Analysing your IQ
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80% of effects come from 20% of causes.
The Pareto Principle (80/20) is a cognitive framework that changes how you see problems. Once you understand it, you'll notice opportunities to apply it everywhere.
Identify the few vital tasks that drive the majority of your results. Ignore the rest.
The Pareto Principle (80/20) works by providing a reliable heuristic for a common class of problems. Instead of reinventing decision-making each time, you apply a tested pattern.
20% of customers provide 80% of profit. Focus on them.
Use The Pareto Principle (80/20) when facing complex decisions with multiple variables. It's especially powerful when conventional wisdom seems wrong or when you're operating in unfamiliar territory.
Over-applying: Not every problem benefits from this model. Match the tool to the situation.
Under-applying: People learn the model but don't practice it. Application takes repetition.
Misunderstanding the principle: Surface-level understanding leads to poor execution. Study the examples.
Ignoring context: The same model works differently in different domains. Adapt accordingly.
Identify a current decision you're facing. Write down the assumptions you're making. Challenge each one.
Look at a past failure. Apply The Pareto Principle (80/20) retroactively—would it have changed the outcome?
Teach the model to someone else. If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.
Set a reminder to apply this model once per week for the next month. Track the results.
The Pareto Principle (80/20) often pairs well with other Productivity models. Combining frameworks multiplies their power.
Mental models require specific cognitive traits to execute. Do you have the Discipline for this?
80% of effects come from 20% of causes.
Identify the few vital tasks that drive the majority of your results. Ignore the rest.
20% of customers provide 80% of profit. Focus on them.
Use The Pareto Principle (80/20) when facing complex decisions in the productivity domain, when conventional approaches aren't working, or when you need a structured framework for analysis.
The Pareto Principle (80/20) is used by strategic thinkers, business leaders, and anyone who needs to make high-stakes decisions under uncertainty. It's particularly popular in investing, startups, and engineering.
Yes. Mental models are learnable skills, not innate talents. The key is deliberate practice—actively applying the model to real decisions, not just reading about it.