The 80/20 Principle: Achieving More with Less

16 Jun

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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!

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