Time really is our most valuable asset. When we are young summers last forever and that akward age of 13 seems like it will never end. Yet, as we get older time goes faster. Have you noticed that? It isn’t long before months and then years have gone by in what feels like a blink. It goes without saying that usually our lives fell like they are going faster because they also become fuller. You have more people you connect and interact with, events to attend, meetings to hold, emails to write, and the list goes on and on. It is easy to take on the superhero approach and think, “I can do it all!” The truth is, you can- but then you would have to give up sleep.

A better tactic is to implement Pareto’s Principle and the rule of 80/20. Basically, you identify the 20% that gives you 80% of your profit. So, if you are focusing on getting EVERYBODY on board for a project you are working on, realign to focus on the 20% that generate 80% of the results. This typically translates to honing in on the big players. Or, if you are selling a product or service, identify the top 20% of your target market, they are usually the ones that give you an 80% return.

We don’t have to be everything to everyone. Instead, we need to pinpoint where our 80/20 relationships are and focus our energy on the manageable 20%.