Essentialism

The Disciplined Pursuit of Less

by Greg McKewon

Number of pages: 272

Publisher: Crown Business

BBB Library: Psychology and Strengths, Personal Success

ISBN: 9780804137386



About the Author

Greg McKewon is a business writer and consultant, specializing in leadership, strategy, and collective intelligence. He coaches managers at: Apple, Google, and LinkedIn.

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Editorial Review

Essentialism isn't about how to get more things done; it's about how to get the right things done. It doesn't mean just doing less for the sake of less either. It's about making the wisest possible investment of your time and energy in order to operate at your highest point of contribution by doing only what is essential. The vital life lesson you should learn is that if you don't prioritize your life, someone else will.   Once you become an Essentialist, you will find that you aren't like everybody else. When other people are saying yes, you'll find yourself gracefully saying no. When other people are in the spotlight, vying for attention, you'll find yourself waiting on the sidelines until it's time to shine. While other people are living a life of stress and chaos, you'll be living a life of impact and fulfillment.    

Book Reviews

"Greg’s book, Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Doing Lessexpands upon the things one needs to keep in mind should they proceed down the path of Essentialism." Forbes

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Wisdom to Share

Essentialism isn't about how to get more things done; it's about how to get the right things done.

Routine is one of the most powerful tools for removing obstacles.

If you don't set boundaries, there won't be any. Or even worse, there will be boundaries, but they'll be set by another person.

When someone asks for something and doesn't get it, his immediate reaction may be annoyance or disappointment or even anger.

Most of us know that technology has completely blurred the lines between work and family.

When people ask us to do something, we often confuse the request with our relationship with them.

We as humans are wired to want to get along with others.

One of the reasons why it's hard to choose what is essential in the moment is as simple as an innate fear of social awkwardness.

We are unclear about what is essential.

When we are unclear about our real purpose in life, we waste time and energies on trying to look good in comparison to other people.

Motivation and cooperation deteriorate when there is a lack of purpose and clarity about what the team stands for, what their goals and roles are.

Research shows that a good night's sleep actually makes us more productive, increases brain power, and enhances our problem-solving ability.

Essentialists instead see sleep as necessary for operating at high levels of contribution.

The best asset we have for making a contribution to the world is ourselves.

Play has the power to significantly improve everything from personal health to relationships to education to organizations' ability to innovate.

We need space to escape in order to discern the essential few from the trivial many.

To become an Essentialist requires a heightened awareness of our ability to choose.

Choice is at the very core of what it means to be an Essentialist.

What if we stopped celebrating being busy as a measurement of importance and success?

Essentialism is a path to being in control of your own choices, instead of being controlled by other people's agendas.