A REOCCURRING MESSAGE

Three books, one message.

I’ve been reading so many wonderful books of late, and most have been recommended by the LinkedIn network – thank you.

These 3 books whilst being diverse in the subject are surprisingly similar in message.

SLLLLLOOOOWWWW DOOOOWWWNNNN

Four Thousand Weeks – Oliver Burkeman

Wow, what a great book to listen to (whilst cooking and walking over the weekend). I felt guilty multi-tasking given a message about being present and realising that doing one thing, yes, just one thing is the only way to be present.

Acknowledging that there is no end or destination, that living and by purposely being in the moment we will achieve what we crave as social beings. If we slow down to soak up the environment around us, we will know what’s really going on around us.

It has encouraged me to question if I’m driven by productivity or if productivity I driving my life. I’ve opted to slow down, simplify, and succumb to unitasking (one task at a time).

What have you done differently if you’ve read Four Thousand Weeks?

Likewise, Pip Williams (author of The Dictionary of Lost Words) takes us on her family’s ‘working holiday’. During One Italian Summer, we immerse ourselves in her bread-making and back-breaking tasks of weeding and berry picking (which pays for accommodation and meals).

In search of experiencing really simple living, Pip’s story crystalized we seek too much to do and lose the opportunity to experience life itself.

Whilst the travels and food diary elements held me captive, the life of less technology and more labour exacerbated with young children in tow eroded any enthusiasm to seek this meaning of life.

Life can be simple and be more joyous by doing less and being smarter with what we say yes to.

The Culture Question – Achieve Centre for Leadership

How to create a workplace where people like to work would appear an oxymoron, yet it is achievable according to the Achieve Centre.

Sifting through the many examples of activities to create the most attractive culture, one that would appear that staff would actually pay to be an employee, boils down to the simplicity of being there for your team. Limiting all distractions and listening deeply, engaging in connected conversation, and caring for the people in your care.

Knowing that it’s the ‘free’ activities that connect us with the intrinsic motivations of people rather than thinking that money creates the culture.

If you believe you’re experiencing burnout, stress, tight deadlines, and in a state of constant fear there is a clear message that the culture is toxic, and your choice of workplace destination is a mistake.

If you have 4000 weeks to live (or more if you get past being 80) then teach yourself to sloooowwww dooowwwwnnn, stretch out those weeks by being present, making more opportunities to soak up what surrounds you while enjoying where you work, who you’re with and take time to play and indulge in baking bread.

What are you reading at the moment that is stretching your thinking and encouraging you to take action?

Why are so many books telling us to slooowwww dooowwwnnn?