An excerpt

The vital few and the trivial many:

Vilfredo pareto,the Italian economists discovered the 80/20 principle in 1897, which is now referred to as Pareto’s rule. He discovered that 80% of the output results from 20% of the input, 80% of consequences flow from 20% of causes, and 80% of results comes from 20%of effort. Joseph juran referred to this 20% as the vital few and the 80% as the trivial many. Sir Isaac Pitman, who invented shorthand, discovered that just 700 common words make up two- thirds of our conversation, He found that these words account for 80% of  common speech 

A student covers 80% of his syllabus in 20% of his study hours. About 20% of customers contribute of growth, profitability and satisfaction. 20 % of products and services account for 80% of the turnover, 20% of the employees generate 80% of productivity, the opinion of 20% defines the society, the output of 20% of the population defines the economy of the country.

80/20 thinking  is the secret of achieving more with less, Start celebrating exceptional productivity instead of trying to raise the average effort. Strive for excellence in a few things rather than good enough performance in many.

There is a tragic amount of waste everywhere, Almost four-fifth of everything that is happening in your life is yielding very little in return. Too  much focus is on the 80% which yields only 20%. Transform your thinking. Ra vamp your outlook. Reallocate your resources from the unproductive trivial many, to the productive vital few. Effectiveness is not about what happens to the 80%, but about how you manage, control and utilize the 20%.

20% OF YOUR TIME ACTUALLY DEFINES WHAT YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU WILL BE IN LIFE.

Focus on the 20% and 80% of everything in your life will be taken care of.

source: Unposted letter