Have you heard of the 20/80 Rule?
The rule that states:
The Pareto principle (also known as the 80-20 rule, the law of the vital few, and the principle of factor sparsity) states that, for many events, roughly 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes.
I spend 80% of my time on things that matter the least. And 20% of my time on things that matter most. Yet when I try to switch this ratio things don't go well. It is like that 80% is prep time for the 20%.
Yesterday I spent with my daughters and friends. 80% of the conversation was just that, conversation. But 20% we really connected. It was like the 80% built a basis for the 20%
I have seen people try to switch this ratio with disastrous results. By trying to maximize their efforts they actually do less. I watched my NM pushing for efficiency with her time and would multi-task while talking to me. What came across was not that she was maximizing her time but I felt she wasn't interested in talking to me. I decide that sitting down to listen to my kids would take more time but in the end that 80% effort listening to things that were least important paid off because when they were ready to talk about the important 20%, I already established that I would listen.
I also realized I would do this myself. In counseling, I start out talking about less important issues. Only about 20% of my session is really spent on the most important problems. It seems like if I feel like the least important is rushed through or ignored, then I won't open up about the other 20%.
This rule in life I don't think is man made. I think nature has a rhythm of ratios that allow us to work up to the hard stuff without needing to jump right in. Some how a day jammed pack with the most important stuff leaves me totally exhausted but if I pace myself then I see better results.
Have you seen this 20/80 rule at work in your life?
4 comments:
I'll have to observe then ponder this one, Ruth. It's a new concept for me. Interesting though!
I grew up thinking I didn't know how to do "weather" conversations. Then I heard this quote:"If you can’t talk about the things that don’t matter, then you can never talk about the things that do matter." So I practiced small talk, and what a HUGE difference it makes.
I used to think that if I wasn't actively doing something, then I was wasting time. In my writing, it's when I'm not actively writing that I plot and plan and process. Without it, I can't write a word.
I like the way you presented this. I'm familiar with pareto - but in the work sense (80% of the problems caused by 20% of the defects). Its true - it applies to many areas of life.
I like how you put that not all the effort gets a payoff - but the 20% that does is well worth it.
Very interesting! I like the way you put that, and I think you're quite right! I have noticed similar things in my own life.
Laurel, I'm a writer too and I find that - for instance - going out for a long walk when I have a deadline coming up isn't a waste of time at all. Clearing my mind and allowing it to wander helps me create a decent story in the end.
Post a Comment