How can you get more done by doing less? And what the heck is the Pareto's Principle?
We've all been there: when our to-do list seems to just keep getting taller no matter how many hours we work.
It seems like a never-ending cycle: the more work we do, the more other work we have to do.
And a few years ago, it just absolutely drove me nuts. Until I started learning about the 80/20 Principle.
The 80/20 Principle or Pareto Principle simply states that 80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts. That means that truly, only 2 of the 10 tasks that you do in a day actually directly help you drive profits and results in your business.
It blew my mind. I quickly developed a way I can assess the tasks I'm doing so I'm just working on the 20%, and then delegating the rest.
Here is a thorough guide on how I use this principle in managing tasks:
1.Brain Dump
The first thing you got to do is do a brain dump, which means you have to check your to-do list and check all the tasks that you're doing regularly.
Like opening your emails, answering your emails, making graphics for your social media, or editing your videos.
Basically check the tasks you're doing and what tasks in your to-do list that you're also not doing.
2. Rate Your Tasks
Once you have your list, rank the tasks you're doing based on two factors: how much you like doing them vs how much money/results they bring in.
This way you're assessing the tasks that you enjoy doing that made you want to start the business in the first place. These are the tasks that involve the expertise you bring in with the product or the service you offer.
You're also assessing which tasks actually directly make you money that you could either be working on or packaging to give to someone else.
3. Plot Out Your Tasks On The Chart
You then would plot out your tasks in this way:
A: Your Top 20%
The tasks that make you money and you enjoy doing that is your 20%. These are now the tasks that you will be focusing on, these are now the tasks that you will be doing more in your business.
B: What You Delegate
Any tasks that you don't quite enjoy but still bring you good results in your business will be the tasks that you will delegate. This means these will be the tasks that you will have your assistant work on.
C: What You Automate
If there's a task that you really enjoy doing but doesn't produce results, you might want to create systems for this. What this means is you'll need to create a process that will be easier to repeat and won't take much time.
D: What You Assess Or Delete
Lastly, tasks that you don't enjoy doing and don't produce the money will need to assess if they are to be deleted or systematized. You have to assess if why is it even there in your to-do list.
4.Apply It!
After following the guide above make sure to apply this in your daily work. Assess every task on your to-do list if the tasks are to be kept doing, deleted, delegated, or systematized.
Make sure that you assess everything in your to-do list if these tasks are a waste of time or if these tasks actually make you money.
Regularly assess your to-do list, or even have your assistant do it!
These tips can help you be productive with less effort when working from home!
Did you learn something new? Share this with someone who needs help in being productive at work.
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