Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less - BOOK REVIEW

* picture from Unsplash by @noemieke

In a previous blog, I mentioned that I started reading Greg McKeown’s very popular book, Essentialism. In the same blog, I very bravely said I was gonna do a book review, so here I am months later writing my thoughts about the book.

Let me first tell you that I listened to the book mostly in the car and I did not take any notes and it’s only fair to say that I probably forgot 80% of that was in there, but hey! I think I still remember the essential part. ;) Can this even be called a book review since most of them are written when the information is still fresh in your memory? Well, I don’t know. You can call it whatever you like…

Welcome to the shortest book review!

I have a physical copy of the book in Romanian, but it happened that I listened to the English version only, and I have the English digital copy as well. But since the information is the same, I’m gonna tell you what I took and applied from it ever since.

<intermission>

I realised that what I was gonna write might not even be from this book so let me double-check that first. Google, help!

Ok. It is from the book. Thank goodness, otherwise, I’d have had to abandon this post and there would be no “review”.

</intermission>

So the one thing that stuck from the book is getting comfortable with saying NO more often. Yea, revolutionary, I know I know…

However, although it seems too basic, for me it was an AHA moment when it got to the part where he said “if it’s not a hell yeah, then it’s a no”. I am the type of person who said yes A LOT, part because I like to help people when needed, but that also means that I say yes to a lot of distractions - and I get distracted quite often.

How did I implement this in my life? Before doing something I started asking “do I really need to do this?”, “is this essential right now?” and if the answer is not HELL YEAH, then I don’t do it and I leave it for later, or forget about it altogether. However, the most important change is with my business.

Like every entrepreneur at the beginning of their journey, I tend to say yes to projects more than I should but it doesn’t happen that often anymore. When I get an opportunity I first ask myself if it aligns with my values and if I would be proud to add it to my portfolio. If the answer is “hmmmm, I’m not sure”, then I don’t do it - but I’m still working on this.

Here’s a plot twist because life’s complicated. You have to say yes to things too. If I think about it, a lot of great things happened because I said yes to something. So if you are here looking for a revelation or solution, I don’t have it.

What I can advise you is to trust your gut and weigh in your circumstances. Say NO to what doesn’t serve you but also loosen up a bit from time to time and say yes.

To conclude this messed up book review, I’m not gonna read it again to refresh my memory since there are so many other books I want to read, but if you have nothing else to read, give it a go.

Now tell me, did you read it? What’s one thing that stuck with you from the book?

Take care! x