The Disciplined Pursuit of Less

Essentialism

Greg McKeown

Cover of Essentialism
Essentialism
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Productivity#focus#priorities

Essentialism

The Disciplined Pursuit of Less

Portrait of Greg McKeown
Written byGreg McKeown

Greg McKeown makes the case for doing less, but better: choosing what truly matters and saying no to the rest.

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  • Published2014
  • GenreProductivity
  • Key ideas6
  • Summary1 min read

The summary

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  1. 01Less but better

    Focus your energy on the few things that matter most.

  2. 02You have a choice

    You can always decide how to spend your time, even when it doesn't feel like it.

  3. 03Most things aren't vital

    Only a small number of activities make a big difference.

  4. 04Say no gracefully

    Turning things down kindly protects time for what matters.

  5. 05Build in buffers

    Leave extra time for the unexpected so you're not always rushing.

  6. 06Make it routine

    Good habits make the essential things easier to do.

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“If you don’t prioritize your life, someone else will.”

— Greg McKeown

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Photos via Wikimedia Commons — Greg McKeown: Bibbines77 · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons