I. The Art of Becoming More, with Less

“Imagine a life where you could achieve more by doing less—where effort, time, and results find a harmonious balance. That’s the life I’m setting out to create, and I’d love for you to join me.”

I’d heard about the “Pareto Principle” before but never thought much about it. Then, through a series of unexpected events, I found myself listening to The 80/20 Principle by Richard Koch. For the first time, the idea really resonated. Listening to the audiobook, I felt a flicker of excitement—what if I tried this? What if I experimented with applying this principle to my life?

But first, what is the 80/20 Principle? The 80/20 principle, also known as the Pareto Principle, is the concept that roughly 80% of outcomes come from just 20% of efforts. It suggests that in many areas of life, a small portion of what we do—whether it’s specific tasks, relationships, or habits—drives the majority of results. The principle can be applied to almost anything, from business and productivity to health and personal growth.

Imagine if you could identify and focus on that 20% that truly matters—how much could you change by letting go of the rest? That’s the experiment I’m embarking on: to see if focusing on the few, high-impact actions can help me create a more balanced and fulfilling life.

In all honesty, my life isn’t something I’d call “aligned” right now. I’ve been feeling like my life is a little bit off-balance—like I’m spinning plates but none are quite where I want them to be. It’s that nagging feeling that I’m capable of something more fulfilling, but I haven’t quite found the formula. And that’s why the 80/20 principle intrigued me: it promises a way to realign without overhauling everything.I guess I’m mostly approaching this with a sense of curiosity, what if? How much can your life change in 3 months when you’re focused on the minority of things that influence the majority of the results? 

To start, I did some soul-searching and teamed up with ChatGPT to map out an action plan. Together we identified the areas of life that matter most to me— For this experiment, I’ll be starting with some small but intentional changes in three areas: health, career, and creativity. Nothing drastic, just small shifts to test what truly makes a difference. I’ll be looking to add value with less effort, as strange as that sounds. Think focused workouts, setting defined deadlines, and exploring the creative projects that excite me the most.

This experiment is just beginning, and I have no idea where it will lead. But that’s the beauty of it—it’s a journey into the unknown, guided by the simple idea of becoming more with less. So if you’re curious, stick around, and maybe we can discover what happens together.

Here’s to the art of becoming more, 20% at the time.