In 2006, we made the leap. We burned our ships in the Netherlands and chased the dream in Spain. Most people thought we were idiots.
We were after the perfect life: endless sunshine, pristine beaches, beautiful nature, laid-back people, and of course, a little bit of work for our own business.
But the truth? We worked. Hard.
Hard work wasn’t the problem; it was the relentless 24-7 grind.
At some point, we realized: “We can’t live like this forever.”
But how do you break the cycle?
Coming from a Special Forces background, my answer to everything had always been the same:
“If you’re lacking in talent, you make up for it by working even harder.” 😃
Then I discovered a game-changer.
In 2009 I learned The 80/20 Rule:
Vilfredo Pareto, an Italian economist from the 1900s, discovered that 80% of Italy’s land was owned by just 20% of the population.
This led him to investigate a recurring pattern: disproportionate results from a small portion of causes.
The findings are astonishing:
– 20% of roads carry 80% of the traffic.
– 20% of your clothes are worn 80% of the time.
And it doesn’t stop there:
– 20% of your staff creates 80% of your results.
– 20% of your products generate 80% of your profits.
– 20% of your actions create 80% of your happiness.
This principle applies to everything—even your time.
Let’s break it down: 20% of your daily activities create 80% of your desired results.
The downside?
The other 80% of your time is responsible for only 20% of your results.
If you’re working 40 hours a week to earn €70,000 a year, do you think doubling your hours will double your income?
Not a chance.
The reality is, not all work is created equal.
If 20% of your tasks create 80% of your results, what happens if you focus on those high-impact tasks?
What if you stopped wasting time on the 80% that barely moves the needle?
Let’s crunch some numbers. Stick with me.
In a typical 40-hour work week, 20% of that time is just 8 hours.
Those 8 hours generate 80% of your income, or €56,000.
Now, imagine if you only worked those 8 hours each week.
You’d still pull in €56,000, but you’d have a ton of extra time to live your life.
But what if, instead of cutting your hours, you filled your entire 40-hour week with only the high-impact tasks?
You’d earn €280,000—four times your current income without adding a single extra hour.
Think about that.
To earn the same amount without focusing on high-value tasks, you’d need to work 160 hours a week (which, unless you plan on giving up sleep entirely, is impossible).
Your time is precious.
Don’t waste it on the 80% that barely moves the needle.
Start focusing on the few things that truly matter, and reclaim your life.
PS: The picture: “This-can´t-go-on-like this-much-longer-moment.”
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