The 80/20 Principle: Achieving More with Less

Blog by Alice Garry

As I approach my 8th anniversary with Oakstone, I have reflected on where I started and the biggest lessons I have learned. I joined with no sales or recruitment experience, a fresh-faced graduate eager to prove myself as a determined, hard-working young professional.

I recall those first few weeks being a bit of a whirlwind. I was brought up to speed on the software industry as a whole—the trends, the key players, our clients, and the people. I was taught about the basics and best practices when it came to sales and recruiting. Perhaps most importantly, I learned how to set goals, manage my time effectively, and become the most successful version of myself with the help and support of my managers. 

Having recently moved into a new role within Oakstone, where I am focusing on the training and development of the team, I’ve been asking myself: what were the most valuable lessons I learned that had the most significant impact on my career and personal life?

One of the first things that came to mind was the 80/20 rule and Brian Tracey’s take on managing your time—“The Secret of Achieving More with Less.” Although the concept is relatively simple, it has been significantly impactful over the years as I have applied it both professionally and personally.

Using the Pareto 80/20 principle, Brian explains that only 20% of what you do accounts for 80% of your results. Therefore, by recognising what that 20% looks like, in terms of actions and tasks, you can completely change how you set and achieve your goals. 

This did not happen overnight; it was something I had to work towards with thought, effort, planning, and action. I often revisit this concept when I have lots going on and need to brush up on my planning and organisation. 

Here are my top tips (and Brian’s) for increasing effectiveness and managing time:

• Attack everything you do as if it’s your last chance to reach your goal

• Plan EVERY day; every day you don’t is an opportunity lost

• Once a habit, you will be able to do it quickly and effectively

• Minimise time spent doing things that don’t impact your performance

• Invest in tasks that do

The best thing about this is that you can go from an average/ good performance to being spectacular – without needing to improve other skills or work harder. Applying this both professionally and personally can be life-changing if done well. In the words of Brian Tracy, constantly ask yourself, “What is the most valuable use of my time right now?” – it does work!