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The 80/20 rule, also known as the Pareto principle, was the brainchild of Vilfredo Pareto, an Italian economist. In 1896, he noted that 80% of the property and wealth in Italy was owned by 20% of the population.
For example, he noted that 20% of the pea pods in his garden produced 80% of the peas.
Rather than joining a gym and subjecting myself to intense daily workouts, I took short walks and did pushups. Again, the effects were immediately noticeable.
Instead, I focus my time and attention on creating actionable content for my email newsletter and creating small ads on Amazon. These activities comprise the 20% of possible actions that produces 80% of my results.
Many tasks can be outsourced. Some can be ignored entirely without consequence. By prioritizing high-value tasks and putting the rest on the back burner, you can regain control of your time. You’ll be able to spend your time in areas where it’ll have the greatest impact and give you the greatest sense of achievement.
Most of us maintain too many relationships, and end up spending valuable time on those we don’t enjoy.
Eighty percent of the items that cause me concern never come to pass. Therefore, they can be ignored without consequence.
By focusing on the 20% that matters, you can accelerate the decision-making process and feel comfortable owning your choices.
Part 1: How To 80/20 Your Career
a minority of inputs is responsible for a majority of outputs.
In other words, focus on leverage.
This is going to be a personal journey. I’ll share what worked for me, and suggest practices that have worked for others.
You’re The CEO Of Your Life
A CEO’s job is to decide an organization’s strategic direction, monitor how his or her company is performing toward that end, and make adjustments accordingly.
It’s more than a paycheck. Your work gives you purpose.
Second, spend only 20% of your time talking about yourself. Spend 80% of your time listening to others. You’ll make a better impression.
You must leverage your time in a way that has the greatest impact on your productivity.
First, limit the number of items on your daily to-do list to seven. If you can get away with five, do so. It’s okay to maintain a brain-dump list. But your daily to-do list is something entirely different.
First, before you accept a project, make sure it aligns with your strengths. You don’t want to waste time learning new skills just so you’ll be able to deliver. You should only take on projects you’re qualified to handle.
They must separate the critical from the trivial, and allocate their resources so they’ll have the greatest effect.
Your employees are your greatest asset. But they can also represent your biggest frustration. Your job is to give them the tools they need to do their jobs while removing roadblocks, and inspiring, encouraging, and supporting them when necessary.
First, as a general rule, 20% of your team members will produce 80% of your team’s output. Identify the 20%. These individuals are your hyper performers.
But the fact is, all employees are not equal. Recognizing those who perform best, and rewarding them accordingly, pays dividends. It’ll help you to become a more effective manager who can be relied upon to deliver.
In the same way that 20% of your employees will be responsible for 80% of your team’s productivity, 20% will cause 80% of the problems.
These include issues involving performance, discipline, and attendance. Documentation is critical in the event you decide to fire them.
Second, set aside specific time periods that you can devote to your needy employees. For example, set aside an hour on Mondays and Thursdays, and schedule 10-minute “meetings” with each individual. Use these sessions to listen to their needs.
Managing people is a constant challenge.
You must leverage your best employees. You must also identify your problem employees and let them go when coaching and feedback fail to have a positive impact.
Parkinson’s law
“work expands to fill the time available for its completion.”
Accept That Good Is Good Enough
First, focus on foods that offer nutrition. If a particular food offers no nutrition, refrain from including it in your meals. An example is white rice. It has zero nutritional value. So avoid wasting time preparing it. Second, make a list of your favorite nutritional foods. Categorize them by type: fruits, vegetables, fish, chicken, etc. Doing this serves two purposes. It gives you something to reference when deciding what dishes to prepare. That way, you’re never at a loss. It also streamlines the ingredients you’ll use, simplifying your meals. Third, make a list of your three favorite lunch
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First, make a list of your goals. This might include running a full marathon, meeting new people, and building muscle mass.
Second, think of hobbies that align with these goals. For example, jogging complements your desire to run a marathon. Attending Meetup events is a great way to meet new people who share your interests. Weight training supports your aim to build muscle mass.
By combining your hobbies with your goals, you’ll increase your results without increasing the time you spend pursuing them.
you enjoy baking, start a side gig making baked goods and decorating cakes.
The point is to leverage your time. Take an activity you enjoy doing, and would likely do for free, and charge money for your expertise. First, make a list of hobbies you can do on your own. These are activities you can enjoy without needing other people to participate. Second, brainstorm products and services you can deliver while pursuing these hobbies (e.g. handmade jewelry, baked goods, family portraits, etc.).
The 80/20 rule suggests that 20% of the books we read will be responsible for 80% of our enjoyment. That’s a diplomatic way of saying 80% of the books we read will be
a waste of time.
Over the years, I’ve settled on a strategy for reading such books in a way that allows me to get the most out of them.
I’m convinced the internet is one of the biggest impediments to our sustained focus and productivity.
When we’re dealing with difficult issues, it’s helpful simply to be near those we trust to support and encourage us.
Feeling happy and content isn’t the result of having a lot of relationships. It stems from cultivating and nurturing the right relationships.
We often take our loved ones for granted.
The continued presence of our spouses and children give us a perception of permanence. They’re always there, and we assume they’ll always be so.
Perhaps you’ve heard friends complain that they feel as if their spouses have become like roommates and their children like tenants. That’s what happens when we fail to give our loved ones the purposeful attention they deserve.
First, recognize that 80% of your interactions with your family are trivial. They don’t count as quality time. Such interactions are usually incidental and do nothing to reinforce the connections you share with your spouse and kids. An example is asking your spouse whether he or she paid the mortgage. Another example is asking your kids whether they finished their homework.
Second, be purposeful when you communicate with your family. It’s easy to give short, glib answers to questions asked by your loved ones. For example, when asked “how was your day,” you reply “fine.” Instead, take the time to answer thoughtfully with details. And when you ask your loved ones about their days, listen attentively. The better your communication, the deeper the connection. Third, plan activities that you and your loved ones will enjoy together. For example, go on weekly dates with your spouse. If your kids are young, take them to the park and play with them a few times a week. If
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We seem unable to resist the impulse to check our phones, much like Pavlov’s dogs were unable to resist drooling at the sound of a dinner bell.
Third, ask your family to do the same. Encourage them to think of the times you spend together as “no-phone zones.”
