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I have begun my year with what I optimistically consider to be a lethal pairing; in all the right creative, uplifting and encouraging kinds of ways of course!
The first is,
“Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less”
by Greg McKeown
“The Way of the Essentialist involves doing less, but better, so you can make the highest possible contribution.
The Way of the Essentialist isn’t about getting more done in less time. It’s not about getting less done. It’s about getting only the right things done. It’s about challenging the core assumption of ‘we can have it all’ and ‘I have to do everything’ and replacing it with the pursuit of ‘the right thing, in the right way, at the right time’. It’s about regaining control of our own choices about where to spend our time and energies instead of giving others implicit permission to choose for us.
In Essentialism, Greg McKeown draws on experience and insight from working with the leaders of the most innovative companies in the world to show how to achieve the disciplined pursuit of less.
By applying more selective criteria for what is essential, the pursuit of less allows us to regain control of our own choices so we can channel our time, energy and effort into making the highest possible contribution toward the goals and activities that matter.” (Taken directly from www.gregmckeown.com)
The second is,
“Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration”
by Ed Catmull
I’m really excited about reading this again after a first reading about eighteen months ago and chatting it over with quite a few people in the last six months. Part autobiography, part history of Pixar, part business book, Creativity Inc. is an inspiring look at the role creativity plays in one of the most successful media businesses the world has ever seen. Written by Ed Camull, the President of Walt Disney and Pixar, companies known for their in-house creative leadership processes, I would be surprised if there weren’t something we could all learn from this book!
To be continued…