Change the 80/20 Rule to Identify the Root Causes of Your Worst Problems
We’ve all heard about the 80/20 Rule (or the Pareto Principle ) that 80% of your success will come from 20% of your efforts. However, the opposite is often the case: 80% of your problems arise from 20% of your circumstances.
Many of us actually cannot be 100% stressed because of the things that may bother us. We pick a few of the biggest problems we have and focus on them. The most serious problems often arise from one or more sources. If you are overly stressed, instead of trying to solve all of your problems at once, identify the 20% that cause 80% of your stress:
One of the principles that I adhere to is that any true equation must be true on either side of the equal sign. Simply put, if nine plus three equals six times two, then six times two should equal nine plus three. This means that if 20 percent of your efforts are responsible for 80 percent of your positive results, then it is logical to assume that 20 percent of your efforts also result in 80 percent of your problems.
In any business, 20 percent of your employees cause 80 percent of employee-related headaches. And 20 percent of your customers are problem people who cost you 80 percent of your wasted time and money. In your love life, 20 percent of your friends and family will trigger 80 percent of your fears, doubts, and insecurities.
Perhaps you can not dismiss employees, but often there is something that you can change that will have an impact. Instead of rebuilding your whole life to get rid of every single problem, focus on the little amount you can change that will have the greatest impact, and start there.
The 80/20 Rule Is True About What Holds You Back | Businessman