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
disinfecting cleaning services Winnetka ..Have you been feeling so stressful and almost losing your... Read More
June is the month of the honey moon. Custom holds... Read More
I have yet to see a scientist talk about the... Read More
Over the years I've collected scores of comics and cartoons... Read More
"I've got too much to do, I've just got too... Read More
Do you have the desire for a stress free life?... Read More
When was the last time you took a day just... Read More
All people experience stress and anxiety in one form or... Read More
As tools for change are discussed, one tool - that... Read More
Why do we resist change? As the saying goes, the... Read More
It's no secret that we women, by virtue of our... Read More
If you suffer from insomnia of any kind, the chances... Read More
In these times when companies are constantly down-sizing and right-sizing... Read More
Everyone experiences stress at some point in their life. In... Read More
We all know what it's like coming home from a... Read More
Is your stress level higher than it should be? Are... Read More
Do you get frustrated with your spouse, your kids, your... Read More
In my experience, most of us spend a lot more... Read More
Defending your point of view can use up a lot... Read More
Picture the following scene:It's Sunday evening, the weekend is winding... Read More
Burt Reynolds revealed his vulnerable side when he realized he... Read More
Panic.Heart racing. Palms sweating. Breathing rapid and shallow. Mouth dry.... Read More
Have you recently moved or started a new job? Do... Read More
Let's face it. If you are stressed, agitated and flitting... Read More
Work related tensions, personal issues and abnormal lifestyles are the... Read More
last minute cleaning help Highland Park ..Do you feel tense and anxious at work? Do your... Read More
"Watch your language."We all heard this admonition as kids and... Read More
For those of you who have been living in a... Read More
When a great Zen Master returned to his country after... Read More
* The material presented in this article is provided for... Read More
IntroductionTime magazine called stress the "The Epidemic of the Eighties".... Read More
Q. Help! I moved from the Dallas to Denver. I... Read More
One of the best ways to combat stress and depression... Read More
Lake Hopatcong, NJ (PRWEB) November 30, 2004 -- Here are... Read More
We strive for excellence in our lives, going at full... Read More
Most of us lead busy lives, trying to successfully juggle... Read More
Top Ten Ways to Reduce Your Stress at Home1. Create... Read More
In these times when companies are constantly down-sizing and right-sizing... Read More
Managing stress is not easy if you don't have the... Read More
When was the last time that you truly took a... Read More
Have you ever said the words, "This job/my life is... Read More
The main problem in a down economy is that workplaces... Read More
Q. So many times in my life, I seem to... Read More
Use these simple tips to minimize stress in your day... Read More
Did you know that taking a short trip, such as... Read More
Most people know of the importance of exercise as a... Read More
The number one most popular issue that users of a... Read More
Are you looking for stress relief? No drugs, no meditation?... Read More
Work stress has become a major problem today. The nature... Read More
The best way to reduce your stress is to really... Read More
Stress Management |