Work Smarter, Not Harder — Post 2: The 80/20 Rule —Do Less, Achieve More

Identify the few things that drive the most outcomes in your work/life. Prioritize those. Ignore the rest.

May 08, 2025

Most of us think working harder means doing everything ourselves. The emails, the meetings, the to-do lists, every little task feels urgent. But here’s a truth bomb: not everything you do matters equally.

Enter the 80/20 Rule, or, as it's formally known, the Pareto Principle. It says that 80% of your results come from just 20% of your efforts. So instead of trying to do everything, focus on doing the right things.

Magnifying glass on a small golden area of a big map → Representing the 80/20 focus (Episode 2)

What Is the 80/20 Rule?

Imagine this: Out of 10 things on your task list, only 2 will make the biggest difference. The rest? Mostly noise.

This rule applies everywhere:

20% of your clients bring 80% of revenue.
20% of your habits give 80% of your success.
20% of your efforts lead to 80% of your progress.

So why are we spending time on the other 80%?

My Wake-Up Call: The Email Trap

A few years ago, I was spending hours replying to emails. I thought I was being productive. But when I looked back, none of those emails moved the needle.

Once I applied the 80/20 lens, I realised that only a couple of strategic conversations actually mattered. So I set rules, batch-checking emails twice a day, and delegating or deleting the rest. Suddenly, I had more space to think, plan, and create.

How to Find Your 20% That Matters

Here’s a simple way to start applying this:

List all your tasks for the week.
Ask: Which 2–3 tasks (out of 10) will truly move me forward?
Circle those. Prioritise them.
Defer, delegate, or drop the rest.

This isn’t laziness it’s smart prioritisation.

Action Steps This Week

Let’s bring the 80/20 Rule into your daily life.

Audit your calendar. Look at last week. What drained you? What gave the biggest results?
Pick your top 3 high-impact tasks for this week. Commit to doing them first every day.
Practice saying no. If a task doesn’t fall in the top 20%, give yourself permission to skip or defer it.

Remember: Success isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing what matters.

Your Turn

Have you found your 80/20? Got a story or a hack to share? Drop it in the comments or reply to this post. I’d love to feature it in a future edition of Pulse & Shoutout.