Applying the 80/20 principle

[Phi]

How do you apply the 80/20 principle in your life?

I totally agree that 20% of what we do accounts for 80% of the results. My problem is how to determine the 20% that are worth looking at in both your personal and professional life.

[andrew]

It's used a lot in productivity, programming, and design.

Like for design, 20% would be a header, 80% content.
Programing, I spend aboout 80% of my time on about 20% of the features.

But I agree, what's the 20% to focus on? It can be a hard question.

[set]

yeap..its a hard question...which 20%?

well only 2 way to know

experience

think/plan b4 start work

[Joel Chue]

The 80/20 principle is afterall just an idea to help you
increase your productivity.

Don't spend too much time dwelling on which activities to focus.
Here's an idea.

For a week, record down all the activities that you spend time in.
Then look at which activities are meaningful and contributive
to the goals you want to reach.

Those are the activities that will account 80% of your success.
Hope this helps.

[Yoshi]

In the Real Estate industry they say "20 percent of the agents make 80 percent of the money".

[andrew]

It's pretty much everywhere, not just a guideline. It's not an exact 80/20, but it's the general priciple at work throughout history and nature.