The Pareto Principle -apply it to everything in life!

Vilfredo Pareto was an Italian engineer and economist born in 1848

In 1906 he observed two things. In his garden 20% of the peapods yielded 80% of the peas and 80% of the land in Italy was owned by 20% of the population. Pareto also observed that the majority of the wealth (80%) was owned by a minority (20%) of the people. Initially known as the Pareto Principle, over time it became the 80/20 rule. I first learnt this rule when I was 30 years old and had a very challenging sales job.

It is a common rule of thumb in business:

80% of your sales are made by 20% of your sales team and 80% of your sales come from 20% of your clients. When you are aware of the 80/20 rule, it is amazing how often you can apply it to different things in your life. For example:

• Eating healthily - we all know diets don’t work because they are not sustainable 100% of the time. Get it right 80% of time and enjoy wine, dessert and gelato! It works.

• Buying a house - it’s a big ask to tick every box on a long list, but achieve 80% of what you want and it’s probably a good outcome.

• Relationships - 80% of the time it can be great, but 20% of time requires a bit of work.

• Clothes - you wear 20% of the clothes in your wardrobe 80% of the time.

Let’s relate it to travel.

Too many tourists

There is a tourist gridlock in Rome because 80% of tourists crowd the iconic landmarks and main shopping streets at the busiest times of the day. The answer is simple, yet why do so many not do it? Experience the Trevi Fountain, views of the Roman Forum and the Pantheon at first light. It is extraordinary. Exploring random little alleyways and other cool neighbourhoods within the historic centre reveal surprises and unexpected discoveries. Aim to get lost. Moments of spontaneity are the best.

Walking the Sentiero Azzurro late afternoon from Corniglia to Vernazza

Walking the Blue Trail of the Cinque Terre is ridiculously crowded from mid morning to mid afternoon, but wait until around 4:00pm to walk from Corniglia to Vernazza and then to Monterosso al Mare and it is heavenly. Daytrippers have left on the train and the track is blissfully empty.

Luggage

Apply the 80/20 rule to packing your luggage. Think about the clothes you love and feel comfortable in and it’s probably 20% of what’s hanging in your wardrobe. Beware of the “I might need this” syndrome, because you won’t. If in doubt, don’t pack it.

Pack your luggage to 80% capacity, leaving 20% for shopping. It’s Italy!

The journey

Compared to working as a Flight Attendant in my twenties, travel has become tedious, particularly longhaul. There is no joy anymore with long queues checking in at the airport, moving through customs, waiting for taxis at airports and train stations.

With the introduction of the EES (Entry/Exit System) in Europe this year, it means a longer process on arrival because of additional screening procedures with fingerprints and facial recognition. Adopt an expectation that 80% of your journey from Australia to Italy will go smoothly, but 20% will require patience and understanding that more people than ever before are travelling. You’ll have a much greater outcome if you smile and empathise with people who are just trying to do their job.

Food, glorious food

Recommendations on social media attract 80% of tourists because it must be good. It’s on Instagram! Avoid tourist menus, waiters enticing you into the restaurant, restaurants near tourist attractions and queues for gelato. Not authentic, not the best food you’ll ever eat in your life and there’s amazing gelato to be found around the corner in a quiet street. Trust me!

Bars with views

There is a bar called Franco’s Bar in Positano next to La Sirenuse, a luxury five star hotel. I have never understood why tourists queue for a very long time to order a very expensive drink to stand in a very crowded small space. Yes, of course the views are good, but the views everywhere in Positano are spectacular and there are lots of bars. Don’t follow 80% of the crowd!

I really like Vilfredo’s Principle, invented 119 years ago, because I believe it is a realistic way of understanding and reacting to so many aspects of life. In fact, I’m pretty sure we could apply it to people travelling these days insofar as 80% are tourists and 20% are travellers, which I wrote about in a newsletter in August last year.

To find previous newsletters quickly, search ciaoitaly.tours

Ci vediamo la prossima settimana.

Deb