I have worked tirelessly to understand why so many bright, smart, capable individuals remain snared in the death grip of the nonessential. - Greg McKeown

So many smart people get snared in the death grip of the nonessential.

Achieving strategic clarity is hard. It takes asking tough questions about tradeoffs, deep concentration to get to the very essence of the issues and real courage to cut off competing priorities. It is worth the effort because with real clarity, people, teams and organizations can fully mobilize, break through to the next level and achieve something truly great.

As the Dalai Lama, another true Essentialist, has said: “If one’s life is simple, contentment has to come. Simplicity is extremely important for happiness.

In the same way, when individuals are involved in too many disparate activities – even good activities – they can fail to achieve their essential mission.