a thing or two about building massive businesses. Rockefeller understood early on that if he could have a small stake in a lot of different ventures, he could accumulate more wealth than if he tried to control everything himself. He realized that by leveraging other people's efforts, he could scale his operations and impact exponentially.

Let’s look at a concrete example: imagine you’re starting a tech company. You’re brilliant at coding, but handling the business side, marketing, and customer service isn’t your forte. Now, if you try to manage everything yourself, sure, you’ll have full control, but you’ll also be stretched thin, and your growth will be limited by the number of hours you can work in a day. On the other hand, if you partner with others who are experts in those areas, even if you have to share the profits, you can grow much faster and reach a level of success you couldn’t achieve alone. Think of companies like Apple—Steve Jobs didn't build it alone. He had Steve Wozniak, who was a genius at engineering, and other talented people who helped turn Apple into the tech giant it is today.

So, how can you apply this wisdom in your own life? Start by recognizing your strengths and weaknesses. Then, surround yourself with people whose strengths complement your weaknesses. It’s about building a team where everyone brings something valuable to the table. Don’t try to micro-manage every aspect—trust your team. Delegating tasks doesn't mean losing control, it means you’re freeing up your time to focus on what you do best.

Imagine this scenario: you’re hosting a big family reunion. You could try to cook all the food, handle decorations, send out invitations, and plan games all by yourself. You’d probably be exhausted and stressed out by the end of it. But if you get your siblings involved—one handles the food, another takes care of the decorations, someone else manages the invitations, and another sibling plans the games—now, you’re working as a team. Everyone’s contributing their part, and the reunion is likely to be a lot more enjoyable for everyone, including you.

By sharing the load, you not only make things easier on yourself, but you also harness the unique talents and perspectives of those around you. It’s a win-win.

So, next time you’re faced with a big project or goal, think about how you can involve others and leverage their strengths. It’s not about doing less work yourself; it’s about multiplying the impact of your efforts through collaboration. After all, as the quote suggests, a small slice of a large pie is often more satisfying—and less exhausting—than trying to bake the whole pie yourself.