Effortless Soundtracks
Dear Essentialists,
What if there was a way to make life light and easy instead of burdened and hard?
In his thirties, Jon Acuff hit a career ceiling. Frustrated, he started a blog on the side. Then one day, someone read his blog, and invited him to be a speaker at a large event.
He had no speaking experience. But instead of overthinking it, he had a tiny thought, a baby “soundtrack” that said, “I think I can do this.”
That thought led to others. I think I can write a book. I think I can start a business. I think I can help other people do the same thing.
Today Jon is a New York Times bestselling author. And he attributes much of his success to that baby soundtrack: I think I can do this. You can hear the rest of his story here.
When you find yourself overthinking, you may have a broken soundtrack. Here’s what you can do right now to fix it:
- Write down something you want to do. Listen to the first thing you hear.
- Ask yourself these questions:
Is it true?
Is it helpful?
Is it kind?
If any of these answers are no, replace your current soundtrack with a new one. Then repeat it over and over and over.
In gratitude,
Greg
p.s. Don't miss an episode. Subscribe to the What's Essential podcast here.
Senior Procurement Executive - Packaging Category @ Kimberly-Clark Brasil
3 年I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you Greg! I will surely read your new book "Effortless" as a way to improve my mindset as an essentialist padawan so as to become more skilled in this daily art of living lighter. I'm a big admirer of your work, naturally because of your extraordinary book Essentialism that I bought in Portuguese here in Brazil some years ago and most recently decided to "read" again through the audiobook version in English. It was surprising when I realized that you had recorded the audiobook yourself instead of an expect narrator, even so the audiobook was as good as the physical book. Thanks to you and to your team for delivering your work so neat, nice to read, hear, but also for your additional efforts such as this weekly newsletter on Linkedin and your podcast "What's Essential" on Spotify. Looking overally I can see that you make your best efforts on delivering everything with passion and your work express for itself the way of the essentialist that you essentially persist preaching everyday. Your work intrinsically gives the motivation to us as readers to continue pursuing the ideal less but better in our lives.
Regional Sales Manager @ Smarter Security | Leadership, Sales Strategy & Organizational Growth
3 年Excellent episode! Truly powerful ??
(Retired) Graphic Design Teacher now doing freelance work.
3 年You don't know I think you are going to end up helping me write my book, I already have the name. A Confirmation of Faith. I have a few cover illustration/photo possibilities (graphic design instructor). As you can tell it is Divinely inspired, many stages in my life however one particular event in Sept. 2003. If you're intrigue as I was with your post you will search... Richard Bay - Pepsi challenge. You should find a Wickapedia and sometimes a YouTube on the event. If you choose to investigate let me know what you think. It's more than just a story. God showed himself so many times it's not even funny. I tell the kiddos in class. THEY SAY I should write a book. Thank you for your inspiration, have a good day. ??????
Finance Executive
3 年Keep up the good work.