How to identify your 20%


Hi Reader,

Last week, I shared how I managed to create an entirely new website, in less than 5 months, while still working on my 2 existing blogs… and without working any extra hours.

(Missed it? You can read it HERE!)

And I explained how I did it by using the 4-step process I teach in 80/20 Blogging:

  1. Identify your 20% tasks – the High Impact Tasks that actually move the needle
  2. Schedule your 20% tasks properly – so they actually get done
  3. Identify and minimize your 80% tasks – the Low Impact Tasks that keep you busy but don’t really move things forward
  4. Radically reorganize your time so your High Impact Tasks don't keep getting pushed to the bottom of your to-do list

Today, I want to zoom in on Step #1.

Because this is where everything starts.

And also where most people go wrong.

How do you actually identify your 20% tasks?

Let’s be honest…

Most bloggers don’t struggle because they don’t work hard enough.

They struggle because they’re not working on the RIGHT things: those high impact 20% tasks.

So how do you figure out what your 20% tasks actually are?

There are two simple steps that make all the difference...

1. Begin with the end in mind

First things first.

You need to get clear on your “big why”.

Why are you blogging?

What are you actually trying to achieve?

Because until you know where you’re heading…

You can’t possibly know which tasks will get you there fastest.

This is where most to-do lists fall apart.

They’re full of activity.

But not direction.

Once you have clarity on your destination, something interesting happens…

Suddenly it becomes much easier to see which tasks are essential.

And which ones are just noise.

2. Apply the ROTI filter

Next up is something I use all the time.

ROTI.

(Return On Time Invested.)

In other words…

Which of all the possible tasks you could do will give you the biggest return for your time?

Start by brainstorming everything you could do to reach your goals.

No filtering yet.

Just get it all out.

Then comes the important part.

Ask yourself:

Which of these tasks will give me the biggest results…

...in the shortest amount of time?

That’s your ROTI filter.

And that’s what helps you separate the 20% from the 80%.

Because the aim here is simple:

Identify the small number of activities that will drive the majority of your results.

Not everything.

Just the things that actually move the needle.

But remember, you can't possible know which tasks will move the needle the most until you know what direction you're heading in.

(Which is why Step #1 is so important!)

Next week…

I’ll show you how to make sure those 20% tasks don’t just sit on your to list gathering dust…

But actually get done consistently.

Because identifying them is one thing.

Making sure they actually get done?

That’s where the real magic happens.

Happy 80/20ing!

Eb 😊
​

P.S. If you want a step-by-step guide (with lots of examples and assignments) on how to apply the 80/20 rule your own blogging business, so you can achieve more while working less, head here: 80/20 Blogging​

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