This past week I read Ken Blanchard and Spencer Johnson’s The New One Minute Manager.  Several things caught my attention in this very quick read and If you have not done so, I would recommend taking a few hours to read it.  Blanchard and Spencer explore the importance of managers utilizing brief and focused goals, encouragements, and redirections to lead their constituents.  I found these points simple to understand and practical.  However, what really caught my attention was the authors’ brief explanation of the 80/20 rule (Pareto principle) in relation to goal setting.  Blanchard and Johnson (2015) state “80% of your really important results will come from 20% of your goals” (Location No. 257).

At face value, the 80/20 rule reflects a truth that I have observed in my own experiences.  That is, 80% of one’s positive outcomes result from 20% of their efforts.  I believe this is the reason we are best served by playing to our strengths, as much as possible.  One can also observe this dynamic in organizations, athletic teams, and peer groups.  Most results tend to come from a relatively small segment of a given group.

As individuals, I believe the most important thing we can do is focus most of energy investing in our areas of strength.  Our life responsibilities and time constraints may limit this investment for a season of life but if we are going to fulfill our potential, we must invest in what we do well.

Do you think the 80/20 rule accurate? If so, where have you observed it?

Blanchard, K & Johnson, S. (2015). The New One Minute Manager. [Kindle Version] New York: Harper Collins.