The Concept of "20% Talent" – The Startup – Medium

At Google, the notion of "20% time" allows employees to focus on side-projects that can evolve into new passions or products at the company. Many Google products, from Gmail to Maps to AdSense, came from this concept of "20% time." Some people quip that that the other name for "20% time" might be, "Saturday." But joking aside, at Google there is an institutional investment allowing employees to pursue their curiosities and peripheral interests, a way of providing a check and balance to the overbearing manager who asks for a very narrow focus. "I'll give you 100% of my 80% time," you can reply.