In every business there is some version of the 80-20 rule that says 80 percent of the business comes from 20 percent of the customers. Smart businesses do whatever they can to play to that powerful 20 percent. If you are a new CEO who needs to turn around a business 10 minutes after walking through the door, there are two things you can do: 1) cut costs, and 2) focus on your top 20 percent customers. That’s it — you are now a turnaround expert and I grant you an honorary MBA.

There’s another kind of company, however, that applies the 80-20 rule in a different manner and Apple is one of those companies.

Is Steve Ballmer thinking too much about the wrong competitor? Probably. Read on.