Essentialist vs Non-Essentialist

#9 03/12/2022

Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash

(Excerpts from the book: essentialism)

Being an essentialist is to make the wisest possible investment of time and energy in order to operate at our highest point of contribution by doing only what is essential. It is the relentless pursuit of less but better and getting the right things done among many things you could potentially do. It is the path of being in control of our own choices and life.

Essentialist

Less But Better

• I always have a choice and choose to do what I want to do

• Only a few things really matter

• Every choice has a trade-off and what trade-off I can live with.

The Disciplined Pursuit of Less

• Pauses to discern what really matters

• Says “no” to everything except the essential

• Removes obstacles to make execution easy

Lives a Life that Really Matters

• Feels in control of life

• Gets the right things done

• Experiences joy in the journey

Non-Essentialist

Serve Everyone and Everything

• I have to do everything that matters

• Everything is important and has equal priority

• How can I fit all I have to do in the time I got

The Undisciplined Pursuit of More

• Always in reactive mode, reacting to what’s most pressing and urgent

• Says “yes” to almost every request/opportunity without really thinking

• Tries to force execution at the last moment

Lives an Unsatisfied Life

• Takes on too much, and wok suffers

• Feels out of control

• Unsure of whether the right things got done

• Feels overwhelmed and exhausted.