Greg McKeown, bestselling author of Essentialism and Effortless, shares wisdom on simplifying work and life. He emphasizes the need to clearly define what 'done' looks like and advocates for crafting a 'done for the day' list to maintain focus on essential tasks. McKeown highlights the importance of distinguishing between minimum effort and striving for perfection, encouraging listeners to prioritize effectively. He also draws insights from the cautionary tale of the Vasa warship to illustrate the necessity of clear project definitions.
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Too Many Big Rocks
Greg McKeown discusses his post-Essentialism struggles, highlighting the challenge of too many "big rocks."
His daughter's health crisis further compounded this, leading him to explore simplifying essential tasks.
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The Effortless Question
Ask "What can I do to make this effortless?" to simplify tasks and improve outcomes.
This question can reveal simpler solutions, as illustrated by the videography team example.
question_answer ANECDOTE
The Vasa Story
The Vasa sank because the king constantly changed project specifications, making completion impossible.
This highlights the importance of defining "done" to avoid wasted effort and disastrous outcomes.
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In 'Effortless', Greg McKeown offers practical tools and strategies for achieving more with less effort. The book is organized into three parts: the effortless state, effortless action, and effortless results. McKeown argues that not everything has to be hard and provides methods for turning tedious tasks into enjoyable rituals, preventing frustration, setting a sustainable pace, and automating essential tasks. His philosophy emphasizes the importance of finding easier ways to accomplish what matters most, rather than perpetually overexerting oneself[1][2][5].
Essentialism
The Disciplined Pursuit of Less
Greg McKeown
In 'Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less,' Greg McKeown argues that by applying a more selective criteria for what is essential, individuals can regain control of their time and energy. The book is divided into sections such as Explore, Eliminate, and Execute, providing practical advice on distinguishing the vital few from the trivial many and eliminating non-essential activities. McKeown emphasizes the importance of clarity of focus, the ability to say 'no,' and living 'by design, not by default.' This approach helps readers achieve more by doing less and making the highest possible contribution in their personal and professional lives.
Greg McKeown: Effortless
Greg McKeown is a speaker, bestselling author, and the host of the popular podcast What’s Essential. He has been covered by The New York Times, Fast Company, Fortune, Politico, and Inc. and has been interviewed on NPR, NBC, Fox, and many others.
He is among the most popular bloggers for LinkedIn and also a Young Global Leader for the World Economic Forum. His New York Times bestselling book Essentialism* has sold more than a million copies worldwide. He's the author of the new book, Effortless: Make It Easier to Do What Matters Most*.
In this conversation, Greg and I explore how to simplify by asking key questions of ourselves and others. We discuss the tendency many of us have to work hard, but not necessarily clearly define what we’re trying to achieve. Plus, Greg invites us to look at the minimum steps required to complete what’s most essential.
Key Points
Take one minute to stop and define what done looks like.
Crafting a “done for the day” list can provide clarity and boundaries to help us zero in on what’s most important.
Ask yourself: what are the minimum steps required for completion?
There’s a key distinction between a minimum number of steps and “phoning it in.”
Decide in advance on what kind of work requires A+ effort, and where B effort is sufficient — and perhaps even better.
Resources Mentioned
Effortless: Make It Easier to Do What Matters Most* by Greg McKeown
Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less* by Greg McKeown
What’s Essential podcast by Greg McKeown
Interview Notes
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Related Episodes
The Way to Stop Spinning Your Wheels on Planning (episode 319)
See What Really Matters, with Greg McKeown (episode 469)
How to Change Your Behavior, with BJ Fogg (episode 507)
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