Let’s not pretend. There’s something oddly satisfying about building a gorgeous slide deck with perfectly cropped logos and a clever three-part slogan. But when you zoom out, was that the work… or just your way of delaying the harder stuff?
There’s a moment in The Devil Wears Prada where Anne Hathaway’s character stresses over “cerulean” sweater choices—and Meryl Streep eviscerates her for not realizing that small choices matter. In GovCon, we sometimes play the opposite game: we act like everything is mission-critical, even when it’s not. The result? Complexity for complexity’s sake.
McKeown’s Effortless reminded me that not everything needs a 17-step workflow. This week, if you caught yourself adding extra process, building a RACI when a quick call would’ve done the job, or scheduling a meeting to plan a meeting… yeah, same. Next time, let’s choose the easier win and save the performance art for Netflix.
Why I liked it…
- Simplifies execution: Helps you stop overworking simple tasks to prioritize ease over grind.
- Strategic clarity: Shifts focus from “hard work” to right work—critical in deadline-driven proposal cycles.
- Process-first mindset: Encourages building low-friction systems that deliver results without burnout.
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