the 80/20 principle

ever feel like you're doing a lot of stuff, but not getting results equal to all that effort??? (Yes!)

the 80/20 principle states that 80% of your results will come from 20% of your effort. So it makes sense to figure out what that 20% is, doesn't it??? That's "leverage." Putting most of your effort in the things that produce the most results.

A lot of us have heard this principle before, most likely in a business context. But how many of us have actually applied it to our life in any meaningful way? I thought it would be good to list some concrete examples of how this might apply to my life, and the people i know. Enjoy...

• 80% of my spiritual growth comes from 20% of my spiritual disciplines. Which disciplines?
• 80% of my weight loss comes from 20% of my lifestyle changes. Which changes?
• 80% the impact I have on others comes from 20% of my gifts. Which gifts?
• 80% of my anxiety comes from 20% of my problems. Which problems?
• 80% of the impact i have on my kids comes from 20% of my behaviors with them. Which behaviors?
• 80% of the interest in my blog comes from 20% of my posts. Which posts?
• 80% of my relational needs are met by 20% of my friends. Which friends?
• 80% of my heartaches and headaches come from 20% of the people in my life. Which people?
• 80% of my pleasure comes from 20% of my activities. Which activities?
• 80% of my groups are about 20% of the available topics. Which topics?
• 80% of my coaching sessions are filled by 20% of my coachees. Which coachees?
• 80% of my energy and vitality is during 20% of the day. Which part of the day?
• 80% of my sin comes from 20% of my temptations. Which temptations?
• 80% of my learning comes from 20% of the learning styles and methods. Which styles and methods?
• 80% of my time is consumed by 20% of my comittments. Which comittments?
• 80% of my electricity consumption is from 20% of my appliances. Which appliances?
• 80% of the calories i eat in a day comes from 20% of the foods. Which foods?
• 80% of the impact the Bible has on my life comes from 20% of the chapters/verses. Which chapters/verses?

Then i thought about the other people in my life, and what 80/20 questions might apply to them.

• 80% of my sales come from 20% of my callers. Which callers?
• 80% of the company profit comes from 20% of the books. Which books?
• 80% of workshop attendees come from 20% of the locations. Which locations?
• 80% of the things given to me by others comes from 20% of the people I know. Which people are they?
• 80% of the reason for getting good grades comes from 20% of my behaviors? Which behaviors?
• 80% of the interest girls have in dating me comes from 20% of the girls. Which girls?
• 80% of the interest in the songs I write are about 20% of my songs. Which songs?
• 80% of the fun i have comes from being with 20% of my friends. Which friends?
• 80% of sales revenue is generated by 20% of my sales people. Which sales people?

I would be interested in hearing from you with any more questions that you feel are relevant to your life... or what your answers are to a particular question. Click on "comment."