HigHER Self CEO: The Pareto Principle
Leverage for Results
The Pareto Principle says 80% of outcomes should come from 20% of actions. Let this sink it. It’s about working smarter not harder. Focus on the big fish.
This principle says forget about the endless to-do lists, frantic multitasking, and constant hustling. They don’t matter. Yet we treat it like it does. We’re keeoping ourselves busy without being productive.
Applied to life, the 80/20 rule becomes a strategy for intentional energy allocation. For your HigHER Self CEO journey, it’s about identifying the small number of actions, relationships, and habits that generate the majority of your results without the burn out.
Identify Your 20%
Not all efforts are equally important. Go back into your MoSCoW and look at the Musts and Shoulds. Then ask yourself:
- Which relationships consistently bring growth, joy, or support?
- Which habits create the biggest impact on your health, energy, or mindset?
- Which projects or tasks yield the most meaningful progress toward your goals?
Once you identify the 20% that actually matters, you can stop over-investing in the 80% of low-impact noise.
Apply 80/20 to Your Time & Energy
Your resources and your capacity are finite. Treat them strategically:
- Energy: Focus on the people and projects that fuel you, not drain you.
- Attention: Limit consumption of content, social media, and distractions that don’t serve your goals.
- Decisions: Stop trying to optimise everything. Prioritise the actions that move the needle most.
Use the intelligent leverage. High-effort actions without high return are a recipe for burnout, not growth.
Audit Your Life
I love this exercise for grounding and clarity:
- Make a list of all tasks, habits, and relationships you engage with regularly.
- Identify the top 20% that contribute to your goals, joy, or energy.
- Highlight the 80% that doesn’t add meaningful value.
After doing this exercise myself, I realised hours were being eaten by shallow interactions and “busywork” that didn’t actually help me grow my business, health, or mindset. I was stuck in the typical “I don’t have time for this” loop. Once I reprioritised, I felt lighter, sharper, and more aligned with my HigHER Self CEO vision.
The Pareto Principle isn’t about doing less, it’s about doing what matters most. It’s about trading small motions for great momentum.
Ask yourself:
- Which actions truly define your next-level self?
- Which habits, people, or projects are keeping you stuck in the 80% of mediocrity?
Focus on what matters. Cut the noise. Make your energy and time your greatest asset.
Because the ultimate CEO of your life knows: it’s not about doing everything. It’s about doing the right 20% brilliantly.