Time to read: 2 minutes
Article at a glance:
- Redmond’s 80/20 lens encourages spending 80% of your time in your Three Circles.
- It’s not about perfection, but noticing where your time and energy go, and gently realigning when needed.
- Small reflections and conversations can uncover shifts that make work feel more natural and fulfilling.
- Moving toward your sweet spot fuels better work, faster growth, and a deeper sense of purpose.
When you hear about the “80/20 rule,” you probably think of the Pareto Principle, the idea that 80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts. That’s true, and useful.
But at Redmond, we also use 80/20 as a compass for doing work that’s rooted in our Three Circles: where we’re helpful, what we’re wired for, and what fills our cup.
Ideally, we want to spend 80% of our time, energy, and attention inside that sweet spot. That other 20%? That’s for everything else life throws at us, because no one lives in perfect alignment all the time.
This isn’t about perfection. It’s about paying attention.
How to Use the 80/20 Lens
Start by reflecting.
- How are you spending your time at work?
- What tasks or duties show up again and again?
- Which ones light you up? Which ones just feel… fine? And which ones drain you?
No need for precise math. Just a gut check: How much of your day lands in that zone of helpful, energized, and naturally YOU?
If your answer feels far from 80%, don’t worry, that’s not a red flag. It’s just a signpost.
Because this is a journey, and we’re all still figuring it out.
Maybe you’re not sure what fills your cup yet. Maybe you haven’t gotten enough feedback to know where you’re most helpful. That’s normal. We’re constantly learning, evolving, and discovering.
What Now?
You don’t need a role overhaul. You don’t need to start over.
You just need to begin exploring.
- Look for clues. Where do people thank you? Where do you feel a sense of flow?
- Be open. If something feels off, say it. Not as a complaint, but as curiosity.
- Talk to your team. Maybe you’re doing something that feels “meh,” but someone else loves it. A simple conversation might free you both up to grow.
This is the heart of how we do culture at Redmond. Instead of rigid roles or fixed paths, we’re engaged in an ongoing process of reflection, renewal, and contribution.
And here’s the magic: when you start inching toward your 80%, your energy changes. Your work gets better. You grow faster. You bring more of yourself to the table, and that’s a win for everyone.
One Last Thought
Even if you’re not quite sure what your Three Circles are yet, you can still move toward them. You can still be curious. Still ask, “What’s one small shift I could make this week to move closer?”
It doesn’t take a big leap. Just a step.
Because the goal isn’t to live in your 80/20.
The goal is to move toward it with intention, with support, and with the belief that meaningful work is possible.
And it starts right where you are.
