80/20 Rule in Relationships

The 80 20 rule can apply in a number of different ways to relationships.

You can look at the relationships you have with your group of friends, for example, and decide which 20 percent are the best examples and support to you in becoming the person you want to be. If you spend 80 percent of your downtime with this 20 percent, your personal gains will be greater.

To apply the Pareto Principle to building a good relationship with your spouse or partner, it may be helpful to understand 80 percent of the problems that couples face are likely caused by a small 20 percent of their actions or behaviors.

In other words, you must identify the root cause or causes (the small 20 percent) of your conflicts, communicate about them, and focus on improving them. This is healthier than getting caught up in the 80 percent of behaviors that are simply minor annoyances and do not matter.

Read the full article from Brian Tracy