Perhaps you've heard of the 80/20 rule, but don't know where it came from or how it was adapted. Please allow me to give a bit of background on the 80/20 rule before I jump into the way you can put it to work for you.
In 1906, Italian economist Wilfredo Pareto came up with a mathematical principle to describe the distribution of wealth in his country. He found that 20% of the people had 80% of the wealth.
A quality management guru, Dr. Joseph Juran observed a theory of the "vital few" and the "trivial many" and inaccurately attributed this to Pareto, thus the "Pareto Principle" was named and the "80/20 rule" was used to describe how to be more effective.
Focusing on the "vital few" in your life can make a huge difference in the accomplishments you'll make in your life. Examine a list of 10 things to-do, and chances are you'll find that there are 2 things that will have more value than the other 8 things combined. These are the 2 things that absolutely must be done for the day, and the other things can given to someone else to do, planned for another day, or ignored altogether.
By doing these 2 things, you will do more than you ever thought possible. Chances are these 2 things are often the hardest things on your list to do, and some would say that doing something is better than doing nothing. I would argue that doing these little things is a lot like doing nothing, because they're little things that don't amount to much at all. Doing these big things will give you the confidence you need to do even bigger things, and then you'll achieve more, and believe in yourself more, thus doing even bigger things, and the flywheel is now in your favor.
As Brian Tracy would say "Eat That Frog!" and do those difficult, valuable things, and watch your achievements go through the roof. Of course, you can always focus on the trivial few, and focus on just getting any old thing done. You'll be able to tick off many items on that to-do list, but never really get ahead. It's really up to you, and I hope you'll choose to make it great and eat that frog!
Phil Gerbyshak leads a team of IT help desk professionals in Milwaukee, WI, and finds that sharing his knowledge is a crucial component in his success as a leader and as a person. Phil's personal philosophy is paraphrased from Tim Sanders' fantastic book Love is the Killer App: "Share your knowledge, your network, and your love. The rest will follow." Check out more of Phil's musings at http://makeitgreat.blogspot.com
cleaning team near Winnetka ..1)Excessive worryNo, I'm not saying "don't worry, be happy."Well-used worry... Read More
In a recent CMA survey of 2251 physicians, over 45%... Read More
Shit happens. I know this to be a fact, because... Read More
Do you feel stress at work? Do you carry your... Read More
Traffic jams. Toddler tantrums. Deadlines at work. Money troubles. Too... Read More
ResentmentsA wise friend once said that holding onto resentments is... Read More
Stress is normal. Stress is OK. Stress is the same... Read More
Defending your point of view can use up a lot... Read More
What would you say if I told you I know... Read More
STRESS & TIME MANAGEMENT: Stress is either the source or... Read More
I had the unpleasant experience of being pulled over the... Read More
?And holding it way down inside you like an old... Read More
In his book, The 22 Non-Negotiable Laws of Wellness, author... Read More
Many of my readers write to me about the tensions... Read More
If you're like most people, you have your bouts of... Read More
Understanding StressStress has been called "the invisible disease". It is... Read More
* Play Romane's stress control seminar recordings, and read "The... Read More
Of all the sources of stress in our lives, faulty... Read More
My first real job (schedule, time clock, paycheck, boss) was... Read More
I have yet to see a scientist talk about the... Read More
Are you a person who has a keen imagination, a... Read More
But how can this happen to someone?Let's concentrate on how... Read More
"We do not stop playing because we grow old. We... Read More
In a hectic world, it's all too easy to reach... Read More
When September rolls around, does it generally hit you like... Read More
family-safe home cleaners Northbrook ..Workplace stress is on the rise and it's costing corporate... Read More
* Play Romane's stress control seminar recordings, and read "The... Read More
1. The Law of GiftsRichard Bach, author of "Illusions" says... Read More
Panic.Heart racing. Palms sweating. Breathing rapid and shallow. Mouth dry.... Read More
What is the greatest fear of man? Is it death?... Read More
Q: What is Stress?A: Very basically it is the physical,... Read More
Do you get frustrated with your spouse, your kids, your... Read More
The day wasn't going well already. You know how it... Read More
A grandfather, whose grandson came to him angry at a... Read More
Loneliness and separation are the real illness of our times.... Read More
All stress comes from believing a thought that argues with... Read More
Do you worry all the time?Do the following symptoms bother... Read More
Shit happens. I know this to be a fact, because... Read More
Self-Care Strategies:Substantial breakfast daily Regular sleeping habits (minimum of 7... Read More
This heading may seem like a contradiction in terms. How... Read More
"I've got too much to do, I've just got too... Read More
When Army leaders fail to control battlefield stress, they lose... Read More
Stress is normal. Stress is OK. Stress is the same... Read More
Conceptualizing stress: Stress often has a negative connotation. Failure, illnesses,... Read More
We all know what it feels like to have our... Read More
All people experience stress and anxiety in one form or... Read More
In a recent CMA survey of 2251 physicians, over 45%... Read More
For those who are suffering from stress, just about the... Read More
The National Center for health statistics reported that in 1997,... Read More
Top Ten Ways to Reduce Your Stress at Home1. Create... Read More
Stress Management |