You should work with the 80/20 rule in mind!

Daniel J. Schwarz
2 min readNov 24, 2023

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The 80/20 rule told me a lot when it comes to efficient work. It made my work days smoother and my mind clearer. But be warned if you are a perfectionist, because it means that you stop a project when it is good and not perfect.

Photo by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash

The 80/20 rule, also known as the Pareto Principle, is a concept that suggests that roughly 80% of the results come from 20% of the work you put in.

You can apply the 80/20 rule in various situations. Here are 5 examples:

Time Management

The principle suggests that 80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts. In other words, identifying and focusing on the most critical tasks can lead to a disproportionate impact on overall productivity.

Productivity

It is common to observe that a small percentage of tasks or activities contribute significantly to the overall productivity of a project or organization. By identifying and prioritizing these high-impact tasks, one can optimize time and resources.

Customer Relationships

In business, it’s often found that a small percentage of customers contribute the majority of revenue. Focusing efforts on satisfying and retaining these key customers can be more beneficial than spreading resources evenly across all customers.

Problem-solving

In troubleshooting or issue resolution, the 80/20 rule can apply, where a small number of issues are responsible for the majority of problems. Addressing these critical issues can lead to significant improvements.

Product Development

In product development, it is observed that a small set of features or functionalities often account for the majority of user satisfaction. Prioritizing the development of these key features can lead to a more successful product.

It’s important to note that the 80/20 rule is a general guideline and not a strict mathematical law. The percentages may vary (e.g., it could be 70/30 or 90/10 in some cases). Applying the 80/20 rule can help individuals and organizations prioritize effectively and focus on what truly matters for achieving their goals.

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Daniel J. Schwarz
Daniel J. Schwarz

Written by Daniel J. Schwarz

Photographer and roadtrip ethusiast. 📸🚐

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