The 80/20 Rule, or Pareto Principle

Use the Pareto Principle to get the results you want in life.

You are surely familiar with the 80/20 Rule, sometimes known as the Pareto Principle. The Pareto Principle states that 80 percent of your actions produce 80 percent of your results. You only wear 20% of your clothes 80% of the time. The best 20% of salespeople generate 80% of all sales. It is a powerful principle that can be used to quickly improve your life.

To create the life you want, apply the 80/20 Rule:

1. Recognize that your nature is to focus on the 80 percent of your selections that produce the least amount of results. The Pareto principle is not for the faint of heart. We prefer easy, comfortable behaviors that produce nothing in the way of effects. The most meaningful deeds are the ones that are the most difficult to perform.

* For example, switching to fat-free doughnuts is not difficult, but it will not result in significant weight loss. Leaving the dinner table when you are still a little hungry every night for 6 months is more difficult, but it will make a big difference.

2. It can be used in almost every aspect of your life. Eighty percent of your satisfaction is derived from twenty percent of your deeds. What if you adjusted your life so that you could devote more time to that 20%? By the same token, 20% of the individuals in your life are responsible for 80% of your grief. What if you had the ability to limit or eliminate them from your life?

3. The 80/20 rule saves a significant amount of time. You may save a lot of time by focusing on the acts that make the most difference.

* It all boils down to efficiency. Make a list of the most significant acts you take in each area of your life. These are the critical few activities that will make the most difference.

4. Using the 80/20 rule, ask yourself the crucial questions. Then you will have enough knowledge to make a significant shift in your life. You are aware of what makes you happy, who makes you happy, and what contributes to your success. You also know what things and individuals stand in the way of these goals.

* Which 20% of my activities account for 80% of my stress?

* Which 20% of my activities account for 80% of my happiness?

* Which 20% of my pals do I like the most?

* Which 20% of my friends are the most painful to me?

* Which 20% of my abilities account for 80% of my success?

* Which 20% of my beliefs are responsible for 80% of my grief?

5. Begin implementing the principle in your daily life. What are you hoping to achieve? Assume you own a firm and wish to use the Pareto Principle.

* Only 20% of your staff do 80% of the work. You might better treat them nicely if you do not want them to depart!

* 20% of your staff are responsible for 80% of the difficulties. You should probably show them the door.

* 20% of your consumers account for 80% of your profits. Take care of these customers.

* 20% of your actions resulted in 80% of your consumers. Concentrate on those actions in order to get new customers.

* 80% of the value you create at work is provided by 20% of the actions you do. Spend extra time on the last 20%.

The 80/20 rule can be used to any aspect of your life that you want to improve. You will save a lot of time and accomplish a lot more. Make sure you are devoting your time to the things that will have the greatest impact.