Let's assume you believe that 80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts. That IS what the Pareto Principle (the 80/20 Rule) implies...right?
If that is true, APPLY IT NOW! Can you imagine? Let's say you work a 40-hour week...if you applied the 80/20 Rule, in only ONE day (20% of your efforts) you should be able to produce 80% of your results! Now, you have four more days to make up that last 20% of your efforts so you can at least keep your job...but how much more free are you now? VERY!!
Several months go by ... your golf game has improved, time with the family has become more than just "quality" it is now also measured as "quantity" and work is a breeze! And then it hits you...
The 80/20 Rule is still out there. Why couldn't you apply it to your new life and gain even more free time? There is no reason you shouldn't be able to re-apply the 80/20 Rule, if it is truly as sound as most argue it is.
Let's do some quick math...we are now accomplishing in only one day what used to take us 5 days. If we reapply the 80/20 Rule, we should be able to get down to just under 2 hours of work per week, producing 64% of the results (80% of 80%). WOW! In only 2 hours work I can produce 64% of what I used to get done in a week?
Well, no, of course not. And this is one simple reason the 80/20 Rule doesn't work as so many promote it does.
Let's agree on this, most of us waste time and efforts. If we abandoned our useless waste of time we could all be more productive...but let's not impose a rule on our efforts/results because it sounds cool. The 80/20 Rule was about land ownership in Italy.
A nearby PhD has a ridiculous amount of "practical applications" of the 80/20 Rule at this site. Of course, I disagree in principle (ha ha) with this list, but noticed he's in nearby Muncie at Ball State so maybe I can gain an audience with him...
Next post: What you need to know about the 80/20 Rule.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
I agree with you Kevin.
It would be great if we only had to use 20% effort to gain 80% growth. But unfortunity that is not how life really is.
If people would realize that putting a little more effort into their job might seem like a lot, but really it would free up more time later that could be beneficial for use in other areas.
Kevin we cannot apply the 8020 rule to every method. I agree that we can use more of our useless time of doing less to be more productive. I try to do this to schedule out more work and school. I once spent to much time being productive and when I slow down I miss that.
I can't wait to apply the 80/20 rule to my golf game later this spring!
Thanks for the information Kevin!
Shortly, my slice will be forgotten!
Alan
Post a Comment