Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less
by Greg McKeown · 2014
In a nutshell
Greg McKeown's systematic approach to determining what is absolutely essential and eliminating everything else, teaching how to get the right things done in business and life.
Overview
Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less is a New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller by Greg McKeown that presents a systematic discipline for discerning what is absolutely essential and eliminating everything that is not.
Core Philosophy
Essentialism is not 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.
The Essentialist Way
Essentialism is a disciplined, systematic approach for determining where our highest point of contribution lies, then making execution of those things almost effortless.
Three Core Truths
- "I choose to" - Essentialists believe that almost everything is noise, and very few things really matter. The way of the essentialist means living by design, not by default.
- "Only a few things really matter" - Essentialists pause to discriminate. They deliberately distinguish the vital few from the trivial many.
- "I can do anything but not everything" - Essentialists live by the truth that "less but better."
The Essentialist Process
Explore
- Escape to discern the essential few from the trivial many
- Look at problems from a different perspective
- Play to spark creativity
- Sleep to fuel your highest levels of contribution
- Be selective with what you say "yes" to
Eliminate
- Clarify your essential intent
- Dare to say "no" firmly, resolutely, yet gracefully
- Uncommit from activities that no longer serve you
- Edit your life ruthlessly
- Set boundaries to protect what's important
Execute
- Create a buffer for the unexpected
- Subtract to remove obstacles
- Make progress in small, incremental steps
- Create routines that make execution effortless
- Focus on what's important now
For Entrepreneurs
For startup founders pulled in a thousand directions, essentialism provides a framework for protecting focus on the vital few initiatives that will truly move the needle rather than spreading thin across too many priorities.
Key Quote
"If you don't prioritize your life, someone else will."
Available at major retailers for approximately $16-27.
Reference
Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less — publisher / official page. Summary adapted from the Awesome Startup Books collection.
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