Brian Tracy - Eat That Frog - 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time
STEP 3 - Apply the 80/20 Rule to Everything
We always have time enough, if we will but use it aright - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
the 80/20 rule is one of the most helpful of all concepts of time and life management. it is also called the "pareto principle" after it's founder, the italian economist vilfredo pareto, who first wrote about it in 1895. pareto noticed that people in his society seemed to divide naturally into what he called the "vital few", the top 20 percent in terms of money and influence, and the "trivial many", the bottom 80 percent.
he later discovered that virtually all economic activity was subject to this pareto principle as well. for example, this rule says that 20 percent of your activity will account for 80 percent of your results, 20 percent of your customers will account for 80 percent of your sales, 20 percent of your products or services will account for 80 percent of your profits, 20 percent of your tasks will account for 80 percent of the value of what you do, and so on. this means that if you have a list of ten items to do, two of those items will turn out to be worth as much or more than the other eight items put together
•RULE - Resist the temptation to clear up small things first
remember, whatever you choose to do, over and over, eventually becomes a habit that is hard to break. if you choose to start your day on low-value tasks, you will soon develop the habit of always starting and working on low value tasks. this is not the kind of habit you want to develop or keep
ASSIGNMENT - EAT THAT FROG
make a list of all the key goals, activities, projects, and responsibilities in your life today. which of them are, or could be, in the top 10 or 20 percent of tasks that represent or could represent, 80 or 90 percent of your results?
resolve today that you are going to spend more and more of your time working in those few areas that can really make a difference in your life and career and less and less time on lower value activities
well hot damn, it is finally the first day of the new year
i had a blast last night with my bb friends, the boys ended up going over to a friends house to spend the night and hubby and i just played all night long (him on his video game and me on the computer, BUT IN THE SAME ROOM - he didn't disappear into his cave/studio)
we watched dick clark bring in the new year, and then promptly i fell asleep
got up with surprising vim and vigor this morning, and have already accomplished half my list that i prepared last night (see, i am following my own advice)
this year is going to be great, i am going to be a new me, and i am glad to have found this board
POSITIVES
1) husband came home from work yesterday, himmed and hawed around the house for about 15 minutes, kept asking me if i was ok, then he sat on the couch next to me (i was folding clothes) and told me out of the blue that he has been depressed over the last month or so - i didn't ask him, and as mad as i was over the last few days, i never let on to him that i was angry so this came out of the blue - then during the rest of the day, he became a bit more affectionate, kept checking in on me during the day and a few times put his arm around me. i even at one point thought he was going to kiss me, but chickened out
2) had a blast last night with some bb friends from ALL OVER the world!!!
3) getting my life organized thru using lists is doing well!!!
4) my daughter is the most wonderful creature i have ever had the fortune to be associated with - she is an angel - and i do love her so
5) i woke in a GOOD mood this morning, knowing that this was the first day of the rest of my life, and what a grand day it is!!!
I woke up to my oss calling me wanting to know why I wasnt at work yet. Too much beer last night while chating with yall. Didnt even hear the alarm this morning.
Honesty, sincerity, tenderness and trust. A little less time for the rest of the world, And more for the two of us. Kisses each mornin, I love yous at night, Just like it used to be.
Really enjoyed your thread. The ideas from that book, especially the 20/80 rule, and writing down goals and time frames, which of course ties in with Michele's adivce about setting goals. BTW, what does 'eat that frog' relate to?
I laughed out loud when I read that bit about lookng at your husband and finding him less attractive than you did at first.... I just wrote in my own thread about how I feel I have detached enough to kind of look at H, and us relating, a little bit as if from a grandstand, getting the long view. I don't love him less, but if you are not in a complete thrall, then you can 'take things less personally' and also refrain from finding that ALL/the MAJORITY of your happiness derives from how the R with H is.
Livnlearn
"The unexamined life is not worth living" - Socrates
I find that stating future goals in present tense really helps me. I think I read it in a book called, "The One Minute Manager." I wouldn't be surprised if it was the same author!
Keep writing about those steps...it's really helping me to see them!
holdingon - you are more than welcome - i am getting TONS out of it, i hope everyone else is to
kevinlost - we had a good time eh? what is wrong with our spouses? all we want to do is have fun!!!
deb - YA YA - girlfriend, i know this is going to be a rough time for you this month, but we are all here for support ok???
rachel - oooo, i am glad it's helping you as well, there are 21 steps so there is plenty more to come - oh year, 2004 is gonna be our year yes???
livnlearn - if you go back to the beginning of the thread you will see what "eat that frog" relates to...and yes, all of these steps directly apply to db'n, he sets these things up for our financial needs as well as our personal needs! thanks for the visit
pib - thanks for the visit darlin - i wouldn't be surprised either about the author, i have JUST discovered him and he is RIGHT up my alley!!! there is more coming so be prepared
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POSITIVES
1) my first day of the new year was FANTASTIC - funny how one day can change your whole outlook - got LOADS of stuff done which shows you how important the whole list thing is, because i got my WHOLE list accomplished!!! WOO HOO
2) husband was bit back in his cave yesterday but he did spend the day in the same room as me, he was just glued to his video game all day (and night) - in fact, me and daughter fell asleep watching him play it last night, and wonders, he didn't move daughter or ask me too. that is different for him cause he really likes his space in bed
3) i woke up again this morning in a great mood, and have already accomplished tons. i don't usually like every other fridays cause i have a 6 hour drive in front of me (taking step sons to see their mother) but today i said, that will give me 6 hours to listen to my new brian tracy cd's!!! WOO HOO
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been having strange dreams lately - some of you already know that i dreamt i was making out with TONY DANZA of all people the other night - this was the night that i was getting rejected by my husband so i kinda figured that one out, cause this dude was pursuing ME...but TONY DANZA???
last night, i dreamt that i was on a rollercoaster (well duh) at this huge fair, and there was a baby rollercoaster right next to this ride, and the people on the BIG rollercoaster were busy the entire time taking pictures of their kids on the smaller one...what is THAT about???
