Greg McKeown is a public speaker, leadership & business strategist and New York Times Bestselling Author. Do you feel busy but not productive? Like you're overworked but under-utilised? Do you struggle with information overload? Success breeds options & opportunities, which often undermines the things that lead to success in the first place. Today Greg teaches us the art of Essentialism; how not to fall into the undisciplined pursuit of more, how to avoid the trivial many and instead focus our attention onto the vital few. This podcast could change your life, don't miss it. Sponsor: Get Surfshark VPN at https://surfshark.deals/MODERNWISDOM (Enter promo code MODERNWISDOM for 85% off and 3 Months Free) Extra Stuff: Buy Essentialism - https://amzn.to/3bSd8jy Check out Greg's Website - https://gregmckeown.com/ Subscribe to Greg's Podcast - https://link.chtbl.com/zXR5Fdfq Take a break from alcohol and upgrade your life - https://6monthssober.com/podcast Check out everything I recommend from books to products - https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/modernwisdom - Get in touch. Join the discussion with me and other like minded listeners in the episode comments on the MW YouTube Channel or message me... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriswillx Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chriswillx YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ModernWisdomPodcast Email: https://www.chriswillx.com/contact
In this episode, host Greg McKeown teaches us the concept of essentialism, which involves focusing on the vital few and avoiding the trivial many in our pursuits.
Success can bring about various opportunities and options that can quickly become overwhelming and undermine the factors that led to success in the first place.
Designs of record players all looked like massive pieces of furniture until Dieter Rams's stripped-back design became the standard, a testament to the difficulty in shifting old design paradigms.
The primary reason for being a non-essentialist is because one didn't know that there was an alternative to choosing that lifestyle. People who feel like their day is being hijacked by other people's agenda may be non-essentialists.
In this episode, the speaker discusses the dangers of comparing ourselves to the curated and unrealistic versions of others that we often see on social media, and the importance of focusing on our own priorities and goals.
The process of overcoming societal norms, genetic predispositions and traumas can be challenging, but it is essential to avoid FOMO and find joy in missing out on what is expected by others.
The pressure of publishing can lead to perfectionism, but it's important to remember that the first version doesn't have to be the permanent state of the article. The podcast format also offers an interesting way to overcome inertia and easily produce content.
It is difficult for non-essentialists to follow the discipline pursuit of less because they have a hard time relinquishing their obsession with novelty and adventure. However, doing one thing and making 100 units of progress is more effective than doing 100 things and only making one unit of progress in each.
The key is to find something you're passionate about, have potential to be good at, meets a need, and overlaps with your competencies. Focus on becoming the best in that area rather than just doing what you're good at.
The key to finding a balance between essentialism and enjoyment is to focus on the 90% important things and eliminate everything else. This encourages people to prioritize what truly matters while still giving them the leeway to live a fulfilling life.
The saying "play stupid games, win stupid prizes" means that engaging in foolish or risky behavior will result in negative consequences.
The speaker reflects on different stages in life and the change in priorities and interests that come with it.
Prioritizing family and investing in building strong relationships, rather than indulging in external activities, should be the primary focus and essential journey in one's life.
Ben Berger shares hilarious stories of how he makes time for what's essential amidst busy schedules and important business meetings. Matt Fraser's CrossFit coach also provides tools for adopting the essentialist mentality.
Research suggests that among the top performers, the amount of sleep they received was the second most important factor that distinguished them from the average performers. Additionally, cultivating good habits such as prioritizing sleep and setting boundaries can help people achieve their goals.
The speaker encourages daily to-do lists as a way to focus on important tasks and eliminate unnecessary ones, suggesting three business and three personal tasks for maximum effectiveness and discarding at the end of each day.
It's important to start asking yourself questions about your life's purpose and tying it to your daily to-do list. Only then can you hope to find your unique and essential mission in life.
Author Greg McKeown talks about the impact of his book "Essentialism" in people's lives and his new class at Stanford called Designing Life, where he shares practical tools and stories about how to prioritize what matters.
The speaker reflects on their work in podcasting and the sense of purpose it brings. They share their contact information and briefly mention a 21-day project.