Some books have a way of cutting through the noise and inspiring a shift in how we see the world and ourselves. This is the second article in my “Bookspiration” series, where I explore books that have had a profound influence on my approach to life and work. Each of these books has left me with an upgraded operating system - one that brings more clarity and intention to how I navigate my days.
This time, we dive into Essentialism by Greg McKeown, a book that has resonated deeply with my belief that we should regularly attempt to simplify, refocus and evaluate what is worth our time and energy. Essentialism is about doing the right things with greater purpose and impact and joining the dots between your own purpose and the things you actually spend time doing..
The Discovery
I came across Essentialism in 2016. I had managed to finally resolve a reading habit, spending a good number of hours each week reading. I honestly can’t remember why I chose the book, although I suspect most people living today would find some resonance in its intention. I have always taken on a lot in life, this has led to many successes but also contributes to a lot of stress for me. Sometimes it can be hard to avoid a cluttered to do list with endless teams, projects and tasks with competing priorities.
Greg McKeown’s opening anecdote really made sense to me. He talks about when his child was born and he was in a business meeting. He thought somehow his choice to be at work at that time would be seen as a symbol of dedication at work but then everyone instead responded as if he was mad to be prioritising work at that time.
The central idea, that the pursuit of less can lead to more fulfilment, and that we should be really careful and authentic in what life priorities we choose felt just right to me.
The Book
Essentialism is built around a simple but transformative idea: focus on the things that really matter and eliminate the rest. McKeown walks you through a framework for determining what's essential, saying “no” to distractions, and creating space for what truly drives your purpose. In fact, there is a whole chapter dedicated to how we can say “no”, a recognition that most of us find it really hard to do that. The book advocates for a disciplined pursuit of less - helping you achieve more by doing a smaller number of things, but better. The core diagram of the book explains this really well. Simply put, if you had 20 hours and spread them amongst 20 things then you wouldn’t get very far with anything - but what if you put those 20 hours into one thing!
One of the book’s central tenets is that “if you don’t prioritise your life, someone else will.” This idea resonated deeply with me, particularly working in the service industry where one of our core goals of work is to help other people. Although this book is focussed on individuals, it also made sense to me from a company point of view. If we don’t navigate the work offers that come our way with sophistication and instead just say yes to everything, are we truly defining our company or are our clients doing that?
McKeown’s book is a call to step back, evaluate and only say yes to the things that align with your purpose.
The Inspiration
What struck me most about Essentialism was how immediately actionable its ideas are. McKeown encourages us to look at our lives and work through the lens of purpose: What truly matters? What are the tasks, relationships, and projects that bring the most value? And once you’ve identified those, the rest is noise that needs to be removed.
I have always been interested in philosophy, but have struggled with the disconnect I see in some people between their beliefs and actions. I think that only when we have both a structured mind and a structured approach to life can we then join the dots between our beliefs, purpose and actions. Time is one of our most precious and limited resources as humans. Every hour spent on the wrong thing is an hour you will never get back.
In a world that constantly pushes us to do more, be more and have more, this book is a powerful reminder that less can be more - trading quantity for quality, depth over breadth.
The Take Out
Reading Essentialism has had a lasting effect on my day-to-day decision-making. It has given me a framework for evaluating opportunities and tasks, and more importantly, the courage to say “no” when necessary. Don’t get me wrong, I am by no means perfect at this. Time management is always my lowest score whenever I assess my personal skills. But reading this book has given me different ways of thinking about task prioritisation, some tools and most definitely some reference points that can anchor me and pull me back to sense every now and again.
The idea of working smarter rather than working harder is encapsulated in a well organised argument and set of tools in Essentialism.
Conclusion
McKeown’s Essentialism is a wake-up call in a culture that celebrates multitasking and overcommitment. It encourages us to reclaim our time, energy and focus for what matters most. In an age where “hustle” is often glorified, Essentialism is a refreshing and necessary perspective, a reminder that life is too short to be spent on non-essentials.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by too many commitments or struggling to find meaning in the busyness of life, this book is a must-read.
If you struggle to make time to read a book like this, take that as your sign that you absolutely need to make reading it a priority.
Written by Russell.