Don't be scared off by the name because the 80/20 rule is not about maths! It's actually about how a small amount of your actions each day are having a big impact on your results. The best part about the 80/20 rule is that if understand how it works you will also understand how it applies to you and then you can easily manipulate it to ensure you get great results! Sound good?
The 80/20 rule tells us that 80% of what we achieve in life is a direct result of only 20% of all the actions we take. Now the ratio may not be exactly 80/20 - it may even be 99/1 - but the rule makes it clear that a small number of our actions are actually having a big impact.
This rule applies to more than just our "actions"; it actually applies to everything (according to Pareto). So let's have a look at some very straightforward examples to help demonstrate this. I'm willing to bet that you spend 80% or more of your social time with 20% or less of the people you know (friends, family, acquaintances). What about 80% or more of the time you spend online is on 20% or less of all the websites you've ever visited? What about 80% or more of the phone calls you make are to 20% or less of all the contacts in your phone? Seriously, you can apply it to anything.
The first major thing to take away from the 80/20 rule is to understand that there is no point focusing on the 80% of things you do each day that are creating only 20% of your results. You need to do the opposite! Forget the 80% that is impacting 20% of your results, you want to focus only on the 20% that is impacting 80% of your results! Are you following? Clear as mud?
Clearly, there is no reason to spend your time doing things that account for only 20% of what you achieve, especially if that 20% takes up 80% of your time! Instead, you should focus on the 20% that is impacting 80% of your results. Focus on drastically improving your results by changing those areas that are having the most impact. For example, if you find that your biggest challenge is being disorganized then if that area was transformed you would find it would have a massive result wouldn't it? So you change one thing but it impacts lots of things.
So which small areas are having the biggest impact on your results? Unfortunately it could be many things. For example, time management and a lack of organization are often cited as key problems. But for the point of this article let's focus on three areas that are most often cited as problematic (and are definitely 20% areas!)
Your habits are a key driver of your outcomes. If you have all the right habits (like a habit of doing two hours homework every night or a habit of always asking the teacher when you don't understand something) then you can transform your results. Your habits impact you every day and in every way. If you get home from school each day and jump straight onto Facebook or play video games that is your habit. You're not making a conscious decision each time, it's just a habit. The right habits are the biggest game changer there is. It's definitely a 20% area impacting 80% of your results.
Motivation levels are almost always a challenge. If you don't feel motivated you don't do anything. If you don't do anything there is no way you can be successful! It's not possible is it? If you feel super motivated each day (a small 20% area) then it will no doubt creates big results for you (the 80% area). Find a way to get motivated each day and you will create a massive transformation in your results.
The next area is memory recall. If you can't remember data and information very well then unfortunately you are going to struggle to get top marks. Tests and exams become far less daunting when you have honed your memory recall ability - and they are terrifying when you haven't! You must be able to recall mountains of information in order to be successful because education tests memory as much as it tests knowledge. You would think they would have a subject called "memory" given how much focus there is on your memory recall ability! So again, we can see that a small area (your 20%) is impacting a huge part of your outcomes (your 80%).
Clearly, there are many areas that impact your results in schooling and your results in life for that matter. But by figuring out which areas are having the biggest impact you will be able to quickly change your results. Identify your personal 20% areas that are having a big influence on your outcomes and do something about them today. If you do, your grades will shoot up quickly. If you don't, you should expect more of the same. Good luck!
The 80/20 rule tells us that 80% of what we achieve in life is a direct result of only 20% of all the actions we take. Now the ratio may not be exactly 80/20 - it may even be 99/1 - but the rule makes it clear that a small number of our actions are actually having a big impact.
This rule applies to more than just our "actions"; it actually applies to everything (according to Pareto). So let's have a look at some very straightforward examples to help demonstrate this. I'm willing to bet that you spend 80% or more of your social time with 20% or less of the people you know (friends, family, acquaintances). What about 80% or more of the time you spend online is on 20% or less of all the websites you've ever visited? What about 80% or more of the phone calls you make are to 20% or less of all the contacts in your phone? Seriously, you can apply it to anything.
The first major thing to take away from the 80/20 rule is to understand that there is no point focusing on the 80% of things you do each day that are creating only 20% of your results. You need to do the opposite! Forget the 80% that is impacting 20% of your results, you want to focus only on the 20% that is impacting 80% of your results! Are you following? Clear as mud?
Clearly, there is no reason to spend your time doing things that account for only 20% of what you achieve, especially if that 20% takes up 80% of your time! Instead, you should focus on the 20% that is impacting 80% of your results. Focus on drastically improving your results by changing those areas that are having the most impact. For example, if you find that your biggest challenge is being disorganized then if that area was transformed you would find it would have a massive result wouldn't it? So you change one thing but it impacts lots of things.
So which small areas are having the biggest impact on your results? Unfortunately it could be many things. For example, time management and a lack of organization are often cited as key problems. But for the point of this article let's focus on three areas that are most often cited as problematic (and are definitely 20% areas!)
Your habits are a key driver of your outcomes. If you have all the right habits (like a habit of doing two hours homework every night or a habit of always asking the teacher when you don't understand something) then you can transform your results. Your habits impact you every day and in every way. If you get home from school each day and jump straight onto Facebook or play video games that is your habit. You're not making a conscious decision each time, it's just a habit. The right habits are the biggest game changer there is. It's definitely a 20% area impacting 80% of your results.
Motivation levels are almost always a challenge. If you don't feel motivated you don't do anything. If you don't do anything there is no way you can be successful! It's not possible is it? If you feel super motivated each day (a small 20% area) then it will no doubt creates big results for you (the 80% area). Find a way to get motivated each day and you will create a massive transformation in your results.
The next area is memory recall. If you can't remember data and information very well then unfortunately you are going to struggle to get top marks. Tests and exams become far less daunting when you have honed your memory recall ability - and they are terrifying when you haven't! You must be able to recall mountains of information in order to be successful because education tests memory as much as it tests knowledge. You would think they would have a subject called "memory" given how much focus there is on your memory recall ability! So again, we can see that a small area (your 20%) is impacting a huge part of your outcomes (your 80%).
Clearly, there are many areas that impact your results in schooling and your results in life for that matter. But by figuring out which areas are having the biggest impact you will be able to quickly change your results. Identify your personal 20% areas that are having a big influence on your outcomes and do something about them today. If you do, your grades will shoot up quickly. If you don't, you should expect more of the same. Good luck!
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