How to 80/20 Your Life

The 80/20 rule (also known as The Pareto Principle) is a great mental model to refocus your priorities.

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The rule can be simplified to:

80% of the output or results will come from 20% of the input or action.

The little things are the ones that account for the majority of the results.

Every time I sit down to think and ask the 80/20 question ("Do 20% of... [verb] 80% of...?") I make new discoveries and learn where to shift my focus, time, and perception.

Here are some questions to ask yourself for productivity:

• Do 20% of customers drive 80% of profits?

• Do 20% of tasks bring 80% of the results?

• Do 20% of sources generate 80% of the distractions?

• Do 20% of projects originate 80% of the problems?

• Does 20% of your team complete 80% of the work?

• Do 20% of customers make 80% of the complaints?

• Do 20% of the bosses make 80% of the promotions?

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