essentialism

spark*sessions

essentialism: the disciplined pursuit of lesswritten by Greg McKeown

presented by Krystal Clark, M.Ed.Student Leadership Development

September 17,2014

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outcomes.

Participants (You) should be able to: • Define essentialism. • Differentiate between the mindset of nonessentialists

and essentialists.• Discuss the benefits of pursuing the lifestyle of an

essentialist and the challenges of living and working as a nonessentialist.

• Identify ways that essentialism could be applied in your personal/professional lives.

• Devise a plan to begin incorporating essentialists principles into your life and/or work.

11/7/2014 spark*sessions, K.Clark, SLD, Vanderbilt 2

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overview

• This is the book you’re NOT reading .


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• Mindset• Explore• Eliminate• Execute

Basic value proposition of essentialism: only once you give

yourself permission to stop trying to do it all, to stop saying yes to

everyone, can you make your highest contribution towards the things that

really matter.

11/7/2014 spark*sessions, K.Clark, SLD, Vanderbilt4

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mindset of an essentialist

• CHOOSE

• DISCERN

• TRADE-OFF


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“The ability to choosecannot be taken away or even given away—it can

only be forgotten.”


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• CHOOSE

• DISCERN

• TRADE-OFF


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“You cannot overestimate the unimportance of practically everything.” –John Maxwell


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• CHOOSE

• DISCERN

• TRADE-OFF


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“What do I want to go big on?”


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mind rewind

Nonessentialist

CHOOSE

• “I have to.”

DISCERN

• Everything is essential.

TRADE-OFF• “I can do both.” & “How can I do it all?”

Essentialist

CHOOSE

• “I choose to.”

DISCERN

• Thinks almost everything is nonessential.

TRADE-OFF• “What is the trade-off I want to make?” &

“What can I go big on?”


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Explore.

• escape.

• look.

• play.

• sleep.

• select.


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escape.

“I’m talking about deliberatelysetting aside distraction-free time

in a distraction-free space to do absolutely nothing other than

think.”


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sleep.

The best asset we have for making a contribution to the world is ourselves.

PROTECT THE ASSET.

Our highest priority is to protect our ability to prioritize.


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select.

“If it isn’t a clear yes, then it’s a clear no.”


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rewind: explore.

NonessentialistEscape• Is too busy to think about lifeLook• Hears everything being said and is

overwhelmed by all the informationPlay• Thinks play is an unproductive waste of

timeSleep• Sleep gets in the way of “doing it all.”Select• Says yes to almost every request or

opportunity

EssentialistEscape• Creates space to escape and explore lifeLook• Hears what is not being said and scans

to find the essence of the informationPlay• Knows play sparks explorationSleep• Sleep enables the highest levels of

mental contributionSelect• Says yes to only the top 10 percent of

opportunities


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Eliminate.

• clarify.

• dare.

• uncommit.

• edit.

• limit.


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clarify.

“If we could be truly excellent at only one thing, what would it be?”

AND

“How will we know when we’re done?”


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essential intent.

general concrete

inspirational

bland

Vision/Mission Essential Intent

ValuesQuarterly Objective


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dare.

1. The awkward pause.

2. The soft “no” (or the “no but”).

3. “Let me check my calendar and get back to you.”

4. Use e-mail bounce backs.

5. Say, “Yes. What should I deprioritize?”

6. Say it with humor.

7. Use the words, “You are welcome to X. I am willingto Y.”

8. “I can’t do it, but X might be interested.”


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uncommit.

“Half of the troubles of this life can be traced to saying yes too quickly and not saying no soon

enough.”—Josh Billings


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limit.

Enforce your limits.


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rewind:eliminate.

NonessentialistClarify• Has a vague, general vision or mission

statement Dare• Avoids saying no to avoid feeling social

awkwardness and pressureUncommit • Asks, “Why stop now when I’ve already

invested so much in this project.?”• Thinks, “If I just keep trying, I can make this

work.” Edit• Thinks that making things better means

adding somethingLimit • Thinks that if you have limits you will be

limited

EssentialistClarify• Has a strategy that is concrete and

inspirationalDare• Dares to say no firmly, resolutely, and

gracefullyUncommit• Asks, “If I weren’t already invested in this

project, how much would I invest in it now?”• Thinks, “What else could I do with this time

or money if I pulled the plug now?”Edit• Thinks that making things better means

subtracting something Limit• Knows that if you have limits you will

become limitless


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Execute.

• buffer.

• subtract.

• progress.

• flow.

• focus.


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buffer.

Add 50 percent to your time estimate.


progress.

“Of all the things that boostemotions, motivation, and

perceptions during a workday, the single most important is making progress in meaningful work.” –

Amabile & Kramer


subtract.

“What is your “slowest hiker” in your job or your life?”

What is the obstacle that is holding you back from achieving what really matters to you?


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focus.

What’s Important Now?


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rewind:execute.

NonessentialistBuffer

• Forces execution at the last minute

Subtract

• Piles on quick-fix solutions

Progress

• Goes for the flashiest win

Flow

• Tries to execute the essentials by force

Focus

• Worries about the future or stresses about the past

EssentialistBuffer

• Practices extreme and early preparation

Subtract

• Removes obstacles to progress

Progress

• Celebrates small acts of progress

Flow

• Designs a routine that enshrines what is essential, making execution almost effortless

Focus

• Enjoys the moment


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be.

Beware the barrenness of a busy life.

-Socrates


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“I have a vision of people everywhere having the

courage to live a life true to themselves instead of the life others expect of

them.”

questions?

Thank You. It is great to see you.

FREE!

Say CHEESE! You’ve been incredible and I’ve been Krystal Clark.


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essentialism

Leadership & Management

vuspark1172014 spark

krystal clark

distractionfree space

distractionfree timein

best asset

greg mckeownpresented

life andor work

things thatreally matter