Step #63: Apply the 80/20 Rule

Kim · **Step #63: Apply the 80/20 Rule**

Step #63: Apply the 80/20 Rule

If you’re a mother, you likely spend a good portion of your time running errands, taking kids to activities, cleaning, working, and struggling to balance everything. Throw some time robbers in there – such as email, television, computers, the phone, and so on – and you’ve got the day in the life of a typical mom. How can an Italian economist who lived over a 100 years ago help you better deal with your life? Here’s how.

Vilfredo Pareto was born in 1848 in Paris and grew up in Italy. After studying sociology and economics in what is now the Polytechnic University of Turin, he noticed something interesting within his own community. He observed that 20% of the population controlled 80% of the wealth, a principle that went on to be known as Pareto’s Law. Since then, other experts have taken this principle and applied it their own fields of knowledge. Businesspeople have noticed that 80% of their sales come from 20% of their clientele. Organizing experts have noticed that most people use 20% off their things 80% of the time.

Pareto’s law, when applied to time management, states that 20% of the input will result in 80% of the output. We’ve all seen this in action. By jumping in to a big project, typically the 20% of the time you invest will yield 80% of the results. The rest is spent fine-tuning, adding details, and perfecting what was most likely pretty good to begin with. Or, you could look at it this way: 20% of your time is invested in the things that contribute to 80% of your overall happiness. Imagine what would happen if you focused on the 20% of the activities that were most effective? Your productivity would quadruple and you could enhance your quality of life.

Most of us shuffle around caught up in the 80% zone – the zone that is least productive and most time consuming. We don’t recognize the fallacy, because yes, we’re busy (although we may be spinning our wheels with the details) and we may even be productive a lot of the time – but we’re focusing on the 80% zone that contributes least to our overall results and satisfaction.

Here are some signs you’re caught up in the 80% zone:
• You have no personal connection or passion for what you’re doing
• You feel like you’re spinning your wheels
• You’re caught up in mundane details
• The task at hand has little purpose or meaning

On the flip size, you’re in the 20% zone if:
• Things are flowing effortlessly
• You feel you are contributing to a “bigger picture” even if the work isn’t pleasurable
• You feel connected to and inspired by what you’re doing

You can use this law, more commonly known as the 80/20 rule, to increase your quality of life – especially when it comes to managing the way you spend your time.

ASSIGNMENT –Try keeping a time log for the next few days to see where your time is actually spent. Simply take a sheet of paper and mark off 24 one-hour sections. Inside each section, make a note of what you were doing. After you’ve finished, identify the 20% of your daily routine that contributes most to your quality of life (family meals and exercise, for example). Which habits or activities contribute the least?

1. With each of your daily activities, identify the 20% that contributes to 80% of the desired results
2. Find a way to emphasize the top 20% by spending more time on them or doing them more frequently
3. Eliminate or downplay the remaining 80% that have the lowest payoff

Examples:

Web Surfing – Try to identify the 20% of your time that leads to the greatest satisfaction when on the computer. Which sites and activities are creating value in your life and are contributing to your happiness on a larger scale? Focus on them avoid the others.

Television – Again, identify the 20% of your TV time that enhances your life. Try to reduce exposure to the remaining 80%. If you only had one hour of TV to watch per which shows would you choose? If you only had one hour per week what would you choose? Cutting back on watching commercials by using a DVR service such as TiVo is a great place to start.

Work – Which tasks contribute to the highest level of output? Is it quality output, or just busy work? Can you delegate the tasks in which you’re left in the 80% zone so you can be more productive in the 20% zone?

Family – Which 20% of your family time holds the most meaning? Would you rather invest your time having a family meal than watching TV together? Which activities leave you feeling the best, and actually enhance your relationships?

Christy · 09-17-2008, 08:58 AM

Very interesting info. Something to truly think about. Thanks.

jso315 · 09-24-2008, 07:43 AM

Wow ~ that is something that I definately need to think about! I am definately 'caught'!!! I am definately going to work towards keeping myself only on the computer just in the mornings. I need to quit checking it multiple times of the day! I am horrible at that. Okay - maybe I can start by checking it twice a day... one in the am with my coffee & then again later in the evening...