In The Pipeline…Coming Soon.

Do Less yet Achieve More The simple 80/20 principle that transforms productivity.

Once Upon a Time in a History Lesson

I must have been about 15 when our history teacher began his annual briefing on the forthcoming public exams. Mr Crowther covered familiar ground: three papers with different formats; read all the questions; remember to turn over and distribute your time against the marks awarded.

This was familiar advice, repeated before every exam and no bad thing of course for know-it-all teenagers.

But then he paused and said something that changed how I approached those exams and eventually work and life:

‘Finally, remember that examiners have only six hours to test what you have learned over two years. They cannot test it all and will not try. They examine what is crucial: the main themes, core concepts, and most important ideas.’

Mr Crowther never mentioned the term ‘80/20’; I suspect he was not formally aware of it.

That simple emphasis helped me succeed on those and other exams and shaped my future productivity strategies: focus on what matters most, since you rarely have time for everything. In the end, prioritising what truly matters is the key to meaningful achievement.

Coming soon: Do Less yet Achieve More. Kindle. Worldwide.