By training yourself to look for “the lead,” you will suddenly find yourself able to see what you have missed. You’ll be able to do more than simply see the dots of each day: you’ll also connect them to see the trends. Instead of just reacting to the facts, you’ll be able to focus on the larger issues that really matter.
Essentialists are powerful observers and listeners. Knowing that the reality of trade-offs means they can’t possible pay attention to everything, they listen deliberately for what is not being explicitly stated.
Nonessentialists listen too. But they listen while preparing to say something. They get distracted by extraneous noise. They hyperfocus on inconsequential details. They hear the loudest voice but they get the wrong message. In their eagerness to react they miss the point.
Nonessentialist
- Pays attention to the loudest voice
- Hears everything being said
- Is overwhelmed by all the information
Essentialist
- Pays attention to the signal in the noise
- Hears what is not being said
- Scans to find the essence of the information
* Source: Essentialism by Greg McKeown