Essentialism @ Work
Jamie Russo is a thought leader in one of the most innovative arenas of the business world: coworking. Well before the Covid-19 pandemic had us thinking twice about where and how we work, Jamie was inviting entrepreneurs, startups, and remote workers into an exciting community and space. Now she helps coworking space owners and managers start and run spaces that attract their best members.
Full disclosure: I’m one of those coworking space owner wannabes who has listened to Jamie’s Everything Coworking podcast and benefited from her Everything Coworking Startup School. Her Everything Coworking Facebook group is my go-to place for business advice. And if she had a fan club, I’d be president.
How does a wife, mother, business owner, and Crossfit devotee also deliver a top-notch weekly podcast, lead several high-touch instructional cohorts each year, moderate a thriving Facebook group, and help lead the Global Workspace Association?
She has an essentialist* mindset. She is dedicated to doing less, but better.
Here’s how Jamie explains essentialism. “We have many, many choices in life about how we spend our time. Essentialism is a promise you make to yourself to think about all the possible ways you could spend your time, and choosing the very few things that make you feel the best. And that means you need to NOT do a lot of things that you COULD do with your time.”
Jamie admits it is difficult to consistently apply the “less is truly more” approach to daily actions. As an entrepreneur she often puts herself in startup environments where more is more. Her visionary strength can also make it difficult to edit possibilities and focus on a few key pursuits. And while she has some help building her business, she still wears many hats, some of which are not in her “zone of genius.”
What helps Jamie keep growing in her essentialism practice and her business is having an “essential intent.” Everything Coworking aims “to help people create coworking spaces which are community hubs where people can build meaningful relationships, make authentic connections, feel more confident as they build their businesses, and in turn, feel more purpose and joy in their lives.” This focus is a guidepost for determining which opportunities receive her time and energy.
But she refuses to rush that selection process. “I'm really focusing on not making any decision in the moment. Saying ‘yes’ is easy. Being intentional and forcing yourself to commit to a few things is hard! I’m training myself to pause and consider how saying ‘yes’ to something new will force a trade-off.” In practical terms, that looks like a daily reminder on her phone, or starting her annual planning process early so she can edit and focus her commitments for the coming year.
Taking even a few small steps toward being intentional with our time and energy makes a difference. We feel more focused, more confident in the ways we choose to spend our time in work and play. Jamie is reaping these benefits as a result of staying true to her essential intent, and she’s also making a significant impact in the coworking world. Thanks to her clear purpose, her focused content, and her sustained energy, Everything Coworking helps people start profitable coworking spaces they love and build engaging, fulfilling community hubs. This is the power of an essential focus in action.
Two Questions for You
What is your essential intent? In other words, what is the one thing you want to do exceptionally well, and how will you know when that has been accomplished?
What action step can you take to slow down your decisions and make sure your yeses align with your essential intent?
Build Your Essentialism Mindset
You can apply now for co:lab’s “Purpose-Driven Practice” workshop which will start on January 7, 2021. Join a small group for practical exercises and friendly accountability to hone your purpose and keep it at the center of your decisions. We will get you on the road to doing “less, but better.”
* If you’ve read Greg McKeown’s book, Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less, you know that essentialism is something like minimalism for your brain and calendar and energy reserves. It encourages us to look at our myriad decisions with a keen eye on what really matters. (If you haven’t read Essentialism, check it out. Or enjoy McKeown’s podcast.)