2026-02-20
The 80/20 Rule: Do Fewer Things, Get Far More Done
The Pareto principle, Tracy explains, means that a small number of your tasks are worth more than all the rest put together. Two items on a list of ten will typically be worth more than the other eight combined.
The trap is that the vital few are usually harder and less fun than the trivial many, so we gravitate to the easy tasks to feel busy. Discipline is choosing the high-value task precisely because it is the one you'd rather avoid.
Before starting anything, ask whether it is in the top twenty percent of your activities or the bottom eighty. Refuse to spend your best hours on low-value work simply because it is comfortable.
