Time management in reality is activity management. How you manage your activities makes all the difference.

The 80-20 Rule of Pareto states that 20% of what you do will make 80% of your results. This goes against traditional time management layouts.

When Vilfredo Pareto discovered the 80-20 Rule (also known as Pareto’s Principle), he noticed a natural imbalance with massive impact on every area of life every day.

Pareto began by realizing that 80% of the wealth is enjoyed by only 20% of the world’s population. Later, he found this law of nature everywhere.

If only 20% of your actions produce your desired results, then the other 80% won’t be worth much. It could be a waste of your time and efforts.

A Simpler Way to Manage Your Time

Identifying and focusing on activities that are important to you and identifying and removing unnecessary activities – this is the definition of time management.

Traditional Time Management focuses on compounding activities and stress to your day. This mentality is an employer mentality that creates an appearance of staying busy at one’s task. This mentality does not work for the solo entrepreneur.

When a business experiences success, the owner starts drowning in the Multiplicity of Stuff Syndrome. The solopreneur really feels the effects of this syndrome. Not only are they the CEO (chief executive officer) of their business… they are also Chief Everything Officer.

They end up spending the bulk of their day on the 80% that does not produce results or profits.

Divide All Your Activities Into Four Activity Zones

- high-profit activities – high-reward activities – low/no profit activities – low/no reward activities

With high-profit/high-reward activities, devote 20% of your time- Work ON your business.

With low-no profit/low-no reward activities, devote 80% of your time- Work IN your business.

These strategies will help keep you from drowning in the daily grind of operating your business.