Monthly Archives: June 2018

Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less

The Way of the Essentialist involves doing less, but better, so you can make the highest possible contribution.

The Way of the Essentialist isn’t about getting more done in less time. It’s not about getting less done. It’s about getting only the right things done. It’s about challenging the core assumption of ‘we can have it all’ and ‘I have to do everything’ and replacing it with
the pursuit of ‘the right thing, in the right way, at the right time’. It’s about regaining control of our own choices about where to spend our time and energies instead of giving others implicit permission to choose for us.

In Essentialism, Greg McKeown draws on experience and insight from working with the leaders of the most innovative companies in the world to show how to achieve the disciplined pursuit of less.

By applying a more selective criteria for what is essential, the pursuit of less allows us to regain control of our own choices so we can channel our time, energy and effort into making the highest possible contribution toward the goals and activities that matter.

This week at Good / True / & Beautiful Podcast Greg McKeown joins us as we talk about Essentialism and the numerous key takeaways this work offers.

You can stream or download this episode in iTunesStitcher, and at AshtonGustafson.com

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Leadership, Vision, & Purpose with Chris Powers // CEO of Fort Capital

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Chris Powers is a serial entrepreneur with more than 13 years of real estate development and investment experience and has developed over $200M in multi-family, student housing, commercial/industrial, and residential & land development projects throughout Fort Worth and the greater DFW Metroplex. Chris is a visionary with a demonstrated talent in looking ahead at what could be and understanding what must be done today to get there. His ability to conceptualize, raise capital, and execute are only a small part of what Chris brings to the table.

Chris oversees the vision for Fort Capital, Fort’s largest deals, capital relationships, executive level recruiting, strategic partnerships, and chairs the investment committee. Creating meaningful relationships and building a team around a vision and Fort’s goals are the most important qualities that make Chris ready for the job. With a belief that investing time in people is the best investment that can be made, Chris has built a strong network throughout Texas that has helped catapult Fort to where it is today.  “I want to build a culture that fosters creativity and creates leaders – our goal is to be the absolute best place to work in Fort Worth, because when we have the best people who are encouraged to give their best – we are unstoppable.”

Powers graduated with a BBA in Finance & Marketing from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, TX. Innovative, ethics-driven, people-focused, community-minded and passionate about ideas that matter, Powers’ professional philosophy remains the same as his personal one: “Tell the truth and be nice to people.” As a champion of young entrepreneurship and causes that give our youth better resources, Chris is passionate about serving Rivertree Academy in Fort Worth, the TCU Chancellor’s Advisory Council, and the Ben Hogan Strategic Advisory Board. He is also a member of the Forbes Real Estate Council and Fort Worth YPO Chapter. He lives in Fort Worth, TX with his wife Mikal, his daughter Palmer.

You can stream or download this episode in iTunes, Stitcher, and at AshtonGustafson.com.

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A Conversation with Mark Nepo

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Mark Nepo moved and inspired readers and seekers all over the world with his #1 New York Times bestseller The Book of Awakening.  Beloved as a poet, teacher, and storyteller, Mark has been called “one of the finest spiritual guides of our time,” “a consummate storyteller,” and “an eloquent spiritual teacher.” His work is widely accessible and used by many and his books have been translated into more than twenty languages.  A bestselling author, he has published twenty books and recorded fourteen audio projects.  In 2015, he was given a Life-Achievement Award by AgeNation.  And in 2016, he was named by Watkins: Mind Body Spirit as one of the 100 Most Spiritually Influential Living People, and was also chosen as one of OWN’s SuperSoul 100, a group of inspired leaders using their gifts and voices to elevate humanity.

You can stream or download this episode in iTunes and at Sticher.com.

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Grace

My experience has led me to notice that most of us tend to ‘say grace’ not out of a spirit of awe and wonder, but more often with a posture of obligation, duty, and routine. It’s just what you do, in some circles, after your aunt has prepared her casserole for your uncle’s birthday.

If we’re honest, connecting grace to annual casserole traditions hasn’t helped our eyes learn how to search for true grace.

But it doesn’t have to be this way.

Grace can be and is always more available than we tend to be.

And the second we allow ourselves to become available is the second grace becomes the very air we breathe.

Until we start seeing grace in the very chair we’re sitting in, we’ll continue to be blind in our steps that follow.

So look for grace today.

Even if it’s just to yourself, say something when you see it.

Watch it start to multiply.

Watch yourself start to be it.

We always will see through the eyes of what we’re becoming.

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Loving and Winning

We hear a lot about win-win.

But is it possible that we can start a love-love movement?

I dare you to enter your next interactions letting your friends, family, and customers know – from the get-go –  that you have no record of wrongs and don’t plan on recording any in the future, patience will be present, kindness will be your music, and that you will always protect, always trust, always hope, and always persevere.

They will love you.

Humans love to win.

Human beings love to have loved and love to have been loved.

Sounds like love-love is the new win-win.

Feels like it too.

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