The Greg McKeown Podcast

What if you could design a personalized essentialist daily routine in seconds? This is part three of a multi-part series about how to use AI to make a more essentialist, effortless lifestyle. By the end of this episode, you will be able to make AI your servant rather than your master in setting up your daily routine.

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Do you ever feel that your life is becoming more and more reactive? Even where you get good things done in a day, you still feel like your life is living you rather than you intentionally living your life? Well, in today's episode, I'm going to share with you the 1-2-3 Method. It's simple, it's clear, and it's something that you can utilize today and every day to be able to design a more essential life.

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About the Guest:

Ginni Rometty is the former Chairman and CEO of IBM, where she led one of the most significant transformations in the company’s history. She reinvented half of IBM's portfolio and launched a $25 billion hybrid cloud business, positioning IBM as a leader in AI and quantum computing. Beyond her technical prowess, Ginni initiated innovative educational programs and redefined corporate ethos through the business roundtable. She's also co-chair of One Ten, a nonprofit committed to providing substantial employment opportunities for individuals without college degrees. Recognized as Fortune's number one most powerful woman for three consecutive years, Ginni's journey is detailed in her memoir, "Good Power: Leading Positive Change in Our Lives, Work, and World."

Episode Summary:

Greg engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Ginni Rometty, delving into the dynamics of leadership, teamwork, and organizational transformation. Rometty shares valuable insights drawn from her extensive experience at the helm of IBM, shedding light on the importance of being in service of a greater purpose, building belief, managing change, leveraging technology responsibly, and cultivating resilience. The episode underscores the significance of embracing resilience, fostering meaningful relationships, and navigating challenges with a growth mindset.

Key takeaways from the episode include:

Being in service of a greater purpose leads to meaningful and enduring impact.

Building belief requires appealing to both the head and the heart of individuals.

Distinguishing between what should change and what should endure is crucial for sustained success.

The stewardship of technology plays a vital role in driving positive societal impacts.

Resilience is a key attribute for overcoming hardships and pursuing long-term goals.

Notable Quotes:

"Be sure you're in service of something."

"Building belief means talking to people's head and heart."

"Learning the difference between what should change and what should endure."

"Resilience is the importance of your attitude and relationships."

Resources:

Ginni Rometty’s Book: Good Power: Leading Positive Change in Our Lives, Work, and World

110 Nonprofit Organization: 110.org

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Learn more about my books and courses.

Join The Essentialism Academy.

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About the Guest:

Ginni Rometty is the former Chairman and CEO of IBM, where she led one of the most significant transformations in the company’s history. She reinvented half of IBM's portfolio and launched a $25 billion hybrid cloud business, positioning IBM as a leader in AI and quantum computing. Beyond her technical prowess, Ginni initiated innovative educational programs and redefined corporate ethos through the business roundtable. She's also co-chair of One Ten, a nonprofit committed to providing substantial employment opportunities for individuals without college degrees. Recognized as Fortune's number one most powerful woman for three consecutive years, Ginni's journey is detailed in her memoir, "Good Power: Leading Positive Change in Our Lives, Work, and World."

Episode Summary:

Greg engages in a profound conversation with Ginni Rometty, former CEO of IBM, who shares insights from her new book, "Good Power: Leading Positive Change in Our Lives, Work, and World." The discussion dives deep into the themes of resilience, leadership, and personal growth, illustrated through Ginni's compelling life story and professional achievements. Evan as Ginni steered IBM through major transformations, her personal journey of overcoming adversity shines through, offering valuable lessons on redefining power and leadership in both personal and professional domains.

Greg and Ginni explore the concept of the "intergenerational self", emphasizing how our past, including influences from family and early life experiences, shapes our identity and capacity for resilience. Through anecdotes about her family's struggles and triumphs, Ginni articulates how these experiences cultivated her determination and leadership style. She talks about the importance of relationships in building resilience, a key aspect often overlooked in discussions about personal and professional growth. Ginni's philosophy of "good power" incorporates respecting others, avoiding fear-based actions, and celebrating progress over perfection, providing a roadmap for modern leadership.

Key Takeaways:

Intergenerational Influence: Our identity and resilience are profoundly shaped by the experiences and hardships of our family.

Good Power: Effective leadership involves harnessing power for positive change, respectful conflict resolution, and celebrating incremental progress.

Resilience Components: Strong resilience comes from both a positive attitude and robust, quality relationships.

Conflict Resolution: Approaching conflict positively and respectfully can transform adversarial relationships into constructive ones.

Access vs. Aptitude: There's a significant gap between talent and access to opportunities, which leaders should strive to bridge.

Notable Quotes:

"When they had nothing, they had power." - Ginni Rometty

"Bad is homeless and bad is having nothing. Nothing else will ever meet that bar." - Ginni Rometty

"Good power is about loving tension, not dividing people but bringing them together respectfully." - Ginni Rometty

"You can love tension, but you can do it respectfully, not from a source of fear." - Ginni Rometty

"Transformation should be celebrated, not endured." - Ginni Rometty

Resources:

Ginni Rometty’s Book: Good Power: Leading Positive Change in Our Lives, Work, and World

110 Nonprofit Organization: 110.org

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Join The Essentialism Academy.

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Join me as we ponder the turning of the calendar to 2024, a time for introspection and goal-setting. But this year, we're taking a different approach, asking not just 'what' but 'who' is important in our lives. I discuss the profound shift from a task-driven to a people-centric perspective, exploring how this reorientation affects leadership, team management, and personal relationships.

Leadership and virtual team performance: A meta-analytic investigation

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Join me as I explore the transformative power of building deep, meaningful connections in our lives, especially poignant in an age where superficial online interactions are often mistaken for genuine relationships. I reflect on Erik Newton's heartfelt Twitter story about the profound love he shared with his late wife, revealing the timeless truth that at life's end, it's the depth of our relationships that truly matters. This touching narrative serves as a profound reminder of the importance of fostering and nurturing our most significant relationships, and how they shape the legacy of love we leave behind.

I also discuss the insights of early psychologists and the groundbreaking work of British psychiatrist John Bowlby, who pioneered the concept of attachment theory. The historical journey from the 18th century to Bowlby's 20th-century research, including the Strange Situation experiment and Harry Harlow's primate studies, illuminates the critical need for emotional connections in our development. This conversation underscores the essential nature of these bonds for our psychological well-being, urging us to prioritize and deepen our connections with those who are important to us.

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Join me on the journey to enrich your relationships, focusing on quality rather than quantity. In this episode I explore the significance of cultivating deep, meaningful relationships in a world dominated by superficial connections. Drawing on an analogy from the Hubble Space Telescope, I demonstrate how minor adjustments in perspective can bring clarity to our relationships, similar to how small calibrations on the telescope can bring the vastness of space into focus.

In our quest for meaningful connections, I examine the contrasting approaches of essentialists and non-essentialists towards relationships. I observe how essentialists prioritize deeper relationships with fewer, but vital, people, while non-essentialists often get overwhelmed by their packed schedules. I introduce the concept of a 'relationship scorecard' to help you assess the quality and depth of your relationships, suggesting that you regularly touch base and make small adjustments to sustain healthy relationships. I conclude this episode with a reminder not to wait until your relationship is on the rocks to seek feedback and make necessary adjustments.

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Have you ever stopped to consider the depth of your connections in a world where the number of friends you have on social media platforms seems to have taken precedence? Join me as we navigate the waters of meaningful relationships, stressing the importance of quality over quantity. Our journey takes us through the paradox of loneliness and time spent alone, and how these two aren't necessarily joined at the hip.

Ever given thought to the role technology plays in shaping our social lives? It's a double-edged sword, on one hand allowing us to connect with friends and family across the globe, yet on the other, resulting in fewer face-to-face interactions and more superficial connections. The conversation segues into the pitfalls of online echo chambers, the effects of social media on our perception of relationships, and the impact of non-essentialism on our relationships.

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About the Guest:

Sam Bridgstock grew up on Mount Pleasant Farm in North Yorkshire, England, where he developed a deep connection with nature and a strong sense of duty and prioritization from his experiences on the farm. Despite facing a terminal cancer diagnosis, Sam's unwavering commitment to his family, including his wife Anna and their five children, has been a guiding force in his life. Known for his honesty, wisdom, and humility, Sam's journey exemplifies the essence of essentialism and the power of authentic relationships.

Episode Summary:

Greg invites Sam to share his journey of living with terminal cancer while maintaining focus on what truly matters. This heartwarming conversation delves into how Sam balances his diminished physical capacity with his unwavering commitment to his family, work, and personal values.

Greg and Sam explore the concept of "reverse pilot," choosing to not do certain things to see their actual impact. Sam shares deeply personal stories about managing time and relationships, fighting guilt, and the profound challenge of living an essentialist lifestyle when time is painfully finite. With beautiful anecdotes and heartfelt wisdom, this episode underscores the importance of prioritizing what matters most, finding joy in the present, and fostering meaningful connections.

Key Takeaways:

The Power of the Reverse Pilot: Experiment by not doing certain activities to understand their real impact.

Managing Guilt: Effective prioritization often means saying no to many well-meant but non-essential requests.

Living Essentialism: The importance of maintaining routines and commitments even amidst severe personal challenges.

Choosing Joy: Despite the uncertainty and pain, finding and choosing moments of joy and connection with loved ones.

Resilience in Routine: Sticking to regular activities can provide stability and courage for family members facing impending loss.

Notable Quotes:

"I want to just acknowledge it becomes incredibly insanely hard."

"If I had held on to them and said, I'm protecting you from pain… I wouldn't have had a child who just finished a four-year intense degree at Oxford."

"Life will offer you a chance to be joyful tomorrow if you take it."

"The choice of the essentialist is to choose joy with the people that you love most."

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About the Guest:

Sam Bridgstock grew up on Mount Pleasant Farm in North Yorkshire, England, where he developed a deep connection with nature and a strong sense of duty and prioritization from his experiences on the farm. Despite facing a terminal cancer diagnosis, Sam's unwavering commitment to his family, including his wife Anna and their five children, has been a guiding force in his life. Known for his honesty, wisdom, and humility, Sam's journey exemplifies the essence of essentialism and the power of authentic relationships.

Episode Summary:

Greg introduces his lifelong friend, Sam Bridgstock, reflecting on their childhood adventures on Mount Pleasant Farm in Selby, England. Despite the bittersweet challenges that unfolded when Sam received a terminal cancer diagnosis, their deep connection and shared values have continued to shape their conversations over the years. Sam's profound insights into prioritization, living with intention, and finding meaning in the face of adversity inspire listeners to reflect on their own priorities and relationships.

Key Takeaways:

Embracing a sense of duty and prioritization from a young age can instill a powerful clarity in making decisions later in life.

Recognizing the impact of fear and guilt on decision-making can help individuals navigate challenging choices with authenticity.

Prioritizing meaningful relationships, such as family and close friends, provides a sense of safety and purpose amidst life's uncertainties.

Learning to let go of minor details and focus on what truly matters can lead to a more fulfilling and purpose-driven life.

Striving for balance between responsibilities and self-care is essential in maintaining overall well-being and fostering strong connections with loved ones.

Notable Quotes:

"The love that a parent has for a child gives you power forever." - Sam Bridgstock

"Fear is not a good reason if you want to do something." - Sam Bridgstock

"Guilt is the thief of essentialism because it's guilt that makes us say yes when naturally we have to focus on something that's key." - Sam Bridgstock

"If you have a real sense of clarity about what's most important, things do fall away, and there's a simplicity in your life." - Sam Bridgstock

"Guilt can be the reason we end up trying to do everything for everyone and neglecting key relationships in the process." - Sam Bridgstock

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Learn more about my books and courses.

Join The Essentialism Academy.

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