Essentialism - Deepstash

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Overview

Overview

  1. Essence: The core mindset of an essentialist
  2. Explore: Discern the trivial many from the vital few
  3. Eliminate: Cut out the trivial many
  4. Execute: Making execution of the essential few effortless

83

991 reads

LIN YUTANG

The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of non-essentials.

LIN YUTANG

110

5.18K reads

The Model: Nonessentialist Vs. Essentialist

The Model: Nonessentialist Vs. Essentialist

  • Thinks: All things to all people Vs. Less but better
  • Does: The undisciplined pursuit of more Vs. The disciplined pursuit of less
  • Gets: Lives a life that does not satisfy Vs. Lives a life that matters

93

845 reads

GREG MCKEOWN

If you don't prioritize your life, someone else will.

GREG MCKEOWN

97

857 reads

The invincible power of choice

The invincible power of choice

  • Develop the ability to choose in every area of your life. 
  • Make use of the Pareto Principle (80/20-rule). 
  • "The ability to choose cannot be taken away or even given away - it can only be forgotten."

99

724 reads

Focus on the vital few

Focus on the vital few

  • Identify and pursue only the most important goals.
  • "You cannot overestimate the unimportance of practically everything." - John Maxwell
  • Certain efforts produce exponentially better results than others. 
  • The Essentialist thinks almost everything is nonessential.
  • They distinguish the vital few from the trivial many. 

89

643 reads

Clarity of Purpose

Clarity of Purpose

  • Clearly define what matters most to you and your work.
  1. What are you passionate about?
  2. What meets a significant need in the world?
  3. What can you get paid to do?
  • Where these three circles intersect would be a good place to start to search for your purpose. 
  • Use your purpose to guide your decision-making ("Make one decision to eliminate 1000 later decisions").

89

560 reads

Embrace Trade-offs

Embrace Trade-offs

  • Understand that choosing one path means forgoing others
  • Saying yes to any opportunity requires, by definition, saying no to several others.
  • "The essentialist asks: What is the trade-off I want to make?"
  • "What can I go big on?" 

85

519 reads

Say No Gracefully

Say No Gracefully

  • Politely decline non-essential tasks and opportunities that don't align with your goals. 
  • "No more yes. It's either Hell Yeah or NO!" - Derek Sivers
  • 90%-rule: Give each option in your life a score between 0 and 100. Everything below 90 gets rejected -> NO
  • The Essentialist dares to say no firmly, resolutely, and gracefully. 
  • They say yes only to the things that matter. 

90

501 reads

Set Boundaries

Set Boundaries

  • Protect your time and energy by creating limits on commitments. 
  • Make a list of personal and professional dealbreakers. 
  • The essentialist sees boundaries as liberating.
  • They set rules in advance to eliminate the need for a direct "NO!". 

89

471 reads

Execute (1/2)

Execute (1/2)

  • Eliminate Distractions: Both physical and digital, to focus on what matters.
  • Design Routines: Establish habits that reinforce your commitment to essential tasks.
  • Make Time for Reflection: Regularly reassess your priorities to ensure alignment with your goals. 
  • Be Intentional: Live deliberately, with every decision aligned to your essential purpose. 

89

406 reads

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

Give me six hours to chop down a tree, and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. 

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

91

430 reads

Execute (2/2)

Execute (2/2)

  • Invest in What Matters: Allocate your resources - time, energy, money - toward activities with the highest payoff. 
  • Build a Supportive Environment: Surround yourself with people and tools that foster focus. 
  • Learn to Let Go: Release commitments and expectations that no longer serve your purpose. 
  • Commit to Continous Improvement: Regularly refine your approach to maintain focus on what's truly essential. 

87

391 reads

IDEAS CURATED BY

lukashoi

Lifelong Learning

CURATOR'S NOTE

A really great book that depicts how to makes important tasks nearly effortless by eliminating the non-essential and gaining a new focus through all the noise around us.

Curious about different takes? Check out our Essentialism Summary book page to explore multiple unique summaries written by Deepstash users.

Different Perspectives Curated by Others from Essentialism

Curious about different takes? Check out our book page to explore multiple unique summaries written by Deepstash curators:

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