Essentialism by Greg McKeown
Lesson summary:
In “Essentialism” by Greg McKeown, the author urges readers to adopt an essentialist mindset, warning of the pitfalls of spreading oneself too thin. He shares a personal anecdote about prioritising a client meeting over his wife in hospital after childbirth, revealing the negative consequences of saying yes merely to please others. McKeown introduces the concept of learned helplessness, which is a conditioned state where individuals forget their power to make choices. The author highlights the need to recognise and act upon trade-offs, focusing on truly essential tasks and decisions, using examples from renowned essentialists like Warren Buffett and Herb Kelleher of Southwest Airlines. To live more essentially, it’s crucial to discern the act of saying no to a request from rejecting an individual and to develop habits that prevent non-essentials from encroaching on our lives.