The 80/20 Rule

An Approach to Stop Overwhelm

Key Takeaways:

• Sometimes overwhelm paralyzes us; it is best to clarify the overwhelm and name each piece of it separately so that it’s not all one big mess.

• 80% of results come from 20% of the actions, also known as the 80/20 Rule.

• To utilize the 80/20 Rule would be to choose which of those actions will get us the furthest on our project, and reap the greatest rewards.

“If you have a reliable approach to dealing with overwhelm, overwhelm starts to lose its power. ”

Overwhelm is the enemy of productivity.

Overwhelm can pop up when we start on a new project while we enthusiastically identify all we want to accomplish.

It can sneak in when we are in the midst of a project and that initial enthusiasm starts to wane.

It can even throw itself at the final stages of a project when we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel but get caught blindsided by a few final steps we overlooked in the planning stages.

Whenever it strikes, it tends to hit hard, knock us on our backs and leave us paralyzed.

One of overwhelm’s greatest powers is that we tend not to see it coming and its surprise attack stuns us, but if you have a reliable approach to dealing with overwhelm, overwhelm starts to lose its’ power.

Recently, I was working with a property manager who was stuck at a decision point. She saw a lot of potential in the market as well as in her business for her what her next growth step could be, but with so many options, which step to take had her frozen.

She rattled off thoughts, ideas, and propositions to me.

All great possibilities. All seemingly profitable.

But where to start?

That question had her frozen.

A classic phrase I hear from those in overwhelm is,

“I don’t even know where to start.”

When a client is overwhelmed with a slew of actions they need to take, the first thing we do is clarify the overwhelm, identifying and naming each action clearly and concisely so each one exists as its own entity, not the tangled mess overwhelm attacks us with.

Once we label the pieces, we ask one simple question: “Which of these actions we just identified would have the greatest benefit for you right now?”

There is almost always a pause from the client as they can now look at all these distinct actions we’ve clarified and really consider this question.

Then the answer almost always clearly shows itself.

Note, we aren’t prioritizing the options, we are simply searching for the most impactful action.

We are looking for what some call “twenty percent” from the 80/20 Rule.

The Pareto Principle, also called the 80/20 rule, states that “Eighty percent of results will come from twenty percent of the actions.”

The story goes that Vilfredo Frederick Damaso Pareto initially observed this pattern in Nature.

As he tended to his own garden he noticed that a mere twenty percent of the pea plants in his garden were producing eighty percent of the pea pods. (Or in non-math terms, if Pareto had 100 pea plants that produced 100,000 pea pods, he noticed that actually only twenty of his pea plants were producing 80,000 of his pea pods. The remaining 80 pea plants were producing the remaining 20,000, not very productive plants!)

An economist and philosopher, Pareto published his thesis in 1906 that showed this proved true for the landowners of Italy as well.

Twenty percent of the Italian population owned eighty percent of the land.

Others have shown it to be true in the fields of economics (wealth ownership), business (industry production), and even customer management (eighty percent of complaints tend to come from twenty percent of the customers).

While an interesting observation, how does this help one in their own life?

We live in a world with too many demands, multiple opportunities, and limited money, time, and energy.

Figuring out how to best use those limited resources in a world with so much coming at us can be overwhelming.

The Pareto Principle gives us a paradigm to look at this overwhelm.

If you have ten items on your action list, most likely two (give or take) will be the most impactful actions you could take.

To utilize the 80/20 rule would be to choose which of those actions will get you the furthest on your project, and reap the greatest rewards.

They will be the most productive actions you could take. That doesn’t mean the other items aren’t important, but once you take care of those two action items, you can play the same game with the next eight. And so on. It’s a method for decision making, acknowledging not all actions are equal.

In my session with the property manager, we were able to identify three distinct options from that initial flurry she shared with me and solidified them onto three distinct actions with some sub-action items attached.

Then we channeled our inner Pareto as I asked her, “Which one of these actions would be of greatest benefit to you?”

My client quieted as she mulled the question over and then clearly announced: “Option B.”

There was no doubt.

No more overwhelm.

To be clear, your “twenty percent” items don’t have to be impressive or exciting.

Two items on my “twenty percent” for my day are always exercise (even if it’s just a walk) and my “chores” (one load of laundry and a quick pick up around the house).

They are certainly not flashy items, but I know if I do those two items, I feel lighter and better for the rest of my day.

I’m clear-minded, better focused, and more productive.

These actions don’t take long to do, but I know if I don’t I feel behind or burdened or just plain negative.

Figuring out your twenty percent in work, in life, and in relationships is a powerful secret weapon.

Once you do, you have instant access to greater productivity and bigger results.

So ask yourself, “What actions in my life will reap me the greatest reward?”

.....or you can always schedule a session with me and we can figure it out together.