We’re often told that working hard means having more success in life. But working hard can be more exhausting than ever, limiting your energy to innovate or make progress. There’s no reason to make life harder for ourselves where it could be effortless. It isn’t lazy to desire effortlessness — it’s smart, and it may be the only way to accomplish certain things in the future. Published on June 8, 2021, the empowering guide “Effortless” might be one of my favorites. Greg McKeown has some great insights to what “overachieving” really means for us and how we can avoid overexerting, overthinking, and overdoing everything. McKeown talks about the importance of returning to an “effortless” state, or an experience where we are physically rested, emotionally unburdened, and mentally
energized. When we’re completely aware and attentive, we can focus on what matters most. “Not every hard thing can be made easy,” he writes. “But we can make it easier to do more of what matters most.” So, what are the essential steps to achieving an “effortless” state? McKeown explains it in an easy- to-remember, three-word phrase: invert, enjoy, and release. First, invert — instead of asking yourself why something is hard, ask, “What if this could be easy?” Challenge the assumption that the “right” way is always the harder way. Create programs and processes with residual results that make your life easier. Tasks don’t always have to be linear.
ROBERT’S BUSINESS BOOK SPOTLIGHT
‘Effortless’ by Greg McKeown
THE DANGEROUS YELLOW SLIME GAVIN’S GUYS
Hi, everyone! Hope you’re drinking lots of water. I know I am! I have to or else I wouldn’t be able to keep up with all of the weeding that my guys and I are doing at our nursery. You could say we’re even a small-batch artisan nursery. Our batches are so small because we’re located on a little square of growing space near my dad’s nursery, where we take all their extra saplings.
Why “artisan,” you ask? Well, I always draw art of our expansion plans and our upcoming projects!
Of course, it’s not easy being a young nursery genius. Sometimes you make mistakes that nobody could ever warn you about. One day, I saw a super weird bright yellow growth near one of our poor trees. People might know that trees can get sick, but they might not know there are multiple ways this can happen. One way is if there’s mold or slime growth near the tree’s roots. I thought: “Wow! This must be a super rare slime.” Being the quick thinker I am, I grabbed a stick nearby and poked the slime. I expected a jiggle, but instead, my stick sunk into it like mud. I started feeling a little nauseous before I pulled the stick out — it was completely coated yellow. And the yellow started turning waxy …
That’s when I finally noticed the Crayola wrapper curling out from underneath. It was just a melted yellow crayon.
I have to say, that was a pretty close call for my trees, though. That’s why it’s important to give your trees plenty of water, but not too much water. If you give too much, the moisture can cause problems! That’s what my dad tells me anyway, and he’s always right about trees.
As for me, though, I can never get too much water. I love it!
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