Scripture to Memorize
She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindles with her fingers.
Proverbs 31:18–19
Passage to Read
A discerning man keeps wisdom in view,
but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth.
Proverbs 17:24
Guided Prayer
Dear Lord, help me to become more discerning. I want to live each day with wisdom in view. But I confess that, more often than not, I take my eyes off the prize. I let my mind and heart wander. I get distracted by things that don’t matter and lose sight of the things that do. Holy Spirit, empower me to fix my eyes on Jesus. Help me to stay on task and on target, today and every day. I’m counting on you, trusted Teacher, to constantly call me back to the path of wisdom. Amen.
The Proverbs 31 woman saw to it that her time and money went into the most profitable enterprises. Today we’re going to explore yet another modern-day version of the spindle and distaff: the 80/20 rule. The rule arises from the work of an Italian economist who observed that the world is governed by a nearly universal 80/20 rule, also known as the Pareto Principle. In practical application: 20 percent of salespeople produce 80 percent of the sales results; 20 percent of customers generate 80 percent of business income; 20 percent of any given congregation do 80 percent of the work in the church; you call 20 percent of your friends 80 percent of the time; you watch 20 percent of your television channels 80 percent of the time; you make 20 percent of the recipes in your collection 80 percent of the time (did your husband just shout amen or oh no?), the top 20 percent of the world’s wealthies people control 80 percent (or more) of the world’s wealth, and so on.
Put this rule to work for you. Focus on the 20 percent of activities that will yield the 80 percent return. Don’t waste your time on the remaining 80 percent that will yield only an additional 20 percent return. In other words, don’t be a perfectionist. It’s not worth driving yourself to physical and emotional collapse to squeeze out an additional 20 percent return.
Review your DAILY PAGE every day and put an asterisk next to the two items on your TACKLE LIST that will yield the 80 percent return on your time investment. Do these two tasks first. Then, even if you don’t accomplish any of the remaining items, you’ll probably have achieved 80 percent effectiveness. Do not allow yourself to work on anything other than the items with an asterisk until you have completed those two.
Here are some other ways to apply the 80/20 rule:
Make a list of ten friends. Put a star next to the two most important ones and devote your attention to them. Be nice to everyone, of course, but focus your energies on the two you have identified.
Make a list of your ten favorite hobbies/free-time activities. Put a star next to the two you enjoy most. Invest in them.
If you are in business, make a list of your top ten customers and put a star next to the top two. Focus on them.
You spend 80 percent of your waking hours in 20 percent of your house (probably your kitchen and family room). Focus on making them fabulous and you’ll be much happier at home.
Your children play with 20 percent of their toys 80 percent of the time. Give away or put away the rest.
Put the 80/20 rule to good use and let it simplify your life.
Affirmation: I use the 80/20 rule to help me simplify and prioritize my life.
Practical
Begin implementing the 80/20 rule by making the lists suggested above.
Notebook: Begin distinguishing between the 80 and the 20 on your DAILY PAGE. Put an asterisk next to the two most important items and do not work on anything else until those two are completed.