HOW TO USE THE 80/20 RULE TO MAKE DECISIONS

[grace.cdc]

1. IDENTIFY THE 80/20 TASKS- Take out a sheet of paper and write down what you do on a daily basis. Next, circle the tasks that produce the best results for your job. Finally, if you have a boss, ask him or her about what is most important. Do this for your personal life as well.

2. ASK A SIMPLE QUESTION- Whenever you're faced with a new potential project or task, ask a simple question: "Does this task help or hurt my 80% activities?"

3. ELIMINATE OR DELEGATE- Your project list shouldn't be filled with items that don't matter. If an activity isn't bringing satisfaction or a measurable result, then you should get rid of it. Either pass it along to someone else (delegate) or completely eliminate it.

4. DON'T ADD, SUBSTITUTE- Remember, your time is limited. If you feel like a new project is important enough to work on, then it should take the place of a low-value activity.

5. PRACTICE CREATIVE PROCRASTINATION- When you know a project isn't an 80% activity, then it's perfectly fine to put it down on a "someday" list. You'll delay this action with the understanding that you'll only do it if it becomes more important later on in your life.

Practicing 80/20 is a skill that takes a while to develop. At first, it'll be difficult to let go of the projects you once thought were important. Eventually, however, you'll develop an intuitive understanding of what is valuable and what is a waste of your time.