What is an example of the 80-20 rule?

Asked by: Allene Nitzsche IV  |  Last update: December 6, 2025
Score: 4.4/5 (7 votes)

Project Managers know that 20 percent of the work (the first 10 percent and the last 10 percent) consume 80 percent of the time and resources. Other examples you may have encountered: 80% of our revenues are generated by 20% of our customers. 80% of our complaints come from 20% of our customers.

What are the 80/20 rule real examples?

The 80/20 rule is not a formal mathematical equation, but more a generalized phenomenon that can be observed in economics, business, time management, and even sports. General examples of the Pareto principle: 20% of a plant contains 80% of the fruit. 80% of a company's profits come from 20% of customers.

What is the 80/20 rule for dummies?

This rule suggests that 80% of effects come from 20% of causes. For example, 80% of a company's revenue may come from 20% of its customers, or 80% of a person's productivity may come from 20% of their work. This principle can be applied to many areas, including productivity for small business owners.

What is the 80-20 rule in personal life?

Translated into the psychological realm, we may also find that roughly 20% of our activities result in 80% of our happiness. That can be time spent with close friends or family, or time spent in nature, or doing specific activities. In our private lives, too, we can look for the small inputs that have large results.

What is an example of 80-20 rule time management?

For example, a business may find that 80% of its sales come from 20% of its products and could focus on improving those products to boost sales further. Similarly, an individual may find that 80% of their productivity comes from 20% of their work tasks and could prioritize them to achieve better results.

Pareto Principle [The 80/20 Rule Explained]

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What is the 80 20 rule of management?

Simply put, the 80/20 rule states that the relationship between input and output is rarely, if ever, balanced. When applied to work, it means that approximately 20 percent of your efforts produce 80 percent of the results.

How to apply 80/20 rule at work?

How to use the 80/20 rule
  1. Examine all of your daily or weekly tasks.
  2. Prioritize your most important tasks.
  3. Identify the tasks that offer the greatest return.
  4. Brainstorm how to delegate or remove tasks that give less return.
  5. Make a plan that outlines time and resources versus prioritized tasks.

What is the 80-20 mindset?

Key Takeaways. The 80-20 rule maintains that 80% of outcomes comes from 20% of causes. The 80-20 rule prioritizes the 20% of factors that will produce the best results. A principle of the 80-20 rule is to identify an entity's best assets and use them efficiently to create maximum value.

What is the 80-20 rule at home?

When applied to our homes, the 80/20 rule suggests that we roughly use 20% of what we own around 80% of the time. The remaining amount serves little purpose, taking up space and mostly just gathering dust. 'The 20% that is used frequently makes sense to have out and easily accessible to use,' says Amy Youngblood.

What is the 80-20 rule in relationships examples?

For instance, your partner might make you feel loved, safe, and happy, but you turn to your family and friends to feel like you're part of a community. 80% of your needs are being met by your partner, and you're figuring out the other 20% on your own.

What does 80-20 rule look like?

The 80/20 rule is super simple: you focus on eating healthy foods 80% of the time and allow yourself to indulge in not-so-healthy foods for the remaining 20%. It's all about striking a balance—getting your body the nutrition it needs while still enjoying your favorite treats without feeling guilty.

What are the flaws of the 80-20 rule?

In project management, this principle may suggest that 80% of the project's success comes from 20% of the project tasks. However, this approach can be flawed as it may overlook the importance of other project tasks that may not fall within the 20% threshold but still significantly impact the project's success.

What is the 80/20 rule in decluttering?

On the podcast Lipstick on the Rim with actress Molly Sims, the duo fervently recommend applying it to homes large and small, explaining that it's all about filling your space 80% at most and leaving the remaining 20% empty to “take a break.” This free space provides plenty of visual relief and allows new objects to ...

What is the 80-20 rule in self care?

The 80-20 rule can be applied to personal time management and goal setting. By identifying the 20% of activities that contribute the most to personal growth and progress, individuals can prioritize them, allowing for greater self-improvement and fulfillment.

What is an example of 80-20 rule in nature?

Vilfredo Pareto noted in 1906 that 80% of the land in Italy was owned by 20% of the population – and that the ratio seemed to apply to many countries, many time periods, and many economies. But is it more than a useful rule of thumb? Pareto also observed that 20% of the pea pods in his garden contained 80% of the peas.

What is the 80-20 rule activities?

In simplest terms, about 80 percent of the results come from 20 percent of activities. Just a small number of tasks account for the majority of progress. The key then is to identify those key areas and focus energy there. This 80/20 rule has permeated time management literature and talks; it's honestly not a new idea.

What is the 80-20 rule home?

You can incorporate the 80/20 rule in your home by filling in the time between a 'big clean' by tidying 20 percent of your things more regularly. This keeps your home looking tidy on the surface and makes it feel less daunting when it comes to deep cleaning the other 80 percent of your home.

What is the 80-20 rule in everyday life?

The 80-20 rule is the principle that 20% of what you do results in 80% of your outcomes. Put another way, 80% of your outcomes result from just 20% of your inputs.

What is the 80 20 rule personality?

The 80/20 principle—also known as the Pareto principle—posits that a small number of key behaviors, interactions, or emotional investments are responsible for the majority of our happiness and fulfillment.

What is the 80/20 lifestyle plan?

What Is It? The idea is simple: Eat healthy meals 80% of the time, and have more freedom with the other 20%. But how it's done and how it will affect your weight can be different for everyone.

What is the 80 20 rule spirituality?

It means choosing to focus on the most strategic 20% of possible options that you think are most likely to bring the greatest results. Ultimately we want to be led by God.

What is the 80 20 rule in relationships?

The 80/20 Principle—also known as the Pareto Principle—posits that a small number of key behaviors, interactions or emotional investments are responsible for the majority of our happiness and fulfillment. In other words, not every moment in a relationship is equal.

What is the 80 20 paycheck rule?

The 80/20 rule breaks out putting 20% of your income toward savings (paying yourself) and 80% toward everything else. Once you've adjusted to that 20% or a number you're comfortable with saving, set up automatic payments to ensure you stick to it.

What is the 80 20 principle quote?

80 percent of products, or customers or employees, are only contributing 20 percent of profits; that there is great waste; that the most powerful resources of the company are being held back by a majority of much less effective resources; that profits could be multiplied if more of the best sort of products could be ...