WELCOME TO INSPIRATION NATION
WHERE WE WILL REVIEW 1 chapter of Brian Tracey’s book, “Eat That Frog” each day in FABruary
The Cliff Notes from today’s reading:
“Chapter 3: APPLY THE 80/20 RULE TO EVERYTHING”
The 80/20 rule is also called “Pareto Principle” after it’s founder Vilfredo Pareto. 80% of the people in his society were naturally divided in terms of influence and money into the top 20% (vital few) and the bottom 80% (trivial many)
This rule, which was created back in 1895, holds true for MANY areas of life!! For example, as it relates to goal setting; 20% of your activities will account for 80% of your results. This means if you have a list of 10 items to do, two of those items will turn out to be worth 5 or ten times more than other 8 items put together!!! Whoa sisters! We must choose our frogs wisely.
1: NUMBER OF TASKS VS IMPORTANCE OF TASKS
Often one item on your list of ten is worth more than all 9 others put together. This task, IS YOUR FROG! The one you should eat first. The sad fact is that most people procrastinate on the top 10 or 20 percent of the items that are the most valuable and important (the vital few).
2: FOCUS ON ACTIVITIES, NOT ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Folks who are busy all day, but don’t accomplish a thing are more than likely focusing on the 80% (the trivial many) – the low value tasks. Before you begin working always ask yourself, “Is this task in the top 20% (the vital few) of my activities or in the bottom 80%?
3: MOTIVATE YOURSELF
Just thinking about starting and finishing an important task should motivate you and help you overcome procrastination. The feeling of pride you feel when you accomplish one of the vital few (top 20%) goals – THAT FROG DIVAS, is the highest of the highs!!
In other words, ladies, break that goal down to the lowest form! Tear that goal apart, make your goal ACTIONABLE! It’s not enough just write a broad goal!
KEY TAKE-A-WAYS from CHAPTER 3: APPLY THE 80/20 RULE TO EVERYTHING
1. 20% of your tasks will account for 80% of your results!
2. Focus on the vital few! The frogs are in the vital few, and not the trivial many!
3. Resist the temptation to clear up small things first.
4. Do the hard things first!
DIVA ASSIGNMENT:
- Today’s reading assignment is to read Chapter 3 of the book only.
- Complete the assignment on page 24 (the end of Chapter 3).
- Use your list of goals again! Determine which are in the vital few (20%) or the trivial many (80%).
- Resolve today that you are going to spend more time on the vital few sisters!!
- Share this post! Let’s encourage our family and friends to EAT FROGS with us!
20% of your tasks will account for 80% of your results! Click To Tweet
GET TO KNOW Fit, Fyne & Fabulous!
- Learn more about our meal prep & fitness support ministry (click here)
- Learn more about the services we provide our divas (click here)
- Visit Our Diva Shop (click here)
I’m Nicole Twyman, a native New Orleanian, who has lived all across the US! Although, my small family of 4 currently calls Los Angeles, CA home. I am a proud 40+ year old mom of a wonderfully energetic and theatrical daughter, and a handsome, scholarly athlete!
While I have worked in corporate America as a certified senior project / program / portfolio manager for Fortune 500 companies like Microsoft, Procter & Gamble & IBM, my passion is service. It has always been my desire to live a life of service to others; which I took every opportunity to explore as an active member of many of my church’s ministries and of my public service sorority, Delta Sigma Theta, Inc.
Well, now I am over the top excited to have the opportunity to serve divas through my very own ministry, Fit, Fyne & Fabulous.
There is so much for me to concentrate on. I am going to start with the hard things first and work my way down. Thanks for the encouraging me.
Yes!!! There’s so much personal, career, family, education, social things that can take our time. Prioritizing the big ugliest frogs first will have the biggest impact 🙂
Does anyone have any planner recommendations or ways to juggle multiple tasks lists? Do you use multiple notebooks? I am not the best at organizing my life….
Start small sis! I used to use a 5 subject spiral notebook and each tab represented the biggest frogs in my life, and one was a freebie
Honestly though, this system is very similar to Franklin Covey’s system. If you like productivity planners, Covey’s the best in my book. He is the guy that wrote the 7 habits of highly successful people
Here’s the link: https://franklinplanner.fcorgp.com/store/buy/Binders-and-Covers/cat2120008/
There are also great planners at Michael’s. Michael’s has 40% off discounts all the time!
http://www.michaels.com/create-365-the-happy-planner-box-kit-be-happy-everyday/10484545.html#q=planners&start=10 This one is on sale sis, and you can get 30% off if you order online
Thank you!
You’re welcome soror! Thanks for joining our discussion
It’s always easy to complete the small and easy things first because you can get them done quickly! It always gives you sense of accomplishment 😬 But I’m always so tired after that to tackle the big things! I will switch it up now and work on it. So in regards to losing weight. I will map out an exercise plan and add to it..
Yes we gone make some boss moves sis! We will do the HARD THINGS first
This is very insightful. For my list this week meal prepping is a part of my 20%. When I don’t meal prep I don’t eat right. When I do, I tend to stay on target with my eating, drinking, sleeping and exercising. That one step impacts all other important activities. This is confirmation for me. The vital few is the way to go.
This is the hardest thing to do my mindset is geared to tackle the small things first so I have to change my way of thinking . I have to do student loans consolidation’s that I have not done yet. Just think how easy my life would be paying 1 bill instead of 3 different bills a month and I know this . I will be doing this task this afternoon.
Great!!! It’s not hard sister. There’s NOTHING too hard for our GOD. Ask HIM for help!
I am so good with putting goals and plans to paper, when it’s time to just do it, that’s my problem. I allow everything get my way. I really need to get it together.
From what I can see you are getting it to
together. You’re meal prepping, you’re working out, you’re hydrating. Be Kind to yourself and allow her to adapt and grow over time.
This requires a change in the way I think about my tasks. I write them down then launch into getting things checked off but never think about which is the most important. I could be making a much bigger impact on my life and the lives of those close to me if I just think about the impact and work the tasks accordingly. Ummm. Something different!
Yaaaaas, I love it!!! Just that small tweak will make a huge impact sis!