How to Achieve More with Less
Time is our most precious currency—the one asset we're all given at birth.[1]
As entrepreneur Scott Galloway observes, when money exchanges hands, what we're actually trading is each other's time. Consider this: I walk into my local pub and spend £6 on a beer. In doing so, I exchange the £6 I earned through selling my time for the time spent by farmers growing ingredients, brewers crafting the beer, logistics teams delivering it, and the landlord serving me.
How much did that beer actually cost me? About three and a half minutes of my life.
If I earn £250,000 annually working 50 hours weekly, my hourly rate is approximately £96 (£250,000 ÷ 52 weeks ÷ 50 hours). I couldn't create my own beer in three and a half minutes—it might take years to produce even a poor imitation. But why would I try?
The Value of Focused Time
When we leverage our time effectively, we focus on the few things we do exceptionally well—things others cannot do. The more we concentrate on these strengths, the better we become. As the gap widens between our abilities and others, the more valuable our time becomes.
To truly achieve more with less, we must value our time above everything else. Ancient civilisations understood this better than most of us today; "Memento Mori" (remember you must die) was common graffiti in ancient Rome, a stark reminder of our finite existence.
Many believe money is scarce when it's actually plentiful. If this weren't true, governments wouldn't keep devaluing currency and inflation would reverse. Time, however, is genuinely limited.
The unnecessary busyness of modern life—working fifty-plus hours weekly, to accumulate more possessions and more liabilities—drains both our finances and our truly limited resource: time. The Welsh poet William Henry Davies observed this condition over a century ago:
What is this life, if full of care
We have no time to stand and stare[2]
Two Principles for Maximum Achievement
How can we achieve more while giving away less of our precious time? In my experience, effectively leveraging time requires applying two principles in tandem: Pareto's Law and Parkinson's Law[3].
Pareto's Law states that 20% of our time, energy, and effort generates 80% of our results. Vilfredo Pareto first observed this principle in economics during the late 19th century, noting that 80% of wealth was distributed among 20% of Italy's population. This 80/20 relationship has since been recognised as nearly universal:
- 80% of company profits often come from 20% of clients
- 80% of sales come from 20% of products
- 80% of happiness comes from 20% of relationships
Parkinson's Law, introduced by historian Cyril Parkinson, states: "Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion."[4] Tasks take as long as we allow them to take.
Practical Application
Applying these principles requires deliberate thought and time spent planning. The goal is to identify the two most important actions that will generate 80% of your desired results, then set strict deadlines for their completion.
To identify these critical actions:
- Ask yourself what would happen if certain tasks didn't get done
- Choose actions that align with your natural strengths (your "20% spike")
- Set appropriate, tight deadlines—don't wait until Friday to tackle Monday's priorities
For me, my critical tasks are often social, creative, or analytical as they sit within my own 20% spike. Everything else is better delegated.
It's only since having children that I've truly appreciated time's value. This perspective shift, combined with applying Pareto's and Parkinson's Laws, has helped me filter noise and focus on what matters most: being present for my family and generating income efficiently. The result? More income and more time for the relationships that matter most.
If spending more time on what's truly important appeals to you, I highly recommend exploring Richard Koch's "The 80/20 Principle,"[5] which inspired this column.
Alex is a director of Penpole Consulting, a Digital Transformation and Cyber Security service provider. Penpole helps clients increase productivity and reduce organizational risk with expert CISOs, programme managers, change specialists, data migration experts, and technical specialists. Connect with Alex at alex.franklin@penpole.co.uk.
[1] Galloway, S. (2024). The Algebra of Wealth: A Simple Formula for Financial Security. Penguin.
[2]Davies, W. H. (1911). Leisure. In Songs of Joy and Others. A. C. Fifield.
[3] Ferris, T. (2007). The 4-Hour Work Week. Pengiun
[4] Parkinson, C. N. (1955). Parkinson’s law. The Economist.
[5] Koch, R. (2022). The 80/20 principle. Achieving more with less. Nicholas Brealey Publishing.
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