Someone mentioned that the biggest productivity hack is saying “No” to things. Another interesting piece of advice is: if it’s not a “Hell yes,” then it’s a no. While this approach can’t be applied in all situations, it can serve as a useful yardstick for prioritising tasks. A “Hell yes” often represents those exciting opportunities that align with your long-term goals and objectives.
When you say yes to a task or goal, there are usually two paths: a difficult one and an easy one. Opt for the path that presents difficulties in the short term, even though our brains instinctively push us toward the easier option. This is because our brains are wired to optimize and conserve energy. Remember, hard choices lead to an easy life, while easy choices often result in a hard life!
With this in mind, the 80/20 principle can be applied objectively when choosing what to focus on and how to tackle problems or tasks.
Applying the 80/20 Principle
To further illustrate this concept, here’s a flowchart that guides you through the process of deciding whether to take on a task:
- Does It Align with My Long-Term Goals?
- Yes: Proceed.
- No: Politely decline.
- Eliminate tasks that don’t add significant value to your objectives.
- Is It a “Hell Yes”?
- Yes: You’re on the right path.
- Focus on the top 20% of tasks that drive the most value.
- Leverage Expertise
- Seek advice from experts.
- Navigate challenges by tapping into existing knowledge.
- Identify the Key 20% of Activities
- Pinpoint actions that will deliver the most impact.
- Concentrate your efforts here to maximize results.
- Delegate the Rest
- Remember: Delegation doesn’t mean abdication.
- Invest the initial 10% of effort to understand the task and provide clear direction.
- Reserve the final 10% for review to ensure it’s done properly.
- This keeps you focused on critical elements while progressing on less crucial parts.
By following such an approach, we can make more informed decisions and ensure that our efforts are directed toward activities that align with your long-term goals and provide the highest value.
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