I know it's been a while since my last update. Somewhat ironically, reading and summarising Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown played a role in that.

The book helped me see how my commitments had accumulated over time, so I decided to put this summary on the backburner as I focused on other priorities. While reading and learning are still “Essential” for me, publishing two summaries a month (an arbitrary, self-imposed target) is not.

Anyway, as usual, the key takeaways for Essentialism are below, and you can find the full summary and my thoughts by clicking the link above.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Essentialism is about less but better:
  • Most demands on your time are trivial. Few are vital. Essentialism is about being able to tell which is which, so that you can focus your efforts on the things where you can make your highest contribution.
  • Make active choices. If you don’t prioritise your life, someone else will.
  • Recognise the trade-offs that come with every opportunity so that you don’t make them unintentionally.
• First, you should Explore and Evaluate your options:
  • Paradoxically, Essentialists begin by exploring more options in order to find the truly great ones. Non-Essentialists instead just agree to whatever pops up.
  • Exploration means taking time for things like play and sleep. These can feel “wasteful” but are key to helping us reach our highest contribution.
• Next, you need to Eliminate the non-essential:
  • Subtract deliberately, and be highly selective about what you commit to.
  • Clarifying your purpose makes it easier to see what is non-essential, and helps eliminate a whole host of decisions.
  • McKeown offers various tips to make it easier to say ‘no’ gracefully.
• Lastly, set up systems and routines that make it easier to Execute the Essential:
  • Build in buffers. Things rarely go to plan, so if you don’t build in a buffer, you’ll end up reacting in the moment.
  • Think about what obstacles you can remove, instead of what resources you can add.
  • Focus on minimum viable progress — racking up small wins to build momentum and self-confidence.
• Essentialism is a philosophy.
  • Think of it as something that you are, rather than something you do.
  • The benefits are cumulative, so you’ll get more out of it if you’re Essentialist at your core.

You can find the full detailed summary on the website. If you found this summary useful, consider forwarding to a friend you think might enjoy it.

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​To Summarise​