What's your 20%?
Back in the late 1800's, a guy named Vilfredo Pareto noticed something strange.
80% of Italy’s land was owned by 20% of the people.
But here’s the thing:
this pattern pops up everywhere in life.
80% of sales come from 20% of customers.
80% of software glitches trace back to 20% of the bugs.
80% of the flowers come from 20% of plants.
80% of consequences come from 20% of circumstances.
And the list goes on...
It’s like the universe is telling us something...
Don’t just take my word for it...
There’s solid evidence behind this.
In sales, studies show that 20% of salespeople often rake in 80% of the revenue.
In healthcare, studies show that 20% of patients can gobble up 80% of resources.
Even in time management studies show that 20% of your tasks fuel 80% of your productivity.
Why this matters
Imagine your packing your suitcase for a big trip.
You’ve got limited space, so you only pick the essentials like your clothes, toothbrush, shoes and a towel. That’ll cover most of your needs.
Those essentials are your 20% that will make you set for 80% of the adventure.
Think about it, if you would overpack your suitcase:
- It will be much heavier to carry
- You will be more stressed if something happens to it
So always make sure to find the 20% you should focus on!
How to apply the 80/20 rule
1. Spot the Imbalance
Take a look at your life.
Where's the 80/20 rule in your life?
Maybe 80% of your results at work come from 20% of the projects?
If you want to improve at anything you're doing, it's key to spot the imbalance and redirect!
2. Play the detective
Take your notebook (or your phone) and write down what you do for a few days.
Which tasks or moments light you up?
Which ones drag you down?
Find the 20% that’s secretly running the show.
3. Double down
Once you’ve acknowledged your 20%, give it all of your focus.
4. Delete or delegate
Now you know the 20% that's important, it's time to delegate or even delete the 80% that's pulling your focus away from you.
5. Repeat the cycle
Life’s not static.
Change is the only constant.
What’s your 20% today might shift tomorrow.
Check in every few months to tweak, adjust, and steer yourself toward the 20%.
Less is more
Here’s the beauty of it all:
the 80/20 rule isn’t about working harder, it’s about working smarter.
It’s about finding the cheat code of your life.
Why waste anymore energy on low-payoffs when you can zoom-in on the winners?
Time to find your 20%!
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Comments
This is all I needed to know
Glad to hear that! The 80/20 rule can be super powerful once you understand how to apply it.