The Greg McKeown Podcast

Where do you want to be in 5 years? So many of us have a difficult time answering this question. And it’s not because we don’t know what we want to do. Often it’s because we lack the clarity to know where to begin. Join me for an impromptu coaching session with actor and author Matthew McConaughey. Together we explore Matthew’s big goals for his future, define what these goals might look like, and...

Have you ever pushed yourself past the point of exhaustion and woke up the next day completely burned out?  In this episode, I explore how setting a sustainable pace allows you to reach peak performance, not for a day, a week, or a month but your entire life. You'll learn why rest is a critical component for performing at your best and why one of the most important things high achievers can do is...

In this episode, I am joined by my friend Stephen M.R. Covey to talk about his new book, Trust & Inspire. You'll learn how the right leadership produces effortless results and relationships. For fifty years we have heard that we need to move away from "command and control" leadership. But nobody has named what we should do instead. That's what Stephen M.R. Covey boldly and brilliantly does in this...

Two weeks ago I shared some thoughts on "the genius of routines" and the response from listeners was off the charts. Questions poured in. In this Q&A episode, my wife Anna joins me to respond to these questions and share immediately applicable and realistic ways to apply routines in families. This podcast episode is not just for people in the c-suite: it's for parents, managers, employees: and eve...

Do you ever feel like you have so many important things to do that it’s impossible to prioritize them? Even knowing where to start can be challenging. In this week’s episode, I talk with prioritization expert Dr. Bjorn Lomborg. Through his think tank, The Copenhagen Consensus, Dr. Lomborg has prioritized the most significant challenges facing the world today.  In this episode, you will learn three...

One of the most significant setbacks of the last few years has been the dismantling of many of our boundaries and routines. I think we have all felt this. Whether you are living out of your inbox, overwhelmed with texts and notifications, or have found yourself caught up in a zoom-eat-sleep-repeat lifestyle, it's an exhausting way to live. Join me this week to learn how you can reestablish boundar...

Do you ever find that your mind always seems to drift from what you're doing now to something else no matter how hard you try? Well, I have some welcome news. According to Dr. Amishi Jha, Professor of Psychology at the University of Miami and author of the new book PEAK MiND, there is nothing wrong with your brain. It was built to be distractable.  In this episode, Dr. Jha shares how you can stop...

We live in a noisy world by any estimation. And while we need people, we also need solitude.  This week I’m speaking with Adam Shoalts, who was named one of the “greatest living explorers” by Canadian Geographic. Adam is an author, speaker, and adventurer who has learned to tap into the rejuvenating power of solitude.  In our conversation, Adam reminds us about the importance of the solo adventure...

One of the biggest lessons I have learned over the last few years is that you can’t design a life that really matters without a community of people who support each other. Yet too often, we try to go it alone.  In this week’s episode, Jennie Allen, author of the new book Find Your People, joins the show to discuss how you can find your people, begin to build your community a new, and plot out your...

If your life is anything like mine, you probably have far more problems than you can solve in one day. It’s easy to become overwhelmed.  When this happens, it is often our most important relationships that suffer.  But the good news is there is a solution. Taking just a few moments to celebrate small wins, especially with those that matter most, can change the equation in your favor.  In this epis...

Does saying no make you feel awkward? Are you worried about missing out on an opportunity? Or are you fearful of rocking the boat? In this episode, I’m talking about practical ways to make saying no easier and sharing simple strategies you can use to deliver a graceful no.  Learning to say no takes practice. But once you’ve mastered it, you will find you can handle almost any request from almost a...

How often have you heard someone say they want to live their life with no regrets? Our society often teaches us that a successful life is one lived without regrets. But in his new book The Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward, best-selling author Dan Pink offers a different perspective. Regret, he suggests, is a valuable raw material that allows us to learn from our mistakes and...

How well are you listening to your life?  Truly listening is one of the greatest gifts you can give. And we can all get better at doing it. That’s why I invited Ximena Vengoechea, author of Listen Like You Mean It, to join me on this week’s episode of the What’s Essential podcast.  In our conversation, we explore how becoming a better listener will make your life better. And Ximena shares ideas on...

This week I’m talking with my friend, entrepreneur, and television star Rob Dyrdek. Every time I speak with Rob, I leave with a clearer view of what it takes to get to a completely different level in my life.  The secret Rob has learned that allows him to be so successful is that not all effort is created equal. Rob has carefully designed his life around systems that deliver effortless results tod...

How clear are you on what’s essential in your life right now?  Pretty clear? Really clear? Completely lost and overwhelmed? Regardless of where you fall on this spectrum, becoming clear on what’s most important will help you find purpose and direction in your life.  In this episode, I discuss how you can gain greater clarity by creating an essential intent. And I share the simple structure I use t...

One of my goals for 2022 is to be more centered.  With all that is going on, being centered feels like a bit of a challenge right now. Perhaps you feel this way too?  That's why I invited Chip Conley to be my first guest of the new year. Chip is a strategic advisor for Airbnb and helped them not only survive the pandemic but thrive as they focused on the essential elements of their business. Join...

How happy are you on a scale of 1-10?  Regardless of what number you answered, the more important question is, what would it take to make that number a 10? In this special replay of one of 2021's most popular episodes, I speak with Harvard happiness professor Arthur Brooks about living a better and happier life. You’ll learn: The three ingredients of happiness and how you can make them part of you...

Have you ever sacrificed your time, energy, and sanity simply because you believed the only way to accomplish something worthwhile was through great effort?  What if you could find a way to make essential things easier? Join me as I share an excerpt from my latest book, Effortless: Make It Easier to Do What Matters Most. In this episode, you’ll learn:  How to simplify complex problems and find eff...

Discernment is at the core of what it means to be an Essentialist.  It helps us sort through the trivial many and identify the essential few. It allows us to see things as they really are. It guides our intuition, helping us make decisions and take actions that really matter. Join me and my wife Anna as we discuss how we can become better at discerning the world around us.   In this episode, we ta...

Are there high-stakes conversations in your life that you need to have but are putting off? This week I welcome special guest Joseph Grenny, one of the authors of the bestselling book, Crucial Conversations. In this episode, we talk about: Why silence is the most significant communication error we make The cost of not speaking up How to make it safe to talk about almost anything with almost anyone...

On this Part 2 episode, Greg conducts a solo Q&A for listeners most requested questions from his best selling books Efforless and Essentialism! Some of the topics include: How to reinvent your intent, Strategies to be the best person you can be and the 12 steps to identifying What's Essential? What's Essential Podcast Twitter Facebook Greg McKeown Twitter LinkedIn Instagram Scratch Audiohouse Inst...

In this week's episode, I answer questions I was recently asked during an interview by a newspaper in Brazil. Tune in to discover: How you can avoid burnout in a culture that glorifies busyness. How to protect your mental health by learning to work more effortlessly, How to work more effortlessly in an organization that values heroic effort.. Join my weekly newsletter at GregMcKeown.com/1mw  Learn...

Do you ever feel like you want to make a more meaningful contribution but you’re not sure how? Or maybe you know what you would like to do but get hung up on the fear of the unknown? Join me as I talk with Ken Coleman, Ken is a successful author and host of The Ken Coleman Show where he helps people define their purpose and discover the steps they need to take to pursue it.  Join us as we discuss:...

When was the last time you felt like you didn't have a choice? Life is full of difficult situations where it feels like the only answer is simply, "I have to". But this answer removes our power of choice.  Join my wife Anna and me as we explore why it is so important to nurture the power of choice in yourself and those you love. Learn how to: Take control of your choices by changing "I have to" to...

It’s not only important to identify what’s essential in your life, but you must also know why it matters. Join me as I speak with Simon Sinek, Inspirational Speaker and Global "Best Selling" Author (Leaders Eat Last, Together is Better, Find Your Why and The Infinite Game) , In this episode, Simon shares: The importance of finding your "why" How to find the courage to reinvent yourself How to defi...