Ep 033: How the 80/20 Rule Can Work Against You—And What to Do About It
About 80-20 Productivity Deep Dives
80-20 productivity deep dives is a series on 80 20 Productivity where Anthony Sanni discusses concepts and phenomena related to the 80-20 principle and explores how these concepts can be used to help you do more by doing less.
Episode Summary
We all know the 80/20 rule—a small percentage of your actions create most of your success. But have you ever stopped to ask: What if a small percentage of your actions are actually causing most of your stress, setbacks, and frustration?
In this episode, we explore the hidden cost of productivity—the 20% of your activities, habits, and relationships that might be holding you back. You’ll learn how to spot these high-cost negatives, eliminate them, and free up more time and energy for the things that actually move you forward.
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You’ve heard of the 80/20 rule—but what if 20% of your actions are sabotaging the other 80%? While we focus on maximizing positive results, we often ignore the hidden forces draining our energy, time, and motivation.
In this episode, I break down:
How a small number of decisions, habits, and relationships create outsized stress and setbacks.
The warning signs that an activity or person is part of your “negative 20%.”
How to cut the noise and take back control of your time, energy, and productivity.
If you’ve ever felt busy but stuck, this episode is for you.
The Vital Few (TVF) Timestamps:
[00:27] The Two-Sided Nature of 80/20
[02:18] Are You Doing More of What Works—or More of What Hurts?
[06:21] The Productivity Drain You’re Overlooking
[12:06] The 20% of Your Life That’s Holding You Back
[18:09] The People Problem: Are Certain Relationships Costing You Too Much?
[20:44] How to Cut the 20% That’s Wasting Your Time & Energy
[24:07] The Secret to Doing More by Doing Less
Notes and References
Past Episodes Mentioned
Future Self Connection: Link to the referenced episode.
The Zero-Sum Game of Time – How to reclaim time for what truly matters.
Magic Mind Offer
My go-to productivity booster: magicmind.com/anthony40
Use code ANTHONY40 for 40% off your first subscription! (Limited to the first 10 orders.)Force Multipliers Episode
Reference to Lancaster's Law and exponential teamwork effects.
My Free Mini-Course: Goal-Setting and Goal-Getting
Free resource for listeners: https://anthony-sanni-company-international.thinkific.com/courses/goal-achievement-free-mini-course
Anthony’s Book: The Law of The Vital Few
