The 80/20 Rule in Business: Focus on What Actually Works

There’s a surprisingly simple truth behind many thriving businesses: not everything you do carries the same weight. That’s the idea behind the 80/20 rule in business, where roughly 80% of your results come from just 20% of your efforts.

The 80/20 Rule—also known as the Pareto Principle—suggests that roughly 80% of your results come from just 20% of your efforts. It might not be exact, but you’ll be amazed how often it shows up once you start paying attention.

How does this actually show up in your business?

• A handful of clients likely generate the majority of your income
• One or two services may be consistently bringing in new business
• Certain tasks move things forward, while others just keep you busy

Once you start spotting these patterns, you can shift your focus toward what’s really working.

Focus on What’s Already Working

Start by identifying your top 20%. These parts of your business consistently deliver value—whether it’s clients who pay on time and refer others, or service packages that are efficient and profitable. Once you know what’s working, you can focus more time and energy there.

Trim What’s Not

Chances are, some things are draining your time and energy without giving much in return. Maybe there’s a service that’s started to feel like more trouble than it’s worth. Or a client relationship that takes more energy than it gives back.

The 80/20 mindset gives you permission to pause, take a step back, and make thoughtful adjustments—especially when something no longer aligns with your goals.

Not Just About Money

This principle can help with everything from time management to stress levels. You may find that most of your weekly stress stems from one or two tasks. That insight alone can help you delegate, automate, or eliminate more strategically.

Try This:

• Review your client list—who are your top contributors?
• Track your time for a few days—where do you see return, and where does it disappear?
• Look at your services—what feels profitable and sustainable?

Even one small shift can free up space for deeper, more impactful work.

Want to dig a little deeper? We’ve put together a simple worksheet and companion guide to help you apply the 80/20 Rule to your own business—no guesswork needed. It’s an easy way to take what you’ve just read and turn it into something practical you can use.