The **Pareto Principle**, also known as the **80/20 Rule**, is a concept that suggests: > **Roughly 80% of outcomes come from 20% of causes.** It originated from **[[Vilfredo Pareto]]**, an Italian economist, who observed in the late 1800s that **80% of Italy’s land was owned by 20% of the population**. Since then, this idea has been applied broadly across business, economics, productivity, and more. ### Common Applications: - **Business & Sales**: 80% of sales often come from 20% of customers. - **Productivity**: 80% of results can come from 20% of the tasks you do. - **Software & Tech**: 80% of users use 20% of the features. - **Customer Service**: 80% of complaints come from 20% of customers. ### Important Notes: - It's not a strict mathematical rule — it’s more of a general observation or heuristic. - The exact ratio might vary (e.g., 70/30, 90/10), but the idea is the **imbalance between input and output**. ### Why it’s Useful: The Pareto Principle helps you **focus on what matters most** — by identifying the critical few (20%) that produce the greatest results (80%), you can manage your time, resources, and energy more effectively.