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The 80/20 Principle of Why You’re Working Harder, Not Smarter (and How to Fix It)
There was a time when I believed the harder I worked, the more success I’d achieve.
I packed my to-do list with endless tasks, convinced that every effort would pay off.
Yet, no matter how much time I spent, the results rarely matched the energy I put in.
Then I discovered the 80/20 Principle, and everything changed.
Popularized by economist Vilfredo Pareto, this principle states that 80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts.
It’s not just a rule it’s a wake-up call.
The 80/20 Principle challenges the way we think about productivity, success, and priorities.
It asks us to reflect on what truly matters and forces us to face the uncomfortable truth: most of what we do doesn’t really make a difference.
The 80/20 Principle (also known as the Pareto Principle) is deceptively simple:
- In any given situation, a small percentage of inputs produces the majority of outputs.
- For example, 20% of customers generate 80% of revenue.
- Or 20% of your tasks create 80% of your results.