You can't manage time. There it is – I've said it. Despite what the multi-billion dollar time management industry is telling you – you can't manage time. In his book The 80/20 Principle: The Secret to Success by Achieving More with Less, Richard Koch contends that we are "positively awash" with time. The 80/20 principle already applies to many areas of our lives:

• 20% of our clients generate 80% of our revenue
• 20% of a product line generate 80% of sales
• 20% of motorists cause 80% of the accidents
• 20% of our carpets are likely to get 80% of the wear

How does it apply to getting our work done? According to Koch:

"Eighty percent of achievement is attained in 20 percent of the time taken; conversely, 80 percent of time spent leads to only 20 percent of output value."

So how do we get 80% of the results in only 20% of the time? Spend time on high-value activities and be ruthless about cutting out low-value activities. Koch shares the following top 10 low-value uses of time:

1. Things other people want you to do
2. Things that have always been done this way
3. Things you’re not unusually good at doing
4. Things you don’t enjoy doing
5. Things that are always interrupted
6. Things few other people are interested in
7. Things that have already taken twice as long as you originally expected
8. Things where your collaborators are unreliable or low quality
9. Things that have a predictable cycle
10. Answering the telephone
    

As revolutionary as this may sound, practicing the 80/20 principle will increase your effectiveness, boost profits, reduce stress, and improve morale.

Productivity Pointer Add A Horizontal Line Customize Bullets Instant method: Place your cursor in the document where you want the line (one without text) Type three or more dashes; just hold the dash key down for awhile (---) Press Enter Word will insert a line for you automatically!

Learning Opportunities

We are trying something new! Stay tuned for a major
announcement about a new productivity solution to get
your new year off on the right foot!