We grew up learning that hard work pays off. We learned that short cuts weren’t going help us get ahead in the long run. We learned that we should put up with effort and struggle in the short term to enjoy the long-term fruits of our labor.

It turns out that this mindset is not only misleading, but could actually prevent you from achieving what you want in life. It could also prevent you from actually having the TIME to enjoy yourself. We seem to have forgotten that it is not the hard work that pays off, but working on the right things that pays off.

Working on the right things does not have to be hard. In fact, one could argue, that if you are working on the RIGHT THINGS, the things that you get rewarded for….it will actually feel easy because you know you will get rewarded for it! It also logically makes sense that it is the things that you are best at (or at least better than others) that you get rewarded for, since people are giving you recognition for doing something better than others could have done it. If you are good at something, than doing that type of work should surely require less effort (and be more enjoyable) than other types of tasks.

The point of this crazy argument is SIMPLE. There are a set of things that you do, that we all do, that we reap the MAJORITY of benefits from. However, these things DO NOT tend to make up the majority of the total activities that we do. In fact, using the age old Pareto Principle (80-20 rule); I estimate that we spend about 20% of the time doing things that produce 80% of the results and 80% of the time doing things that produce 20% of the results!

Why would anyone waste their time doing those 80% of tasks that don’t yield much benefit?

Simple. We do so because we get caught up in a near-term benefit related to accomplishing the task. For example, we might do the laundry instead of analyzing the performance of our stock portfolio because we know we can finish one in a finite amount of time and be successful. We get caught up in things that give us certainty, even if they aren’t the things that will help us succeed in the long run. We get caught in things we are addicted to, like e-mail or talking on the phone. We get caught up doing things that other people request of us, even though it isn’t in our own (or their) best interests.

How do we fix this? Again, the answer is equally simple.

1. We identify the 20% of things we do that produce 80% of the results. Make a list.
2. Figure out a few characteristics that define these things (commonalities). What type of project was it? How long did it take? What specifically did you do? How was it received? How did it help you over the long term?
3. Eliminate EVERYTHING that doesn’t meet the characteristics of these “20%” projects.
4. Add more tasks and projects that do meet these characteristics.

Doing this exercise regarding work can be especially powerful. Think about the big projects (or small projects) you worked on that gained you your 15 minutes of fame. What did you get promoted for? What did you get rewarded for? What was the special assignment that really got you noticed?

Make it YOUR MISSION to figure out what those things were. Then replicate those things by taking on similar work assignments OR just focusing your energy on your current projects that meet those characteristics.

In order for this to work, you MUST let everything else become a second priority. All the little things you used to spend time on need to be cut out from your life. You also must learn to TURN DOWN projects at work that you know aren’t going to help you in the long run (NOTE: don’t carry this to the extreme that you completely ostracize yourself from your co-workers).

Ultimately, managing your career in this way is not self-centered. In fact, it is the best thing you can do for your company. You will be more productive, which means you will help the company’s bottom line. You’ll also be happier, which will lower your company’s insurance costs (stress is one of the leading causes of workplace illness) and the happiness will be sure to rub off on others, thereby keeping them from getting sick :) .

So, take 10 minutes and make your list today. Focus on the top 20% of things that are getting you 80% of the results. Make them your life’s priority. If you do so, you’ll be able to spend the other 80% of the time ACTUALLY ENJOYING your life, instead wishing you were.