Greatly admired, but also a great man who had a great life...

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Peter Drucker was the management consultant to the management consultants.  He was one of the true greats.  But people fail to realize that he also was a model of how to live life and a huge model of how to contribute to the world!  

We can learn much from how he lived his life and how he advises that we live our lives.

From the article:  Peter Drucker's Principles For A "Total Life", in quotes, my comments in italics: 

"2. Make time for thinking

Thinking is hard work in our fast-paced society. Break from the daily grind to think about where you are and where you're going. Carve out time for self-reflection, a walk, practicing yoga or meditation, or enjoying nature."

All life successful people spend alot of time thinking, looking at things from a higher perspective, and asking something the equivalent of "how can I make things work better?" and "what problem is there that needs fixing?"  And then they do something about what is needed, immediately, or at least as expeditiously as possible. 

Make yourself "unbusy" and leave yourself lots of time to think (and read and learn) and to make things better, for yourself and others.

"3. Practice "systematic abandonment"

"People are effective because they say no,'" declared Drucker. What he called "systematic abandonment" means stepping back at regular intervals to determine which of your present activities can be scaled back or eliminated. Only then can you make way for something more fruitful."

Warren Buffett's advice is to say "no" to almost everything and "yes" only to the truly outstanding value producing opportunities.  

We can never truly succeed in life if we live the agendas others have for us, for we are doing what serves them, rather than what we choose for ourselves.

Do not even choose things of "medium value" or of "some value", for that is the road to mediocrity, to living a mediocre life. 

"5. Become a mentor

If you've been guided by mentors of your own, pay it back by mentoring others. If not, look for opportunities to both mentor and be mentored."

Helping to change another's life for the better, in some concrete way, rather than do something of "general good", will bring true meaning to one's life.  Don't settle for less...

Peter Drucker was one of the biggest advocates for choosing only the highest payoff activities.  And he mentored some truly great people, including one of my most admired: Frances Hesselbein, one of the greatest contributor of multiple benefits to others.  Born in 1915, she still goes into the "office"...  

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It takes no more effort to make great contributions to others and to have a great life than it does to have a lesser life.  Many people think it is harder, but it isn't.  The difference lies in thinking more (reflecting, seeking higher solutions) and in choosing only to do that which is worthy of a great life, dropping all the less valuable and choosing only that which is of the highest value, without compromise.  

We can all live calm, collected, paced, easy, graceful, meaningful lives if we but choose the path of learning how to manage our lives and all that is in it...and to dump all that doesn't fit that... 

(He wrote a classic article for The Harvard Business Review, one that I think everybody should read and follow:  Managing Oneself, the bonus article is by one of my other most admired people.)

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