Does it strike you as somewhat weird that with all the tools at our disposal to help productivity so many people still struggle to get everything done in the day?
Wouldn’t you think with iPhones, broadband access, IM, e-mail, web conferencing and the like we’d save so much time our main concern would be whether to play golf, lie by the pool or just sit and count our piles of cash?
Yet it seems that the more we do and achieve, the more we have to do and achieve, just to stand still. Each time we accomplish more, the bar gets raised and the expectation that we can and will do even more the next time increases similarly. We seldom get the time to disengage and recuperate as you would imagine because ‘stuff’ expands to fill the vacuum. And it does so simply because we allow it to.
So people embrace the complete myth of multi-tasking and look to books like ‘Get Things Done’ and The Four Hour Work Week’ to help them from drowning under an avalanche of commitments, promises and responsibilities. But seldom does anything change, at least not for any length of time.
But what if there were another way? What if you really could free up more time and do more of the stuff that excites you? If that were possible, would you want to know about it?
You may very well be familiar with the name, Leo Babauta. Leo is the owner and main contributor for the phenomenally successful blog, Zen Habits. Somebody asked me the other day how I managed to grow such a large readership for my blog. I had to smile because although I’m very proud of my blog and very grateful to all of you that read it, I am a ‘C’ lister compared to Leo. I am the Ron Paul to Leo’s, Barack Obama when it comes to blogging. At least for the moment ;-)
About two weeks ago I received a copy of ‘The Power of Less’ the new book by Leo and I was about halfway through it when suddenly I thought to myself, ‘this guy gets it’.
He gets that we each need to know our own values to be successful. That multi-tasking isn’t the way forward and that choice is not always a good thing. He also gets that focus is crucial, passion essential and motivation fundamental to individual success.
The Power of Less will explain to you how having less in your life and narrowing your focus will ultimately make you more productive and in the long term, just plain happier. Equally as important, it will also show you how to do this.
Be warned though, it’s not a book for the feint-hearted that fear change. Even though the ideas are simple and practical, they are at the same time radical and potentially life changing. Confused? Well don’t be, just check it out and decide for yourself whether it’s time for you to simplify your life.
That’s about as short a book review as I have ever done, but there’s a reason for that. I wanted to get to know a bit more about the man behind the words and asked Leo if he’d mind doing an interview. He graciously agreed and offered some great answers to some rather unconventional questions. Read on and I’d love to know what you think about the croc v shark question.
What are your favorite movies?
Leo: I love all types, from heist flicks to romantic comedies (Audrey Hepburn is my favorite in this genre) to the Coen brothers to Wes Anderson to thrillers and more. When asked what my all-time favorite movie is I usually answer either “Casablanca” or “The Godfather” but only because it’s too hard to just pick one so I toss out something I wouldn’t mind watching 100 times more.
If you had to live anywhere in the world other than Guam, where would it be?
Leo: I wouldn’t mind living in London! It sounds like an amazing city. I’ve always loved San Francisco too. Or the south of France, or anywhere in Italy. Gosh, I can’t pick just one. :)
Do you believe in reincarnation?
Leo: I have no idea what happens when we die and I think it’s not really worthwhile (for me at least) to try to figure it out, as there is no way to know until after you die. So I focus my time on the current life — and if I do a good job, I figure I’ll be well off no matter which of the popular scenarios are true, and if none are true, at least I lived well in this life.
What type of music do you like?
Leo: Currently mellow music like Jack Johnson, Snow Patrol, Ben Harper, Feist, Aimee Mann, Imogen Heap, the Shins, and alternative rock such as Radiohead, Spoon, the Ting Tings, Arctic Monkeys, Weezer and others. Radiohead and the Beatles, though obvious choices, are my all-time favs. Oh and the Stones and Bob Dylan. And Van Morisson and Paul Simon and Dire Straits and Nirvana. And many others.
What is Your Purpose For Existence?
Leo: To simply exist, and hopefully to do no harm. If I can be compassionate and help others and inspire as well, that’s a pretty good bonus.
Who do you think would win a fight between a 25ft crocodile and a 25ft Great White shark?
Leo: I’d try to mediate peace between them and have them figure out a solution in which they both get what they want, instead of having this lose-lose mentality. Life isn’t a competition — we can all get what we want if we work at it. I would guess that both want to eat, and there are plenty of fish in the sea. Better yet, they can learn to be vegetarians (there are lots of good fish substitutes) and then the fish win too!
What’s your favorite blog that most people won’t have heard of?
Leo: There are so many. Currently I’m reading takingchildrenseriously.com, which is an amazing site if a bit too radical for most people’s tastes. It argues (and many of the parents there demonstrate) that it’s possible to raise children without coercion, and that both child and parent (and everyone else) can get what they want without anyone losing.
Do you follow world news?
Leo: Not really. Actually, usually not at all. Although I came out of my turtle shell to follow the recent U.S. presidential elections, and I’m looking forward to Obama’s inauguration. I have read a little on the Israel situation and am appalled and wish I could help end suffering there. Otherwise, I’m usually blissfully ignorant.
What I realized after many years as a journalist is that almost all of these news stories are the same, that they are repeated year after year with barely a word changed (or at least so it often seems). That’s not a knock on individual reporters, who are unfailingly hard workers and truth seekers. It’s a knock on the media industry in general — it’s usually a huge distraction from the things that really matter, and that are never talked about. Things like power and democracy and poverty and freedom and the controlling of the public mind. When the media starts covering that stuff, I’ll be happy to follow along.
Do you believe in the loneliness of the long distance runner?
Leo: There may be some runners who get lonely. Personally I find myself pretty good company, and enjoy a long quiet run where I can either have a great internal conversation (the things I say, when I really listen, can be really surprising sometimes), or focus just on the moment, on the world around me. Either way is an amazing way to spend a couple of hours.
What are your 3 favorite books on self-development?
Leo: Slowing Down to the Speed of Life by Richard Carlson and Joseph Bailey, Peace is in Every Step by Thich Naht Hanh, and Manufacturing Consent by Noam Chomsky.
If you were banished to a deserted island for a year and could only take 3 things (no family members although with 6 kids and a wife I guess I’m doing you a favor there!), what would they be?
Leo: I couldn’t live without my wife and kids actually. So I’d take a lifeboat and I’d make it back to them. The other two things would be oars and a good book. Water and food would be nice too of course. :)
What is your definition of success?
Leo: Happiness.
Who is your favorite sporting icon?
Leo: Michael Jordan was always my hero growing up. Currently though I’m a huge fan of soccer greats such as Beckham and Ronaldo and Ronaldinho and the like.
Have you ever been to England?
Leo: No, but I’ve always wanted to. It looks like an amazing place, and as soon as I save up for a trip to Europe, my wife and I are going to tour England. I’m a quarter Irish (my mom’s a Murphy) so Ireland will be a definite stop as well. If anyone wants to pay my way, I’d be happy to do a speaking gig in England, and have a pint with readers as well. :)
If you could offer only one piece of advice to your kids, what would it be?
Leo: Seek understanding and compassion in all you do.
Thanks again to Leo for some cool answers. I particularly like his shark v croc answer and the books listed as his favorites. Even though I have read books by all the authors, I haven’t read any of the specific books he mentions and I’ll be adding them to my wish list as Amazon. Speaking of which, here is the normal Amazon link if you’d prefer not to click through an affiliate link. The choice as always, is yours.
Tim Brownson is a Certified Life Coach and has been unsticking people and helping them reach their true potential since 2005. If you would like to know how he can help you
The reason people are always doing more is because of competition. Just when we think we’ve done something incredible, someone else does it better and for less money. That forces us to work ever harder for the same income.
So what exactly does all your extra work accomplish? Well, that’s simple. It makes your boss rich and lets your company grow to monopolistic proportions.
The only way out of the equation is to work for yourself, but that only works if your competition isn’t that huge monopoly everyone else is helping to build.
Me? I’m heading to a monastery and becoming a Buddhist.
I adore both of you. And that’s all I have to say about that.
Nice interview!
I loved the Shark vs. Croc bit :p
Vlad Dolezals last blog post..Are You Rationalizing Your Decisions? (guest post at PickTheBrain)
Mediating peace between a shark and crocodile? I wish Leo luck, but I wouldn’t get in the middle of that argument!
@ I think the monastery option is a sound one, unless of course one of you fellow monks is better at meditating than you ;-)
I kinda agree with what you say although I also tend to think that it’s a lot more complex that that. What Leo does well is remove some of those layers of complexity.
@ Naomi – And we adore you too. I mean, who doesn’t?
@ Vlad – I still want to know who’d win. I’m edging towards the shark because I think it would be more agile, but I could be wrong.
@ Maria – You gotta admire his determination to bring peace.
Leo sticks to his beliefs no matter how outrageous the questions are huh? I thought you had him with the Croc/Shark question but somehow he got going vegetarian in there. Amazing. Thanks for not asking the same old questions as everyone else- it was very entertaining. Maybe I was his second choice of blog no one has heard of? :-)
Jays last blog post..The Ripple Effect
“What is your definition of success?
Leo: Happiness.”
Yup, he gets it.
Vered – MomGrinds last blog post..Breaking: Cosmo Magazine To Change Its Name
Thanks Tim, I enjoyed the interview, as a result I’ll give Leo’s blog another look. I got turned off about a year ago and haven’t been back. Funny thing is I can’t even remember why. Your review was a great setup that really does have me wanting more. You’re very good at book reviews. The only challenge I have now is reading them all. :)
Tom Volkar / Delightful Works last blog post..Time and Money
@ Jay – I feel sure you were indeed his 2nd choice of blog. So near, but yet so far ;-)
@ Vered – Maybe I should have followed up with “What’s your definition of happiness?”
@ Tom- I dip in and out with Zen Habits, but then again there isn’t a single blog I read every post on. In fact don’t tell anybody, but I don’t read that many blogs! Outrageous stuff, huh?
Tim, not that outrageous at all. That just tells me that you’ve set some sanity standards. I’ve begun to do the same. Now I just need to learn to feel as at peace with it as you do.
Tom Volkar / Delightful Works last blog post..Time and Money
Tim,
Thanks for an inspiring article, an oasis in a rather hectic day.
I try and do Thich Naht Hanh’s walking meditation every day and the days I don’t turn out like today. Say no more.
:)
Nicola Quinns last blog post..Self Healing With a Little Self Love
I’m surprised that you asked a question like “Do you believe in reincarnation?” It doesn’t sound like you to be interested in a topic like that. Still, I think Leo gave an excellent answer. It’s really about living life well now!!
Evelyn Lims last blog post..Benefits To Meditation
@ Tom – Would it be outrageous to say that I almost never read blogs? I have this feeling that it’s a tad hypocritical. A bit like a doctor that smokes, priest that doesn’t believe in God or a rabbit that abstains from fooling around.
@ Nicola – The thanks should really go to Leo for some great answers. But I don’t want to seem ungrateful so I’m happy to do some basking for an hour or two ;-)
@ Evelyn – WOW! I thought you knew me better than that. I’m absolutely fascinated by stuff like reincarnation. Even the LoA fascinates me. I’m a lot less cynical and opinionated than I may sometimes appear because often I’m playing devils advocate. I even subscribe to the theory that there is ‘something’ after death and that’s it’s just not a full stop to our lives.
I disagree! It was you who set up the interview, asked great questions and wrote the article in an interestisng thought provoking way.
Keep on basking :)
Nicola Quinns last blog post..Self Healing With a Little Self Love
Fun interview to read. Tim, your questions are off the wall. I know, that is where you live but where did you get these questions?
While I too like Leo’s answer concerning the fight between the croc and the shark, my money is on the croc! I have never heard about a croc that cared about some other animal getting to win in the situation. I think the shark is toast.
Checked my library and the book is ordered. So I’ve already reserved a copy! I read Zen Habits periodically, but one of the ways I’ve tried to simplify my life lately is cut back on the time I spend in my blog reader. A book, on the other hand, is perfect for reading on the metro…one of my favorite activities.
I think in the article he makes an important point about the news industry. What passes as news is so confusing and often repetative. I find international news more interesting because even if some of it is repetative too, they have things that aren’t being reported in the US. I don’t want to read Oprah’s site when I visit CNN. Or the Onion. Or learn about a model getting her hands amputated (although I feel sorry for her). If I go to a news site, is it too much to ask for news?
Ruths last blog post..Could I Get More Obsessed With My Own Life?
@ Laurie – Where do I get my ideas from? LOL, I have absolutely no idea. In fact I have no idea where any of my stuff comes from. I start writing with no clue as to what the result will be and you lot get to see the results, for better or worse ;-) Shark toast my ass, that croc wouldn’t be agile enough for the GW!
@ Ruth – I agree. I was reading so many blogs and it was actually starting to overwhelm me. I cut back drastically to the point where I hardly ever go in my reader now. I click directly on the blogs I want to read. I bet there’s literally thousands of posts waiting for me when I do venture in there!
BTW, I hate the news or more accurately the local news. It adds zero value to my life so I never watch it any more.
Wonderful post and advice. I think it is imprinted in our minds that “more” is better. We think if we work more we are better. However, times are changing and we are becoming aware that working smarter is working better.
I love interviews that cut to what’s really important: music tastes. I’m kidding, of course, but I do love those tidbits. They reveal more about a person to me than “standard” interview questions.
Sara at On Simplicitys last blog post..My Dirty Blogging Secret
I loved reading Leo’s questions and answers, I’ve been a subscriber to Zen Habits for quite a while and I love the way he writes and thinks.
I don’t often comment on blogs but so pleased to see Leo mention Taking Children Seriously, I found out about it over 6 years ago and it is a radical approach to child rearing, in fact so radical that I rarely discuss it with friends anymore, but I loved the concept, and try (but not very good at it) to incorporate the ideals into the rearing of my children.
I’m a new subscriber to your blog after doing some research on NLP, my goal is to spend some time living in the states, so I guess I should start modeling.
@ Sharon – Agreed , I think it’s a societal thing that we could fight a lot more if we thought a bit more independently.
@ Sara – Thanks a lot and I agree. When I first e-mailed Leo I said that I wanted to mix it up a bit and good for him because he was really up for it!
@ Michelle – If you ever want a chat about it let me know and I can tell you how I did it. Alternatively I will be talking about NLP in one of my two weekly stream sessions. They’ll be running every 2nd Monday starting on 2nd Feb at 9.00pm UK time and you can check in here http://www.ustream.tv/channel/the-discomfort-zone.
I think Mondays will be a chat about coaching and what’s needed to become a coach. I’ll probably cover off some NLP too.