I absolutely love this book.
It’s one of my regular re-reads for many reasons, but one of the key ones is that the ideas in it have such wide applicability.
It’s a book about creating purposeful gatherings that also works for creating clarity and focus in our lives - so we can be clear on what matters most, and then organise our time and energy around it.
I have many of the key elements captured on Post-its, but my favourites are these: “Commit to a bold, sharp purpose” and “Close the door to create the room”.
And for that, you need to manage your “Bob’s”.
In the book, Bob’s aren’t the primary audience of the gathering or a wholehearted yes to serve the purpose, but also not a clear no - which puts them in the murky middle.
They are people who end up on the guest list of a gathering by default or obligation, and - through no fault of their own - dilute the impact and scatter the focus of it.
Each Bob takes time and attention from what and who you’re actually there for.
It’s so useful to draw parallels with how we spend our own time and energy.
It’s generally easy for us to identify the things, people and activities that absolutely fit our life. That light us up and play to our strengths. We can say a wholehearted yes to them.
It can also be easy to identify the ones that don’t - the immediate no’s that absolutely drain us, that take more than they give and we know are not for us.
The challenge often lies with the in between. They could fit; they don’t not fit…
It can be so tempting to keep them in the mix, because it feels like they won’t make that much of a difference.
And yet they do.
Individually not so much, but combined they can clutter up our lives and spread us too thin. Our time, energy and attention are precious, and everyone benefits when it’s being channelled with purpose.
Do you have too many Bob’s?
What helps you choose when it’s not a clear yes or no?
And what would it look like to treat your to do list like a purpose driven guest list?
Wishing you fewer Bob’s in your life,
