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Focus on What Matters: How the 80/20 Rule Can Transform Your Year

Discover how a simple principle can help you prioritize the projects that deliver the biggest impact. Learn to apply the Pareto Principle to make smarter, more strategic decisions this year.


What Projects Should We Work on This Year?

Every year brings a flood of ideas, initiatives, and opportunities. The challenge isn’t finding projects…it’s choosing the right ones. How do you decide where to invest your team’s time and energy for maximum impact?

Start by asking yourself:

  • Which projects will create the most value for our stakeholders?
  • What activities have historically driven the greatest results?
  • If we could only accomplish three things this year, what would they be?

These questions set the stage for a powerful tool: the Pareto Principle, also known as the 80/20 Rule. This principle suggests that roughly 80 percent of results come from 20 percent of efforts. It was first introduced by Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto in his 1897 work Cours d’économie politique and later popularized in quality management by Joseph Juran (Interaction Design Foundation).


How to Apply the 80/20 Rule to Your Planning

  1. List Your Options: Write down all potential projects or initiatives for the year.
  2. Analyze Impact: Ask, “Which of these will deliver the greatest outcomes if successful?”
  3. Identify the Vital Few: Highlight the top 20 percent of projects that will likely produce 80 percent of the results.
  4. Focus Resources: Allocate time, budget, and talent to these high-impact priorities.

This approach doesn’t mean ignoring everything else — it means being intentional. By concentrating on the “vital few,” you avoid spreading your team too thin and ensure meaningful progress.


Why It Works

The Pareto Principle forces clarity. Instead of chasing every good idea, you double down on the best ones. Whether you’re planning academic programs, research initiatives, or operational improvements, this method helps you cut through the noise and focus on what truly matters.


Resources to Learn More

 

Written by Jerad Watson, L&D Manager