The Pareto Principle
80% of results come from 20% of efforts.
It’s what we call the Pareto Principle.
The 80%
The 80% represents activities and tasks that consume most of your time but don’t significantly impact your results. These are low-value tasks that can easily become time sinks. Here’s what the 80% looks like:
➔ Spending hours every day reading and responding to non-urgent emails.
➔ Attending numerous meetings that don’t lead to actionable outcomes.
➔ Engaging in repetitive administrative tasks that don’t drive progress.
➔ Mindlessly scrolling through social media without a clear purpose.
➔ Trying to juggle several tasks at once, leading to reduced efficiency and focus.
The 20%
The 20% represents high-value activities that drive the majority of your results. These tasks are crucial for achieving your goals and should be prioritised. Here’s what the 20% looks like:
➔ Setting clear goals and creating actionable plans to achieve them.
➔ Focusing on your top clients who generate the most revenue and ensuring their satisfaction.
➔ Identifying and pursuing new opportunities for growth and expansion.
➔ Investing time in learning new skills that enhance your capabilities and productivity.
➔ Working on high-impact projects that significantly contribute to your business goals.
In sales, 80% could be cold calling random leads with no preparation, while 20% is researching and reaching out to high-potential leads who are more likely to convert. In marketing, 80% could be posting generic content on all platforms, while 20% could be creating targeted campaigns that resonate with your core audience.
It’s easy to get caught up in the busywork of the 80%, thinking that activity equals productivity. However, true productivity comes from focusing on the 20% that matters.
This mindset shift in focus requires discipline and clarity on what drives results in your specific context.
Take a moment today to evaluate your tasks.
Are you focusing on the high-impact 20% or getting lost in the busy 80%?
Reach out to me to learn how you can realign your efforts and maximise your impact.
