Menlo Book Club: Effortless

In today’s fast-paced world, hustle and burnout seem to be glorified, causing people to overlook their well-being and neglect the joy that can be found in even everyday tasks. As a follow up to his best-selling book Essentialism, author Greg McKeown wrote Effortless to empower readers to find an easier, better way to complete their most important work. The Menlo Group team enjoyed reading Effortless together and learning how to apply this transformative framework to our personal and professional lives. Here are our biggest takeaways:

Redefine Success

We can redefine success by considering not just the outcome but also the journey itself. Instead of enduring essential tasks, we can choose to make them enjoyable. Examples of this practice include only listening to a favorite book when exercising, having business meetings while golfing, and turning kids’ chores into competitions. By reframing our perspective and infusing fun into our everyday responsibilities, we enhance our experiences and also increase productivity and satisfaction.

The following quotes had a big impact on how we view success:

“Burnout is not a badge of honor” (p. 7). These words were a powerful reminder that our physical and mental health should never be compromised in pursuit of success. Rest and relaxation are important steps when pursuing our goals.

“Past a certain point, more effort doesn’t produce better performance” (p. 96). This realization guides our approach to consistency. Setting daily lower and upper bounds for our accomplishments ensures a sustainable pace while maintaining focus on our end goals. By avoiding vagueness and embracing the first step, we create momentum and achieve remarkable results.

Leverage Effortless Results

To effectively navigate the complexities of our lives, it’s important to sort through the clutter in our minds. Our team members recommend centralizing all tasks in a single location, prioritizing them, and engaging in regular meditation.

Effortless results also come from leveraging the knowledge and experiences of others. At Menlo Group, we share our expertise to magnify our efforts and contribute to the success of our clients. Automation, checklists, and streamlined processes reduce errors, eliminate unnecessary decisions, and create space for innovation and growth. Our repeat clients have commented on how improvements to our processes have made for a smoother commercial real estate experience.

Build Stronger Relationships and Teams

At Menlo Group, we understand that relationships are the foundation of success. Being fully present in our interactions and prioritizing respect strengthen the bonds we share. Even when wronged, we choose to focus on what we can control and move forward, creating a supportive and collaborative environment.

In addition, the power of a “Clearness Committee” is undeniable. By offering non-judgmental listening and asking clarifying questions, we help others discover their own best solutions. In our office, we embrace this approach, fostering an environment where everyone feels empowered to seek guidance and find the most effective solutions to challenges.

Trust is the cornerstone of successful teamwork. By establishing clear expectations, roles, rules, resources, and rewards, we foster an environment of high trust. Hiring the right people and empowering them to take ownership of their work cultivates a positive and productive atmosphere, where problem-solving takes precedence over problem management.

Everyone has the power to choose the easier path, one that harmonizes their well-being with their goals. Our team has discovered the transformative power of embracing effortlessness, and we will continue to apply this approach to create a more seamless and satisfying experience for our team members and clients.