Essentialism with Greg McKeown: The Priorities Problem, Creating Space, and Your Highest Contribution – SASM 085

Summary: You probably fall into the same trap I do. Over, and over, and over …<br> It's the siren call of priorities. The thought that you can have more than one priority – a foreign concept for centuries that has somehow made its way into the mainstream.<br> Can you create the space you need to discern what's most important when your daily to-do list has ten ranked items? Can you make your highest contribution, the one only you can make, when you're juggling more than a circus clown?<br> The answer to these questions is a resounding no according to my guest for this episode, Greg McKeown, the respected author of Essentialism.<br> Here's a person and a philosophy that does more than take it back to the basics. Greg and the way of the Essentialist intentionally moves things forward so you discern what's most important.<br> Bigger, faster, and busier has been a long-time mistaken path to fulfillment and it's not working for you and me. How about less, but better instead?<br> What would you do if you could do anything, but not everything? – Greg McKeown<br> If Greg can be a pastor, best-selling author, renowned public speaker, social innovation investor, and the father of four – well, then you can certainly enjoy the benefits of Essentialism, too.<br> Just press play and enjoy this fascinating chat with a fascinating fella.<br> You're about to Learn …<br> <br> * Why you need to create s-p-a-c-e in your life to discern what's essential.<br> * How a “personal quarterly offsite” helps you find consistent clarity.<br> * What the best way is to become an Essentialist.<br> * Why Greg relies on inter-generational planning to build a legacy.<br> * How an Essentialist creates and manages to-do lists.<br> * Why we should stop talking about priorities and go back to the priority.<br> * How opinion overload can be worse than information overload.<br> * Why you need time, energy, and relationship buffers in your life.<br> * How to know the most important thing you could do in any moment.<br> * Why limiting your sleep is a guaranteed limiter of a great life.<br> * What happens when a gratitude journal and intentional trade-offs collide.<br> <br>  <br>  <br> Resources and Items Mentioned in This Episode:<br> <br> * Websites:<br> <br> * <a href="http://gregmckeown.com/">GregMcKeown.com</a><br> <br> <br> * Resources:<br> <br> * <a href="http://www.applyessential.com/">Apply Essential (Greg's Deep Dive Offsite)</a><br> * <a href="http://dschool.stanford.edu/designing-life-essentially/">Designing Life Essentially (Stanford D School Class)</a><br> <br> <br> * Books:<br> <br> * <a href="http://joelzaslofsky.com/essentialism" target="_blank">Essentialism</a> (affiliate link)<br> * <a href="http://www.giveandtake.com/">Give and Take</a><br> <br> <br> * Podcast Episodes:<br> <br> * <a href="http://michaelhyatt.com/season-3-episode-12-the-disciplined-pursuit-of-less-podcast.html">The Disciplined Pursuit of Less (This Is Your Life)</a><br> <br> <br> * Where to find Greg on social media:<br> <br> * <a href="http://twitter.com/GregoryMcKeown">Twitter</a><br> * <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/gregmckeown">LinkedIn</a><br> <br> <br> <br> Topics<br> <br> * [06:44] Greg's seeds of awesomeness<br> * [11:04] Views on your highest form of contribution<br> * [15:11] The three parts of Essentialism and what comes first<br> * [17:10] How to conduct a personal quarterly offsite<br> * [23:10] Daily rituals to maintain a simple life<br> * [28:02] Our collective inability to adapt to the Internet<br> * [32:00] The principle of buffers and how Greg uses them<br> * [40:10] Trade-offs and techniques of becoming an Essentialist<br> <br> Extra Gratitude and Special Mentions<br> First of all, a big ol' thanks to Richard for being a new <a href="http://joelzaslofsky.com/patreon" target="_blank">Patreon supporter</a>