We believe that the more hours we put in, the better our output. We subconsciously associate more work with more results. In our uber-connected, ambition-crazy world, we often mistake hyperactivity for productivity. Learn the difference between hyperactivity and productivity There are many more, but those are the ones that reflect McKeown’s essentialist approach best. The following are six of the most usable takeaways from Essentialism. Picture by Matthew Bedford / Unsplash How to live an essentialist life – 6 main lessons from McKeown’s Essentialism The aim is to pursue the essence of a goal instead of trying to accomplish it all at once. His 2014 New York Times bestseller Essentialism is not a philosophical book but a strategic guide on how to live an essentialist life. Many philosophical streams refute this notion, but it nonetheless endured as a classical definition of essentialism.īritish business strategist Greg McKeown disconnects essentialism from its classical roots and transposes the idea into the 21st century. The word dates back to ancient Greek philosophy when Plato characterized the “essence” as an ideal form with essential properties.Īs an example, we cannot draw a perfect circle by hand, but we have its ideal form and its essential properties in mind.

The term “essentialism” has various meanings. This article may contain affiliate links. Focus your energy on the essentials, and you’ll become more productive, more serene, and more successful. Well-written and full of practical lessons, The Disciplined Pursuit of Less outlines the “less but better” approach. When it comes to books about minimalism as a mindset, not many come close to Greg McKeown’s Essentialism.

Disciplined pursuit of less