Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less

by Greg McKeown

Celebrates small acts of progress

of all forms of human motivation the most effective one is progress.

to start small and build momentum.

“What is the simplest possible product that will be useful and valuable to the intended customer?”

we can adopt a method of “minimal viable progress.” We can ask ourselves, “What is the smallest amount of progress that will be useful and valuable to the essential task we are trying to get done?”

“Early and small” means starting at the earliest possible moment with the minimal possible time investment.

There is something powerful about visibly seeing progress towards a goal. Don’t be above applying the same technique

routine enables difficult things to become easy.

spending our lunch hour trolling the Internet instead of using the time to think, reflect, recharge, or connect with friends and colleagues.

God! Not every minute has to be spent meaningfully or adding value. We don't have to be on all the time!

find the cue that is triggering the non-essential activity or behaviour and find a way to associate that same cue with something that is essential.

“Focus on the hardest thing first.”

“What’s important now?”

to operate at your highest level of contribution requires that you deliberately tune in to what is important in the here and now.

we only ever have now.

What we can’t do is concentrate on two things at the same time.

FIGURE OUT WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW

When faced with so many tasks and obligations that you can’t figure out which to tackle first, stop.

make a list of everything vying for your attention and cross off anything that is not important right now.

GET THE FUTURE OUT OF YOUR HEAD

“What might you want to do someday as a result of today?” This was not a list of firm commitments, just a way to get all of the ideas out of my head

PRIORITISE

worked through the list and erased each item when it was complete.

applies what he calls “the pause that refreshes.” This technique is easy. He stops for just a moment. He closes his eyes. He breathes in and out once: deeply and slowly. As he exhales, he lets the work issues fall away.

“In work, do what you enjoy. In family life, be completely present.”

Pay attention through the day for your own kairos moments. Write them down

think of it as something you are.

“Which is your major and which is your minor?” Most of us have a little Essentialist and a little non-Essentialist in us, but the question is, Which are you at the core?

“As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he”

Once you become an Essentialist, you will find that you aren’t like everybody else.

Pick-me for corporate dudebros.

a reordering of what really matters.

if you don’t prioritise your life someone else will.

when there was a high level of clarity of purpose, the team and the people in it overwhelmingly thrived.

“Clarity equals success.”

Less but better

selective

Eliminates the non-essential

Listens

Checks in with people in a gentle way

unified

perfect hire

Doesn't exist.

Clear intent leads to alignment;

clarity is the key to empowerment.

everyone in the team is really clear about what they are expected to contribute and what everyone else is contributing.

communicate the right things to the right people at the right time.

speak succinctly,

eschew meaningless jargon,

Essentialist leader makes follow-up so easy and frictionless

checking in with people frequently to reward small wins and help people remove obstacles,