We have all been taught to think that to achieve balance in our lives, there needs to be an equal amount of everything.

 

Not true.

 

Let’s look at something as simple as health and fitness. Being healthy consists of a balance of diet, exercise, and living clean, but it’s not an even split.

 

Not long ago, I posted about the 80/20 principle and how it applies to all aspects of our life. I thought it was a fascinating concept because normally, people think that in order to succeed or grow, you have to get each part of your life 100% right, all the time.

 

Also, not true.

 

Imagine if you spent hours each day lifting weights but then stuffed yourself with fast food. There is no balance there, because it’s not just about the effort, it’s about doing all the right things in balance. And this is where the 80% principle comes into play. 80% of your health comes down to what’s on your plate while the other 20% is the time you spend sweating it out in the gym. It’s a delicate balance, but when you prioritize the 80%, the other 20% just falls into place.

 

Simply eating right doesn’t magically force you into the gym. The energy, focus, and desire to challenge yourself in the gym comes when your body is properly fed and hydrated. Think about when you eat clean and lay off drinking. How good does your body feel? You’re motivated to do more, aren’t you? That feeling you’re experiencing when you’re motivated to go to the gym because you feel good is the 20% falling into place for you.

 

You’ve probably already experienced it at some point and didn’t even realize it.

Remember the newsletter I sent out a little while ago about compound wins and its similarity to accruing interest? The point then is similar to today… you don’t need to be an economist, just practice good habits like saving regularly and knowing exactly where your money is going. Building wealth is 80% habits, and 20% math. By having a clear awareness of your own personal finances, the math will begin to make sense. You don’t need to read up on complex financial strategies.

 

I’ve started successful businesses, and I never studied accounting. Trust me, when you do the right things, it all becomes clearer.

 

What about conversations and communicating with others? I could write a whole newsletter just about the 80/20 principle in communicating because so many people struggle with it. You should be striving for 80% listening and 20% speaking, but how many of us know someone that refuses to acknowledge this balance?

 

They can be annoying as f*ck to talk to sometimes, right?

 

Next time, try listening more than you talk, and watch your relationships deepen.

 

At a macro level, it doesn’t matter if it’s learning, achieving, happiness, relationships, or self-improvement, they all follow this same principle. Whether it’s persistence over ideas, purpose over fun, or giving over receiving, are you focusing on the 80% that truly matters?

 

Remember, perfection isn’t the goal. It’s admirable to chase it, but it’s unattainable.

 

The goal here is mastering the absolutely essential 80% that drives results.

 

Think about how we learn. Sure, you can read every book from cover to cover, but it’s all for nothing if you don’t comprehend the material. Think about when you were in school. How many textbooks did you carry around over the years? Now, how many of them did you read from beginning to end?

 

I’ll save the suspense and guess none. Because I didn’t either, and it doesn’t matter.

 

Think about even the smartest kids you knew, or the smartest people you work with now. They don’t memorize books; they grasp key concepts. That’s why focusing more on understanding what you read and prioritizing quality over quantity, helps people excel both in school and in their careers.

Everyone will tell you that to innovate, you need to be a dreamer and a doer. That’s true…but not in an equal fashion. A dream is where it starts. It’s the catalyst that sparks activity. But if you just keep on dreaming, you’ll quickly realize you’re not getting sh*t done.

 

That’s the balance, it starts with a dream, but the real progress will come during the doing. And with the 80/20 principle, the act of working hard at chasing your dream will cause you to dream up new things and visualize new accomplishments.

 

I understand that it’s easy to get caught up in dreaming and fantasizing, but action is where the magic happens. The bottom line is that doing will lead to more dreaming, which then leads to more doing, which leads to more success.

 

There is a lot here that I’ve gone over, but what I really want you to take away from this is that the 80/20 principle is more than just a concept. It’s a practical approach to building a better life for yourself. Whether you’re striving for personal growth or professional excellence, focusing on the most critical 80% creates a ripple effect that brings everything else into balance.

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