Klaus Breyer
B2B SaaS Product & Tech Leadership Move Fast And Break Silos!

Essentialism, Greg McKeown, 2014

The book presents a disciplined approach to focusing on what truly matters by eliminating non-essential activities and commitments. Essentialism is about doing less but better, making deliberate choices, and designing life intentionally rather than living by default. McKeown emphasizes that clarity, trade-offs, and intentional execution are key to achieving meaningful results and avoiding distractions.

Top 3 Learnings:

  1. Saying “no” to the non-essential is crucial for meaningful contribution—without clear priorities, others will dictate your life for you.
  2. Decision-making should focus on what truly excites and aligns with long-term goals—if it’s not a clear “hell yes,” it should be a definite “no.”
  3. Protecting your ability to prioritize is the highest priority—effortless execution comes from designing systems that remove obstacles and support focus.