On one of the first pages of the book Essentialism, McKeown quotes Dieter Rams, “Less but better.” It’s hard to find a better definition of Essentialism. I am reading this book in an armchair next to the 606 shelving system designed by Rams in 1960, and when I look up from the book, I see a poster of the film Rams, which I had co-financed a few years ago through Kickstarter. I can report firsthand that it’s not enough to surround yourself with objects by Dieter Rams if you want to dedicate yourself to Essentialism. 🙂
The Essentialism defined by McKeown is based on the following core principles:
- If you don’t set priorities in your life, someone else will do it for you. Therefore, we must learn to say “No” so we can truly make a contribution. While we don’t always have control over our options, we do have control over choosing between them. It’s about not just recognizing that you have a choice, but also celebrating the possibility of choosing. If it’s not a clear “Yes,” then it’s a clear “No.” Instead of asking how to do everything at once, the question should be asked: which problem do you want to have? Some people require more “maintenance” than others, but they steal your time and turn their problems into yours.
- The question an Essentialist should constantly ask themselves is: “Am I investing myself in the right activities?” It’s not about getting things done (as in GTD), but about getting the right things done. A lot is less important than it initially appears. The most important and difficult things should be done first.
- We are not designed to have so many choices and make so many decisions for ourselves. This ties into Barry Schwartz’s observations in his book The Paradox of Choice.
- We should reflect on what we truly want, best by asking three questions:
- What deeply inspires me?
- What am I particularly talented at?
- What fulfills an important need in the world?
- McKeown suggests an iterative process: Explore, Eliminate, Execute. For Execution, it’s important to withdraw to focus. “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” The Latin origin of the word “decision” comes from “cis” or “cid,” meaning to cut or even kill. Stephen King said, writing is human, cutting is divine.
- The most important asset we possess is ourselves—our mind, our body. We must invest in them to get the best out of ourselves. What is the obstacle preventing us from achieving what we really want?
- The Greeks had two words for time: Chronos, the time we measure, and Kairos, the time we feel when we live in the present. The Essentialist lives time in Kairos. Multitasking is not the problem; the belief that we can multitask is. The most important question: “What is truly important in this moment?” Occasionally, when overwhelmed with many competing tasks, you must pause and see what is really important.
Overall, the points are not new; they are more of a re-compilation of what already exists. What’s nice is that McKeown brings in various historical examples to illustrate his points. At times, the book repeats itself. Still, a recommended read.