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Would you like
to have more free time? Do you want to get more done? Did you ever have one of
those days where you were busy every single minute and yet, when you looked back
at the end of the day, you discovered you had not met your goals?

 

If you are like
most of us, sometimes you will discover that there will be more tasks on your
'to do' list than you have time to complete. And, yes, interruptions can and
will occur to pull you off task during the course of any given day. And, so… you
can be very, very busy and still not accomplish what you originally set out to
do. 

 

What Is The
Next Right Thing?

 

One of the most
valuable life lessons I have learned is that it's not only important to do
things right, but also to make certain you are doing the right things! 

 

More
specifically, it's always good to set goals and prioritize them. However, from
time to time, deciding what is the most important goal can be confusing. Plus,
when every item on your 'to do' list seems important, it can be difficult to
choose your next priorities. 

 

So, when you
have a lot of things you are wanting to accomplish, or a pressing deadline, and
you are not sure about your priorities, here's a great question to ask yourself:
Is this the best use of my time right now?

 

The Pareto
Principle Can Help!

 

The Pareto
Principle (also known as the 80/20 rule) is a time-tested principle you can use
to help answer this question. In 1906, Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto was
examining the unequal distribution of wealth in his country. He discovered that
twenty percent of the people controlled eighty percent of the wealth and he
created a mathematical formula to describe that.

 

Then, in the
early 1940s, Dr. Joseph M. Juran (an industrial engineer and quality control
expert) was seeking ways to improve the quality of management, products and
services in American industry. His continuing research with Pareto's 80/20
formula showed that, in addition to economics, there are many other areas of
life where 20 percent of something will be responsible for 80 percent of the
results.

 

He further
developed the 80/20 rule into this observation: 'For many events, 80 percent of
the effects come from 20 percent of the causes.' As a result of his research and
success, Dr. Juran’s observation of the “vital few” is commonly known today as
the Pareto Principle. This can be a very effective and powerful tool to help you
manage every aspect of your life more efficiently.

 

What This Means
For You.

 

An important
value of the Pareto Principle is that it reminds you to focus on the top 20
percent of the things that matter most to you. So, take the time to review your
goals and analyze more closely the things you do. You will discover that one in
five of your everyday activities is really more important than the rest. And by
taking consistent action on that top 20 percent, you will produce 80 percent of
your satisfaction and success with ease, grace and joy!

 

Starting today,
when those interruptions and urgencies of the day begin to sap your energy and
steal your time, remind yourself to re-focus and take action only on the top 20
percent of your most important tasks. And when something needs to be dropped
from your 'to do' list, focus on dropping the low value ones. Make sure you keep
and take action on those items from your top 20 percent.

 

In addition,
you can apply the Pareto principle to almost any area in your life. Here are
some ways to apply this focus:

 

Time
management:
~ 20 percent of your tasks will require 80 percent of your time

~ 80 percent of
your success will derive from 20 percent of your actions

 

In business:

~ 20 percent of your sales will give you 80 percent of your profits

~ 80 percent of
your sales come from 20 percent of your customers

 

In
relationships:
~ 20 percent of the people you know bring 80 percent of your support and joy

~ 80 percent of
your time will be spent with 20 percent of the people you know

 

At home:
~ 20 percent of your clothes will be your favorites

~ 80 percent of
the time you will wear your favorite clothes

 

A great way to
take advantage of the Pareto Principle is to MasterMind with your friends. With
masterminding, you will gain valuable insights and bring new perspectives into
your world. People working together, thinking and sharing ideas, will help you
see solutions, possibilities and priorities that will keep you focused on your
top 20 percent. And when you choose someone close to you and are masterminding
together on the Pareto Principle, even more wonderful things will come into your
life.

 

Choose The Best
Use of Your Time!

 

When you are on
the 20 percent track, your life is in better balance and you feel good.
Procrastination becomes a thing of the past and delegation of non-essential
tasks to others is in the present. This means you will create more time to enjoy
each day and you will see your efficiency increase, your goals being met and
your dreams becoming reality.

 

Every day ask
yourself what matters most. Think about how you can be of maximum service to
others. Take some time to determine where your actions will bring you the best
return and figure out which activities will bring you the greatest joy.

 

With careful
review and planning, the application of the Pareto Principle will give you a
surplus of time and energy to focus on things that really matter most to you.
This principle is a marvelous approach to improve your productivity, increase
your joy and enrich your life!

 

 

About the
Author:

 

John
enthusiastically started his first business at age nine, joined his first
MasterMind group in 1972, and became a "self-made millionaire" by the age of 27.
If you would like to learn how to apply these powerful principles in your own
life, sign up for a free subscription to MasterMind Tips ezine at:  http://www.dr-mastermind.com/

 

John Carpenter
Dealey is dedicated to helping people solve problems, recognize (and take full
advantage of) marvelous opportunities available to them and helping people reach
their dreams and goals with "ease and grace." Visit his website at:  http://dr-mastermind.com/home.php

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