From Greg McKeown’s “Essentialism”
Nonessentialists. vs Essentialists
“I have to.” vs “I choose to.”
“It’s all important. vs “Only a few things really matter.”
“How can I fit it all in?” vs “What are the trade-offs?”
“Reacts to what’s most pressing.” vs “Pauses to discern what really matters.”
“Says “yes” to people without really thinking.” vs “Says “no” to everything except the essential.”
“Tries to force execution at the last moment.” vs “Removes obstacles to make execution easy.”
“Lives a life that does not satisfy.” vs “Lives a life that really matters.”
“Takes on too much, and work suffers.” vs “Chooses carefully in order to do great work.”
“Feels out of control.” vs “Feels in control.”
“Is unsure of whether the right things got done.” vs “Get the right things done.”
“Feels overwhelmed and exhausted.” vs “Experiences joy in the journey.”
“I have to” vs “I choose to”
“Forfeits the right to choose.” vs “Exercises the power of choice.”
“Thinks almost everything is essential.” vs “Thinks almost everything is nonessential.”
“Views opportunities as basically equal.” vs “Distinguishes the vital few from the trivial many.”
“Thinks, “I can do both”.” vs “Asks, “What is the trade-off I want to make?””
“Asks, “How can I do it all?”” vs “Asks, “What can I go big on?””
“Is too busy doing to think about life.” vs “Creates space to escape and explore life.”
“Pays attention to the loudest voice.” vs “Pays attention to the signal in the noise.”
“Hears everything being said.” vs “Hears what is not being said.”
“Is overwhelmed by all the information.” vs “Scans to find the essence of the information.”
“Thinks play is trivial.” vs “Knows play is essential.”
“Thinks play is an unproductive waste of time.” vs “Knows play sparks exploration.”
“1 hour less of sleep = 1 more hour productivity.” vs “1 hour more of sleep = several more hours of productivity”
“Sleep is for failures.” vs “Sleep is for high performers.”
“Sleep is a luxury.” vs “Sleep is a priority.”
“Sleep gets in the way of “doing it all.” vs “Sleep enables the highest levels of mental contribution.”
“Say yes to almost every request/opportunity.” vs “Say yes to only the top 10 percent of opportunities.”
“If someone I know is doing it, I should do it.” vs “Is this exactly what I am looking for?”
“Has a vague, general vision/mission statement.” vs “Has a strategy that is concrete and inspirational.”
“Has concrete quarterly objectives, but ones that fail to energize/inspire people to take their efforts to the next level.” vs “Has an intent that is both meaningful and memorable.”
“Has a value set but no guiding principles for implementing them.” vs “Make 1 decision that eliminates 1000 later decisions.”
“Avoids saying no to avoid feeling social awkwardness and pressure.” vs “Dares to say no firmly resolutely, and gracefully.”
“Says yes to everything.” vs “Says yes only to the things that really matter.”
“Asks, “Why stop now when I’ve already invested so much in this project?” vs “Asks, “If I weren’t already invested, how much would invest in it now?”
“Hates admitting mistakes.” vs “Thinks, “What else could I do with this money or time, if I pulled the plug now? Comfortable cutting loses.”
“Thinks that making things better means adding something.” vs “Thinks that making things better means subtracting something.”
“Attached to every word, image and detail.” vs “Eliminates the distracting words, images, and details.”
“Thinks if you have limits you will be limited.” vs “Knows that is you have limits you will become limitless.”
“Sees boundaries as constraining.” vs “Sees boundaries as liberating”
“Exerts effort attempting the direct “no”. vs “Sets rules in advance that eliminate the need direct “no””
“Assumes the best case scenario will happen.” vs “Builds in a buffer for unexpected events.”
“Forces execution at the last minute.” vs “Practices extreme and early preparation.”
“Piles on quick fix solutions.” vs “Removes obstacles to progress.”
“Starts with a big goal gets small results.” vs “Starts small and gets big results.”
“Goes for flashiest wins.” vs “Celebrates small acts of progress”
“Tries to execute the essentials by force.” vs “Designs a routine that enshrines what is essential, making execution almost effortless.”
“Allows nonessentials to be the default.” vs “Makes the essential as the default.”
“Mind is spinning out about the past or the future.” vs “Mind is focused on the present.”
“Thinks about what was important yesterday or tomorrow.” vs “Tunes in to what is important right now.”
“Worries about the future or stresses about past.” vs “Enjoys the moment.”