When you are an entrepreneur you are your own boss. How many hours you work does not matter any more.
When you are an employee you can plotter around and achieve almost nothing but as long as you are in the office from 9-5 then you are ‘working hard’. However, when you are an entrepreneur it is all about results.
If you work 9-5 and get nothing done, then guess what, your income is not going to increase and you are going to end up poor. That is why it is important to increase your productivity.
I am currently reading the book ‘The 4 Hour Work Week’ and it has given me insights that have helped increase my productivity 300%. What took me 8 hours to achieve I can now achieve in just 2 hours because I have used one simple method to increase my productivity.
Here it is:
20% of the work you do will deliver 80% of the results
A lot of you will read this and go “yeh I know that” but yet you will continue to work 15 hour days online and achieve barely anything.
I see this all the time: Bloggers who work 8-12 hours per day and only produce one blog post per day. What do they do all day? They read emails, they go on twitter, they read other blogs, they play around on forums, they check their emails every 5 seconds. Now I am not saying that these things are not good and that they don’t work but most bloggers spend their time on the 80% that brings in 20% of the results.
Many bloggers work longer hours than me and yet produce less results. Don’t be one of those people.
Take Jason for example. Why is he not blogging at the moment? Because he understands that 20% of what he does will bring in 80% of the results. So he is focusing on those things that bring him a great return for time spent.
Here are some questions to ask yourself to determine what you should be doing and what is just a waste of time:
1. If you (by life or death) could only work 2 hours per day what would you do?
Say you had a heart attack or something and you could only work 2 hours per day for the next 3 months otherwise you would die. What would you do?
2. If this is the only thing I accomplish today will I be satisfied?
Ask yourself this question to really distinguish what is important and what is not important
3. Am I inventing things to do to avoid the important things?
Remember being busy is not being productive. If I can cut my hours to 2 hours per day instead of 8 then so can you.
Get serious about the 20/80 rule and you will see your productivity skyrocket and your business earning more from less work. Your business will be better off, your health will be better off, your social life will definately be better of and so will your love life. How is that for a deal.
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February 16th, 2009 at 6:43 am
Great thoughts here. Sounds like you may have read “The Four Hour Work Week”.
The 80/20 principle is important to integrate into almost every facet of life. Focusing on the 20 that creates the 80 will increase productivity and effectiveness significantly, while showing what was completely unnecessary and a waste of time.
Ethan’s last blog post..Computers and the Green Lifestyle
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Jesse M (4 comments) Reply:
March 4th, 2009 at 5:09 am
We actually just had a big company productivity meeting completely revolving around the 80/20 rule. I had never heard of it before… interesting stuff.
Jesse M’s last blog post..Infographic Automobile History Of America
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February 16th, 2009 at 8:02 am
Another good book to read on this genre is Stephen Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
I have heard of the book you speak of but have not yet picked up a copy. I imagine it covers similar topics as the book I mentioned
The White’s last blog post..How To Increase Your RSS Subscribers While Making Your Them Hate You
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Ann Arbor Web Design (69 comments) Reply:
February 17th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
I have just bought this one and will read it now: Stephen Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. This one you talk about sounds good too.
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Rahul Jadhav (10 comments) Reply:
March 2nd, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Hey I have heard a lot about The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. I think that i must buy the book. I used to think that it was another of those motivational books
Rahul Jadhav’s last blog post..Sunday Link Love
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February 16th, 2009 at 11:13 am
That is really an interesting post to read! Thanks for reasonable tips
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February 16th, 2009 at 3:32 pm
You just did the most recycled productivity advice known to man. This is why blogging sucks now….everyone has written the same damn post 5 different ways, and noone is innovating. Not to say that it isn’t very difficult to innovate, but if you are going to post garbage like this that you wrote up in 15 minutes and you KNOW has been written literally thousands of times elsewhere, it just makes this blog look bad.
BTW, your writing is choppy as hell. Learn to use commas and structure your sentences better. Sorry to throw you under the bus but that post was such blatant filler!
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Freebies Mentor (2 comments) Reply:
February 16th, 2009 at 4:56 pm
You are pathetic. You can write all of that but won’t even put down where your own blog is. I’m guessing you are not very productive yourself.
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Meji - 365HUSTLE.com (2 comments) Reply:
February 19th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
You don’t need to say all of that. I actually found the post interesting and informative. Thanks
Although I’m one of those people who schedules his day to make sure I get a lot of things done – I have caught myself spending long hours online thinkin I’m doing something special.
Meji – 365HUSTLE.com’s last blog post..Bob Parsons 16 Rules – I’m Guessing To Success
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February 16th, 2009 at 4:50 pm
Solid post. It is interesting the way we lose our productivity. At work, you’ll bum around because you HAVE to be there for 8+ hours to look like you’re working. But on your own, you just need to get the deliverables in, so focus on achieving the most while putting in the least.
I’m going to start evaluating those questions to see if I can reevaluate what I do.
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February 16th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
That was a good post. And the comment above me is just pathetic. He could write all that but would not even put his URL down.
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February 16th, 2009 at 8:35 pm
Nice post, ‘The 4 Hour Work Week’ really is a good book, I have it laying around here somewhere too, read it last summer. Too bad if you’re in school like me, where you can’t ditch the 6 hours you are non-productive to only use the 2 when you are productive. Those people really do not understand productivity.
Sjoerd’s last blog post..Gratis info-pack!
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February 16th, 2009 at 8:58 pm
So true. I feel like school and education is a lot of wasted time. Think about it… If I do a summer session, it takes two weeks to do one course. Why not just do two week intensive courses all the way through?
I could save at the least 3 weeks per semester, which would turn out to be almost a half of a year by the time I am out of school.
Ethan’s last blog post..Computers and the Green Lifestyle
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February 16th, 2009 at 9:37 pm
Have you have just read 4 hour work week by Tim Ferris?
ukgimp’s last blog post..When Menus Go Bad
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February 17th, 2009 at 7:18 am
“…constructive critiscism…”
~Things that make you go hmmm
The White’s last blog post..How To Increase Your RSS Subscribers While Making Your Them Hate You
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February 17th, 2009 at 11:26 am
oops, forgot to add that I thought it was a fantastic book and that I agree with you. If you can do just some of the things he suggests then you can save a boat load of time.
ukgimp’s last blog post..When Menus Go Bad
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February 17th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
BTW, welcome back after a couple of weeks, was it?
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February 17th, 2009 at 8:32 pm
Heeey..Thanks for this , it makes a lot of sense. Sounds like a great read, I will definitely put the tips to work..starting now…wonderful post!
MsTrisBeats’s last blog post..No Guts No Glory February 26th!!~~
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February 18th, 2009 at 2:36 am
You just hit the nail right on the very head!
There are two opposing ‘Ps’ you should be very watchful of. That’s ‘Productivity’ and ‘Procrastination.’ If you are fond of the latter, then you are simply leaving money at the table. If you opt for the former, then you’re in a ‘win-win’ scenario, for most people working online ‘Time equals money.’ 
Norilyn Aspera’s last blog post..Welcome To The Virtual Secretary
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February 18th, 2009 at 4:16 am
Very true, it is good to cut your time and increase productivity, but what are the important things you should do in the 2 hours? Write? Work on your blog? Many things are important.
Nathaniel’s last blog post..The Art Of Blogging
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February 18th, 2009 at 7:25 am
You can’t go wrong with the old 80/20 rule but I think the drawback with blogging is that the other 80% of the work is part of what makes blogging so enjoyable, so it can be very easy to get sidetracked from the good stuff.
Dot Com Dud’s last blog post..By: denologis
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February 18th, 2009 at 11:14 am
20/80 rule is a really good idea, I find that I am more productive at certain times of day. sometimes I fall foul of “inventing things to do” I have and then going off in a complete tangent but that won’t help me to make money.
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February 18th, 2009 at 7:30 pm
ah, wonderful logic. Thats really opened my eyes to how much more I can get done on my blog! Thanks
Spaz125’s last blog post..Top 10 Reasons to “Cool the Globe”
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February 19th, 2009 at 7:56 pm
I have to disagree to the 80/20 rule, after all 20% may bring the results, but that’s still 100% that you need to finish something. I think this statement is one of the most stupid and overused around, it’s simply not true. Cut the crap, stop surfing the web or chit chatting and start working, it’s the sidegames that kill your endgame.
smashill’s last blog post..Do Creatives need a website?
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February 19th, 2009 at 9:49 pm
I tend to agree with the Pareto Principle. 20% of most things, people, and time are responsible 80% of the productivity. That being said, it would be great to find ways to increase the number who are productive. That allows for the society as a whole to improve.
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February 20th, 2009 at 1:10 am
These are great tips, I agree with the 20% work 80% result, if you work on something for a little and you know it will bring in good results, its worth it.
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February 20th, 2009 at 5:46 am
Interesting post. I agree, making priorities is a huge part of being productive. However, it’s also about discipline. If we make priorities, but don’t stick with them, we’re back at square one. I find that my best periods of productivity are when I am working towards a goal, any goal really. Sometimes it’s as simple as “work without interruption for the next 15 minutes” and other times my goals are larger in scale. Believe it or not, taking breaks is what keeps me focused. All in all, the less overwhelmed I feel, the more I get done.
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February 21st, 2009 at 12:34 am
I myself get easily distracted with other things. For the most part my time is effective but that book may be worth a read to help improve.
The Blogger Source’s last blog post..What Time Should You Post?
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March 2nd, 2009 at 11:36 am
Hi Ryan! I think we just have to analyze the things that really bother us and make us procastinate. Being a perfectionist all the time can sometimes be drag if it only produces poor results and missed deadlines. Or maybe you don’t like what you’re doing. Either way, a person who’s enjoying his work will always be “in the zone”.
Tuesday’s last blog post..Top Affiliate Marketing Advice for Newbies
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March 2nd, 2009 at 1:23 pm
I agree with the 20% work 80% result. Thanks for share tips.
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March 5th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
Yep, I agree with the 80/20 principal, But still LOL, Internet is too addictive, even if I am making thousands, I wont leave it.
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March 8th, 2009 at 10:17 pm
Thanks again that 20-90 is a great rule and I might try and use that. I mean sometimes i just do things which take ages for no returns at all.
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March 13th, 2009 at 11:38 pm
The point you have raised are quite interesting. I am also agree do 20% of work and 80% marketing in blogging. It can create nice and good earning blog for you. I am trying different things and i am getting good responce so currently i am enjoying my blogging experience.
Aditya’s last blog post..101 Best Do-follow Blogs to Build Backlinks
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March 21st, 2009 at 6:14 am
i agree with number 1! yes, live each day as if it were your last!
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March 24th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
The whole 20% work 80% results is a very good point and like you say most people know this including me but i like many others dont really work in this way. Anyway thank you for posting you have reminded me that i need to work far more efficiently
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