Don't be scared off by the name because the 80/20 rule is not about maths! It's actually about how a small amount of your actions each day are having a big impact on your results. The best part about the 80/20 rule is that if understand how it works you will also understand how it applies to you and then you can easily manipulate it to ensure you get great results! Sound good?
The 80/20 rule states that 80% of what we achieve is a direct result of 20% of the actions we take (it also applies to many other areas but they are not the focus of this article). In plain English, this means that only a very small amount of the actions we take each day create most of what we achieve (or don't achieve). The ratio does not have to be 80/20 - it may even be as high as 99/1 - but the point is simply that your major results (your 80%) are actually being dictated by a minority of your actions (your 20%).
This rule applies to more than just our "actions"; it actually applies to everything (according to Pareto). So let's have a look at some very straightforward examples to help demonstrate this. I'm willing to bet that you spend 80% or more of your social time with 20% or less of the people you know (friends, family, acquaintances). What about 80% or more of the time you spend online is on 20% or less of all the websites you've ever visited? What about 80% or more of the phone calls you make are to 20% or less of all the contacts in your phone? Seriously, you can apply it to anything.
So, can we agree that 80% of what anyone achieves in life is a direct result of 20% or less of the actions they take? Good I'm glad we agree! But what's really important about this rule is how to use it to your advantage. You want to be able to exploit the rule and make it work for you don't you? So, the first tip is to focus only on the 20% areas that are impacting 80% of your results and then ignore everything else. Seems pretty obvious doesn't it? But only when you're aware of the rule.
Quite clearly, there is no reason to focus any time or energy on anything other than the 20% that is creating 80% of your results. If you want to get the biggest bang for your buck, you need to focus on any areas that create maximum outcomes (you wouldn't do the opposite because that would be crazy!) However, I can still hear you asking - "but what are my 20% areas? What small things do I need to change that will create the biggest results for me?"
So which small areas are having the biggest impact on your results? Unfortunately it could be many things. For example, time management and a lack of organization are often cited as key problems. But for the point of this article let's focus on three areas that are most often cited as problematic (and are definitely 20% areas!)
Your habits are a key 20% area. Your habits dictate your thoughts and your actions. Bad habits lead to bad results. Good habits lead to good results. It really is that simple! If you have gotten yourself into poor habits then unfortunately you will get poor results. The good news is that by identifying the bad habits and then changing them you can completely transform your outcomes. Small area, massive impact!
The next 20% area is motivation - an often misunderstood action driver. If you don't "feel" motivated then there is a very good chance that you will take very little action (or take no action at all!) But how do you "get motivated"? The key here is that you must have something that calls you into action. You must have something that you want to work towards (notice that it's about what you want - not anyone else). If you have no motivation you will do nothing. If you do nothing you will get some pretty poor outcomes. Again, this is just one small area that has a huge impact.
Your memory recall ability has a huge impact on your results. Many tests and exams don't only test knowledge; they also strongly test your memory recall. Unfortunately, not many students are taught how to recall information. Nonetheless, if your memory recall ability is legendary then you will transform your results! I'm sure we can agree on that. SO again, we see that one area (your 20%) is having a significant impact on your level of achievement (your 80%).
There is no doubt that there are many areas that impact your results. But you will definitely have a few items (say 2-3) that are causing the most impact. Have you been able to identify your 20% areas? Identify those things that are having the biggest impact on you and get to work on them. If you work hard on those things that have maximum result and your grades will absolutely skyrocket. Good luck!
The 80/20 rule states that 80% of what we achieve is a direct result of 20% of the actions we take (it also applies to many other areas but they are not the focus of this article). In plain English, this means that only a very small amount of the actions we take each day create most of what we achieve (or don't achieve). The ratio does not have to be 80/20 - it may even be as high as 99/1 - but the point is simply that your major results (your 80%) are actually being dictated by a minority of your actions (your 20%).
This rule applies to more than just our "actions"; it actually applies to everything (according to Pareto). So let's have a look at some very straightforward examples to help demonstrate this. I'm willing to bet that you spend 80% or more of your social time with 20% or less of the people you know (friends, family, acquaintances). What about 80% or more of the time you spend online is on 20% or less of all the websites you've ever visited? What about 80% or more of the phone calls you make are to 20% or less of all the contacts in your phone? Seriously, you can apply it to anything.
So, can we agree that 80% of what anyone achieves in life is a direct result of 20% or less of the actions they take? Good I'm glad we agree! But what's really important about this rule is how to use it to your advantage. You want to be able to exploit the rule and make it work for you don't you? So, the first tip is to focus only on the 20% areas that are impacting 80% of your results and then ignore everything else. Seems pretty obvious doesn't it? But only when you're aware of the rule.
Quite clearly, there is no reason to focus any time or energy on anything other than the 20% that is creating 80% of your results. If you want to get the biggest bang for your buck, you need to focus on any areas that create maximum outcomes (you wouldn't do the opposite because that would be crazy!) However, I can still hear you asking - "but what are my 20% areas? What small things do I need to change that will create the biggest results for me?"
So which small areas are having the biggest impact on your results? Unfortunately it could be many things. For example, time management and a lack of organization are often cited as key problems. But for the point of this article let's focus on three areas that are most often cited as problematic (and are definitely 20% areas!)
Your habits are a key 20% area. Your habits dictate your thoughts and your actions. Bad habits lead to bad results. Good habits lead to good results. It really is that simple! If you have gotten yourself into poor habits then unfortunately you will get poor results. The good news is that by identifying the bad habits and then changing them you can completely transform your outcomes. Small area, massive impact!
The next 20% area is motivation - an often misunderstood action driver. If you don't "feel" motivated then there is a very good chance that you will take very little action (or take no action at all!) But how do you "get motivated"? The key here is that you must have something that calls you into action. You must have something that you want to work towards (notice that it's about what you want - not anyone else). If you have no motivation you will do nothing. If you do nothing you will get some pretty poor outcomes. Again, this is just one small area that has a huge impact.
Your memory recall ability has a huge impact on your results. Many tests and exams don't only test knowledge; they also strongly test your memory recall. Unfortunately, not many students are taught how to recall information. Nonetheless, if your memory recall ability is legendary then you will transform your results! I'm sure we can agree on that. SO again, we see that one area (your 20%) is having a significant impact on your level of achievement (your 80%).
There is no doubt that there are many areas that impact your results. But you will definitely have a few items (say 2-3) that are causing the most impact. Have you been able to identify your 20% areas? Identify those things that are having the biggest impact on you and get to work on them. If you work hard on those things that have maximum result and your grades will absolutely skyrocket. Good luck!
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