Live By Design, Not By Default
Dear Essentialists,?
Are you pursuing things that really matter or are you pursuing things because somebody else thinks they matter?
A few years ago I stood dressed head-to-toe in an authentic?Star Wars?Stormtrooper costume. Years earlier my brother commented, “How cool would it be to own a real Stormtrooper costume?” I remember my ten-year-old self readily agreeing.?
30 years later I stood ready to spend a small fortune to make that dream a reality...except for one thing.
It wasn’t my dream, it was his.
There wasn’t one part of me that wanted to buy that costume. Somehow I had come to believe his desire was mine.
Today my family lovingly refers to pursuing things we don’t really want as “Stormtroopers”.??
This week, on the?What’s Essential?podcast, I speak with Luke Burgis, the author of?Wanting: The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life.?
We discuss why many of us want what we want simply because we believe others want it also.?Luke shares how to turn this natural instinct to our advantage and pursue what we really want.
You won’t want to miss it -?Listen here.?
What are you pursuing because of other people? What Stormtroopers do you have in your life?
“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately...”
―?Henry David Thoreau
In gratitude,?
Greg
Enjoying Effortless?
Helping teams conquer challenges + create a brighter future in education. Strategic guide. Design thinking champion.
5 个月Thanks for the insights Greg McKeown!
ESG @ FedEx | Delivering sustainable success for Fortune 500 companies | Responsible Business | ESG and Sustainability Leader | TEDx Speaker
3 年This one is thought provoking. I will be spending some time evaluating the motivation behind each one of my goals. Thanks for making me think Greg McKeown
Finding more ways to connect and build ongoing relationships through writing and training
3 年Creating a solid vision that includes healthy relationships and a business that is in harmony with your values is the first step toward reaching the life you want
Top Voice in AI | Helping SMBs Scale with AI & Automation | CIO at TetraNoodle | AI Speaker & Author | 4x AI Patents | Travel Lover??
3 年There are many reasons for spending money on buying products of a very good quality: health, safety, convenience, hygiene. Although all of these arguments are correct there should be also fair prices in the market. There is a buying possibility that involves purchasing goods of bad quality. Such as a commodity that has not got any properties which were supposed to have and it is considered that you have bought something you don’t need and your hard-earned money has gone to the producers pocket.
Coach & Consultant To Expat Leaders | Helping Global Professionals Reduce Stress, Doubt & Isolation So They Thrive Abroad | Energy Leadership?? Expert | Speaker | Assessments | Award-Winning Coaching
3 年Getting clear on our personal values is crucial. Decision making becomes so much easier when we know who we are, what’s important and why. Thank you for the timely reminder Greg McKeown