Essentialism, at its core, is the belief that everything has its place but not every place is for everything; everything has its own characteristics that make it what it is. This philosophy urges us to accept and embrace everything that makes us unique, and in Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less, Greg McKeown invites us to focus on what matters and cut out all the rest. We use Greg’s book as source material for this episode, and to begin, returning guest Dr. Ben Hechler shares his thoughts on the book’s overarching premise. We unpack the many things that unnecessarily take up our time, how setting goals allows you to refocus on what’s really important, tips for creating a more balanced life that prioritizes your interests, and go deep to explore the paradox of success or being liked. We end with a reminder that you can’t please everyone—you will always have both lovers and haters—and Dr. Hechler shares helpful advice for setting boundaries and taking ownership of the things that matter to you.   

Key Points From This Episode:

• Why we’ve used Essentialism by Greg McKeown as the foundation of today’s episode.
• Dr. Ben Hechler’s thoughts on the book’s premise. 
• Unpacking the many frivolous things that stick in our minds and take up our time. 
• How ascertaining your goal will release you from many mental distractions. 
• The balancing act, and whether a work-life balance is achievable or a myth.
• Love maps, and other tips for balancing all areas of your life.
• The paradox of success or in Dr. Hechler’s terms, the paradox of being liked.  
• Why you can’t please everyone, and how to set boundaries and take ownership. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Dr. Ben Hechler on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-hechler/ 

Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less — https://gregmckeown.com/books/essentialism/ 

Safe People — amazon.com/Safe-People-Relationships-Avoid-Those/dp/0310345790 

AAOMS — https://www.aaoms.org/ 

Everyday Oral Surgery Website — https://www.everydayoralsurgery.com/ 

Everyday Oral Surgery on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/everydayoralsurgery/ 

Everyday Oral Surgery on Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/EverydayOralSurgery/

Dr. Grant Stucki Email — grantstucki@gmail.com

Dr. Grant Stucki Phone — 720-441-6059