Reg Gupton's Top 10 tips on the 80/20 rule

80/20 Principle: The Secret to Success by Achieving More with Less
by Richard Koch

How would you like to earn 80% of the money that you made last year by working only Mondays. Most of us would be thrilled with that prospect. More time with the family, more time with our other passions.

This way of thinking changed my life. I learned while selling real estate that 80% of my earnings resulted from 20% of my time and efforts. I was able to reduce my work and not have any dramatic reduction in earning. What a joy.

The "Pareto Principle" believes that you get 80 percent of your results from 20 percent of your efforts. This powerful proven strategy is explained in a great way in The 80/20 Principle by Richard Koch. To maximize this 20 percent, use the following tips to give you a competitive edge:

1. Develop a clear idea of what tasks are important so that you can focus on them.

2. Make a to-do list that categorizes each task for the day according to priority: High, Medium, and Low.
Do only the Highs. And maybe the Mediums. Never the low tasks.

3. Ask the other members of your team, associates and family what is important to them.

4. Set several appointments with yourself to respond to voicemail and e-mail.
Don't work on these items until the appointed time slot arrives.

5. You need time to think.
Set a rigid appointment with yourself at least once per week when you can cut your creative side free.

6. Write down your goals.
Have your goals visible to you at all times. They will provide your focus.

7. Clear your work space of all clutter.

8. Plan each month, each week, and each day.

9. Plan each project by going backwards from the deadline.
Break it down to its components, allot reasonable time estimates to each component, and decide how many days ahead you should start the project - and how much time you can devote to it each day.

10. You don't have to do everything yourself.
There are many people out there who can do many tasks for your very inexpensively, freeing you to do the things that you are really good at and that make you the most money.

Add this valuable book to your library: The 80/20 Principle: The Secret to Success by Achieving More with Less, by Richard Koch.

To your continued success,

Reg Gupton