If you feel like you’re constantly busy but not actually moving the needle, you’re not alone. Most business owners wear a dozen hats—answering emails, networking, marketing, invoicing, managing clients… it never ends.
But what if you didn’t have to do everything to grow your business?
Enter: the 80/20 Rule.
Also known as the Pareto Principle, it’s a simple idea with massive impact:
80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts.
Once you identify your 20%, you can stop wasting time on the rest—and start working smarter, not just harder.
💡 So… What Does This Look Like in Real Life?
Here’s how the 80/20 Rule often shows up for small business owners:
- 80% of your revenue likely comes from 20% of your clients
- 80% of your referrals come from 20% of your network
- 80% of your stress comes from 20% of your tasks or clients
- 80% of your growth comes from 20% of your marketing efforts
When you know where the real value is, you can double down on it—and let go of what’s just draining your time and energy.
🔍 Step 1: Identify Your “Vital Few”
Grab a piece of paper or a blank spreadsheet and look at:
- Your top 5 clients (by revenue or ease of working with)
- Your top 3 referral sources
- The marketing channels actually bringing in leads (not just likes)
- The services or products with the best margins
- Tasks you do that directly lead to income or growth
These are your needle-movers—the 20% that deserves 80% of your focus.
🚫 Step 2: Trim the Distractions
Once you know what’s driving results, it’s time to eliminate or delegate the rest.
❌ Are you spending hours on a social platform that never sends leads?
❌ Still offering a service that drains you but doesn’t pay off?
❌ Managing admin tasks that a $20/hour assistant could do?
Not everything deserves your time.
Protect your energy like it’s your budget—because it is.
✅ Step 3: Reinvest in What Works
Now that you’ve cleared space, here’s where to lean in:
✅ Spend more time nurturing top clients and referral partners
✅ Invest in the marketing channels that actually bring results
✅ Simplify your offers to highlight the most profitable and in-demand services
✅ Set clearer boundaries around time-wasting tasks or “busy work”
You don’t need to do more to grow—you just need to do more of what works.
🧠 Final Thought: Focus Is a Business Superpower
The 80/20 Rule isn’t about working less—it’s about working on the right things.
It’s about being honest with yourself about what’s truly moving your business forward.
So this week, ask yourself:
“What’s one thing I could stop doing that no one would miss?”
“And what’s one thing I should do more of that drives real results?”
That’s where the growth lives. Go there.