Applying the 80-20 rule, a.k.a the Pareto Principle, to relationships boils down to choosing which sets of causes and effects we want to limit or maximize.  The 80-20 rule restated with respect to relationships goes something like this:

Roughly 80% of the effects, given a cause, come from 20% of your relationships.

My personal corollary to that statement is:

Constantly contribute 80% of your energy to the 20% of your relationships generating the effects you want to optimize for.

The concept is simple but very hard to apply. The personal thought process behind my constant relationship introspection would be:

• Accomplishing goals with doing takes time, however, life is short
• 6,782,989,098 people currently inhabit this planet (U.S. Census Bureau)
• Dunbar’s Number tells me I can personally support around ~150 relationships
• I want to leave a noticeable mark on Des Moines and the WORLD
• My current 150 may help me leave a mark on Des Moines
• My current 150, statistically speaking, will need to be adjusted to have an impact on the WORLD
• Making choices is a natural part of life
• You are defined by the hard choices you make

Selfish? Ambitious? Crazy? Right on? … I’ll let you make that call in the comments

Also, what factors do you optimize for in YOUR life?