Why 80% Of The Work You Do Is A Waste Of Time

I read on airplanes now because it’s almost the only time I get to read. Life has become that busy. And fortunately (or unfortunately) I’m on airplanes several times each month, so I’m keeping up with my reading.

When I’m traveling for business, I tend to read business books. Recently I read one that changed the way I think and live.

It’s called The 80/20 Principle.

The book was written by Richard Koch and the argument is this: 80 percent of the results you’re getting at work flow from just 20 percent of your efforts. And not only this, but 80 percent of your profit likely comes from 20 percent of your products.

It’s an old theory, honestly, but Koch explains it well and helps us apply it in new ways. And this theory applies to much more than work. It also means 80 percent of our unhealthiness is likely coming from just 20 percent of the food we eat. And 80 percent of our social troubles likely come from just 20 percent of our relationships.

Amazingly, Koch presents statistical proof:

The theory holds true in much of life.

And I think understanding it and adjusting accordingly is a great way to become more and more productive.

So, the trick is to figure out what your 20 percent is and enhance your understanding and commitment to those actions. What meetings should we take? What products should we get rid of? What employees should we hire? In other words, what’s in your 80 percent bucket, and what’s in your 20 percent bucket?

I’m buying a copy for every member of my staff, not only so we can be more productive, but because it’s going to prevent us from burning out.

Spinning our wheels in the 80 percent is exhausting.

What about you? Is the 80/20 principle true for your life? Are you willing to identify and enhance the 20 percent and cut back on the 80 percent?

Of course, this then begs the question: What if we turn our 20 percent into the 80 percent and are that much more effective? Wouldn’t that disprove the theory?

Perhaps, but then again, wouldn’t we find there to still be a top 20 percent that is that much more productive than the rest? Perhaps continually asking what the top 20 percent is would be a great way to make sure we’re only getting better and better.

The theory works for me, and I hope you find a way to apply it yourself. Have fun dropping the 80.