How Do You Choose What You Do and What to Delegate to Get the Best Results?

The 80/20 rule came from an Italian economist, Vilfredo Pareto, who stated that 80% of the Italian income was earned by 20% of the Italian population.

This means that 80% of your outcomes come from 20% of your inputs. In other words, 20% of your activities equate to 80% of your happiness. Instead of focusing only on income, let’s focus on your overall well-being or happiness factor.

So how can you use the 80/20 rule to maximize your outputs? Since each of us is good at a few things, focus on what you are good at – those few things. That will maximize your efficient self and allow you to improve your skills in what you are good at and what you love to do. 

Malcolm Gladwell speaks of how to become an expert. If you spread yourself across the board, trying to master everything, you are a master of none and your efficiency rate decreases.

Take a moment and consider what you love and what you are really good at and then list out those things that cause you to waste time and decrease your efficiency. If you can, hire someone to do those tasks that fall on that list. Share duties with your children, spouse, roommate, significant other, co-worker, team members, etc. Trade your time and skills for theirs. Focusing on those 20% tasks, you will find that the 80% yield will be worthwhile.

Consider what is most important for you, your higher divine mission, and focus on the important tasks that take you there. Action without direction takes you nowhere.