Effortless, Greg McKeown, 2021

In Effortless, Greg McKeown argues that trying too hard makes it harder to get the results you want. The book introduces the “effortless inversion”: asking “what if this could be easy?” and finding the simplest way to achieve a result. McKeown explores how to make essential things enjoyable, rest properly, notice what matters, take effortless action, and achieve effortless results.

Top 3 Learnings:

1. Effortless action starts with “done for the day” lists and the courage to be rubbish. Define clearly what “done” looks like, identify the first obvious action, and start with rubbish rather than perfection. Make failure as cheap as possible—build something you can crash often enough to iterate, not the most elegant solution. When it comes to product launches, imperfect is perfect.

2. Trust brings calm, worry brings stress. Default to trust rather than micromanagement. Hire trustworthy people by asking what integrity, intelligence, and initiative mean to them. Structure incentives so rewards only come with shared goal achievement. Create high-trust agreements covering results, roles, rules, resources, and rewards.

3. Hack the branches vs. strike at the root. Prevent problems rather than constantly solving them. Make it easiest for your team to do the right thing. Accept that life is an unending series of complications—don’t be surprised by the next one. Develop a taste for problems and never expect a trouble-free phase.

Why and when to read it:

Read this when you’re feeling overwhelmed, working too hard for diminishing returns, or struggling with perfectionism. It’s especially valuable for leaders who want to create high-trust environments and teams that can move fast without burning out. The book provides practical techniques for simplifying work, trusting others, and preventing problems before they arise, making it perfect for anyone feeling stuck in effortful patterns that aren’t producing results.