An internal conversation I’ve had with myself this week about productivity: Not being busy, being productive. And knowing the difference.
This is for people looking to complete a task or become organized around that task.
Author James Altucher just wrote a great piece about 80/20 rule on his blog.
If are unfamiliar with the 80/20 rule, it states that 80% of your results comes from 20% of your activity.
In practical terms? 80% of your revenue comes from 20% of your customers (your best customers!) and it can applied it to practically anything.
For example...
From another Altucher blog - In a typical language, there are approximately 100,000 available words to use. If you learn the top 2,500 words, you can comprehend and communicate 95% of the language. So it's more like 97/3 in this case.
Make sense?
But, the secret is in the implementation. You see, learning 2,500 words takes months. The other 97,500? A lifetime. Is it better to spend a few months and reap most of the rewards, or a lifetime to get a negligible difference???
Altucher is talking about the only 10 things that have contributed to his success, and the 80/20 rule makes the list.
He writes: 80/20 - Stop working so hard.
- - 20% of the people you know are the ones who will provide most of the value.
- - 20% of your current activities are the only ones worth doing to achieve success
- - 20% of meetings are the only ones worth having. Cancel the other 80%. Today.
80/20 SQUARED: 4% (20% squared) of the things you do will provide 64% (80% squared) of the value.
You only need that 64% to make millions, find love, get healthy, and be happy. The other 96% of the time you can rest and read and learn and make someone laugh.
IMPORTANT NOTE: This rule is very hard to follow but it works.
a. It’s hard to identify the right 20%. Do very fast trial and error.
b. It’s hard psychologically to work 80% less. People confuse busyness with success. <<< (Me: Truth! People confuse activity with productivity ALL. THE. TIME!)
c. Be patient with yourself as you are finding the right 20%.
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BAM!
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There you go. Digest it. Practice it.
It takes a long time to implement - a long time to change the way you think.
Now, go forth and 80/20 the ever living sh$t out of everything.
Happy Fri-yay everyone.
Happy Easter – Chag Sameach
May these next few days be meaningful to you all!!!!
-C