Hi, reader!
While observing my wife type an e-mail, I was shocked to see her use the left SHIFT key to capitalize everything. In that moment I realized that I only use the right SHIFT key. This immediately piqued my curiosity and led to numerous group chats and text messages with friends. Then, I had to get a broader view, so I put a poll on LinkedIn. Based on over 100 responses, 79% use the left SHIFT key, 9% use the right SHIFT key and 11% actually use both.
Which SHIFT key do you use?
With that, welcome to the 80th newsletter! This one is all about the 80/20 rule.
A rule.
In the late 1800’s, Vilfredo Pareto, an Italian economist, observed that 20% of pea pods in his garden produced 80% of the peas. He then applied the same logic to the distribution of land in Italy and found that 80% of the land was owned by 20% of the population. It was here that the 80/20 rule (or Pareto Principle) was born.
The rule states that 20% of the input creates 80% of the output.
This rule can be applied across many parts of life:
20% of your clothes account for 80% of what you wear.
20% of your clients are responsible for 80% of your revenue.
20% of your activities account for 80% of your happiness.
A thought.
James Clear provides a few ways to “Live the Pareto Principle Lifestyle”:
Who are the few people (20%) that have the most positive (80%) impact on my life? Spend more time with them.
What are the few actions (20%) that have the most positive (80%) impact on my day? Prioritize them.
The bummer is we can’t just increase time with these people or increase the time spent on these actions without consequences. Time doesn’t magically appear. We have to make time.
In order to make time for these people or to prioritize these actions - we must reduce or eliminate things.
And boy, eliminating is the hard part!
Eliminating could mean deprioritizing a few people from your life.
Eliminating could mean giving up an activity you’ve spent years doing.
Eliminating is the path to spending more time and energy on the things that have the most positive impact on your life.
What can you eliminate from your life to make room for more impactful things?
A quote.
“Evolving involves eliminating.”