Understanding The 80/20 Rule Will Change Your Results Straight Away
Don't be scared off by the name because the 80/20 rule is not about maths! It's actually about how a small amount of your actions each day are having a big impact on your results. The best part about the 80/20 rule is that if understand how it works you will also understand how it applies to you and then you can easily manipulate it to ensure you get great results! Sound good?
The 80/20 rule (developed by Vilfredo Pareto) states that 80% of what we achieve is a direct result of 20% of the actions we take (it also applies to many other areas but they are not the focus of this article). In plain English, this means that only a very small amount of the actions we take each day create most of what we achieve (or don't achieve). The ratio does not have to be 80/20 - it may even be as high as 99/1 - but the point is simply that your major results (your 80%) are actually being dictated by a minority of your actions (your 20%).
It's not hard to understand how this rule applies to your life but let's look at a basic example which will apply to you to help you understand it. Let's think about your social life (hopefully you have one!) The reality is that you almost certainly spend 80% or more of your social time with 20% or less of the people you know. Think about it. Do you spend most of your time with a few close friends? Or you may spend 80% or more of your time sending texts, calling and chatting online with 20% or less of your contacts.
The first major thing to take away from the 80/20 rule is to understand that there is no point focusing on the 80% of things you do each day that are creating only 20% of your results. You need to do the opposite! Forget the 80% that is impacting 20% of your results, you want to focus only on the 20% that is impacting 80% of your results! Are you following? Clear as mud?
Clearly, there is no reason to spend your time doing things that account for only 20% of what you achieve, especially if that 20% takes up 80% of your time! Instead, you should focus on the 20% that is impacting 80% of your results. Focus on drastically improving your results by changing those areas that are having the most impact. For example, if you find that your biggest challenge is being disorganized then if that area was transformed you would find it would have a massive result wouldn't it? So you change one thing but it impacts lots of things.
You're probably wondering what your 20% areas are? You probably want to know which small areas you can change that will totally transform your results? The trick is that it could be many areas - each person is different. While we can't cover them all, let's look at three areas that impact all students because there is a good chance one or all will apply to you.
Your habits are a key driver of your outcomes. If you have all the right habits (like a habit of doing two hours homework every night or a habit of always asking the teacher when you don't understand something) then you can transform your results. Your habits impact you every day and in every way. If you get home from school each day and jump straight onto Facebook or play video games that is your habit. You're not making a conscious decision each time, it's just a habit. The right habits are the biggest game changer there is. It's definitely a 20% area impacting 80% of your results.
Motivation levels are almost always a challenge. If you don't feel motivated you don't do anything. If you don't do anything there is no way you can be successful! It's not possible is it? If you feel super motivated each day (a small 20% area) then it will no doubt creates big results for you (the 80% area). Find a way to get motivated each day and you will create a massive transformation in your results.
Finally, the third most important 20% area is your memory recall ability. We all know about the importance of tests and exams and how many marks they account for and how much information students need to be able to recall. If you have great memory recall ability you will breeze through tests and exams, and if you don't you will really struggle. Your recall ability can literally make or break you. So again, we can see that a small thing (your 20%) is impacting a large portion of your schooling (your 80%).
Clearly, there are many areas that impact your results in schooling and your results in life for that matter. But by figuring out which areas are having the biggest impact you will be able to quickly change your results. Identify your personal 20% areas that are having a big influence on your outcomes and do something about them today. If you do, your grades will shoot up quickly. If you don't, you should expect more of the same. Good luck!
The 80/20 rule (developed by Vilfredo Pareto) states that 80% of what we achieve is a direct result of 20% of the actions we take (it also applies to many other areas but they are not the focus of this article). In plain English, this means that only a very small amount of the actions we take each day create most of what we achieve (or don't achieve). The ratio does not have to be 80/20 - it may even be as high as 99/1 - but the point is simply that your major results (your 80%) are actually being dictated by a minority of your actions (your 20%).
It's not hard to understand how this rule applies to your life but let's look at a basic example which will apply to you to help you understand it. Let's think about your social life (hopefully you have one!) The reality is that you almost certainly spend 80% or more of your social time with 20% or less of the people you know. Think about it. Do you spend most of your time with a few close friends? Or you may spend 80% or more of your time sending texts, calling and chatting online with 20% or less of your contacts.
The first major thing to take away from the 80/20 rule is to understand that there is no point focusing on the 80% of things you do each day that are creating only 20% of your results. You need to do the opposite! Forget the 80% that is impacting 20% of your results, you want to focus only on the 20% that is impacting 80% of your results! Are you following? Clear as mud?
Clearly, there is no reason to spend your time doing things that account for only 20% of what you achieve, especially if that 20% takes up 80% of your time! Instead, you should focus on the 20% that is impacting 80% of your results. Focus on drastically improving your results by changing those areas that are having the most impact. For example, if you find that your biggest challenge is being disorganized then if that area was transformed you would find it would have a massive result wouldn't it? So you change one thing but it impacts lots of things.
You're probably wondering what your 20% areas are? You probably want to know which small areas you can change that will totally transform your results? The trick is that it could be many areas - each person is different. While we can't cover them all, let's look at three areas that impact all students because there is a good chance one or all will apply to you.
Your habits are a key driver of your outcomes. If you have all the right habits (like a habit of doing two hours homework every night or a habit of always asking the teacher when you don't understand something) then you can transform your results. Your habits impact you every day and in every way. If you get home from school each day and jump straight onto Facebook or play video games that is your habit. You're not making a conscious decision each time, it's just a habit. The right habits are the biggest game changer there is. It's definitely a 20% area impacting 80% of your results.
Motivation levels are almost always a challenge. If you don't feel motivated you don't do anything. If you don't do anything there is no way you can be successful! It's not possible is it? If you feel super motivated each day (a small 20% area) then it will no doubt creates big results for you (the 80% area). Find a way to get motivated each day and you will create a massive transformation in your results.
Finally, the third most important 20% area is your memory recall ability. We all know about the importance of tests and exams and how many marks they account for and how much information students need to be able to recall. If you have great memory recall ability you will breeze through tests and exams, and if you don't you will really struggle. Your recall ability can literally make or break you. So again, we can see that a small thing (your 20%) is impacting a large portion of your schooling (your 80%).
Clearly, there are many areas that impact your results in schooling and your results in life for that matter. But by figuring out which areas are having the biggest impact you will be able to quickly change your results. Identify your personal 20% areas that are having a big influence on your outcomes and do something about them today. If you do, your grades will shoot up quickly. If you don't, you should expect more of the same. Good luck!
By Lachlan Haynes
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