When the 80/20 Rule Fails: The Downside of Being Effective

You only get one life. One of the most important decisions you’ll make is how to spend your time.

Efficient vs effective

Efficiency is about getting things done. Effectiveness is about getting the right things done

• Apply the 80/20 rule to determine what the right things are
• 80/20 rules states that a small number of things account for a majority of the results

Upside of the 80/20 Rule

Can help you separate the vital few from the trivial many

• Can help you determine where to invest and divest
• Helps you to achieve more results with less effort

Downside of the 80/20 Rule

It can blind you to new paths as they do not always look effective at the beginning

• It is only based on recent effectiveness and optimizes for past experience, not necessarily your future

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