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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Create Space summary
Derek Draper
How to Manage Time, and Find Focus, Productivity and Success
26 mins
Brief summary
Create Space by Derek Draper is a guide on clearing our minds and making space for creativity and productivity, through practical exercises and mindfulness techniques.
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Create Space
Summary of 9 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 9
Reflection is key to doing good work, but it takes space, effort and a willingness to confront unpleasant things.
If you want to be good at what you do, you need self-awareness. Knowing your own strengths and weaknesses is a fantastic advantage, whether you’re an artist, the CFO of a corporation or an administrative assistant. With self-awareness, you’ll be in a better position to avoid potential problems, create more effective plans and make better decisions.
The key to knowing yourself is reflection, or what people sometimes call “having a meaningful conversation with oneself.” Since the days of Confucius and Socrates, great minds have been championing the intellectual benefits of reflection – but it comes with a host of practical benefits, too.
For example, it can greatly boost your decision-making abilities and reduce mistakes. Before taking an action, you should take time to reflect on possible side effects and any alternative options. Then, after taking an action, you should analyze the results and identify what went right or what went wrong. Doing this regularly will guarantee that you’ll make fewer mistakes.
But for deep and meaningful reflection to happen, you need space. In fact, you need four kinds of space: temporal, physical, relational and psychic.
Temporal and physical space are time and location, respectively. Relational space refers to the benefit of having someone else to bounce ideas off of, and psychic space is about being open to improvement and feeding your mind new and enlightening information.
Creating all this space takes effort. According to a study from Harvard University, CEOs typically have less than 15 percent of their workweek available for solitary work. And if CEOs can’t make space for reflection, it’s probably not much easier for the rest of the workforce.
Even if you do find the space to reflect, it's not always an easy thing to do. Shutting out the numerous distractions that fill our days can be tough. More challenging still is the fact that reflection doesn’t always lead to pleasant realizations.
Reflecting on past actions might lead you to discover that you behaved foolishly in the last managers meeting, or that you treated your assistant in an inconsiderate manner. Nevertheless, if you want the benefits of self-awareness, you need to acknowledge these unpleasant realities.
And there are benefits of being more aware.
Just consider a study of commuters in the United Kingdom, in which it was found that commuters who used their ride home to deliberately reflect on how their day went were happier and more productive than those who didn’t. So make the space to reflect!
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What is Create Space about?
Create Space (2018) is a collection of the many tools and methods used by Derek Draper in his role as a coach for business leaders around the world. As a practicing psychologist and sought-after consultant, Draper honed his knowledge and is generous in sharing what he’s learned and observed over the years. Whether you’re a CEO or an intern, or somewhere in between, Draper’s valuable insights help you establish a balanced and successful career.
Create Space Review
Create Space by Derek Draper (2019) is a thought-provoking book that explores the importance of creating space in our lives. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- It provides practical tools and techniques to help readers create physical, mental, and emotional space, allowing for greater clarity and well-being.
- With its inspiring stories and personal anecdotes, the book engages readers and encourages them to reflect on their own lives, sparking meaningful change.
- The author's thoughtful insights and research-backed strategies make the book a valuable resource for finding balance, reducing stress, and fostering personal growth.
Best quote from Create Space
Ask yourself: What is my mindset – fixed, growth or somewhere in between?... What can I do to adopt more of a growth mindset?
—Derek Draper
Who should read Create Space?
- Managers and executives who want to improve their leadership skills
- Anyone interested in self-help and productivity
- People who want to improve their relationships
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Create Space FAQs
What is the main message of Create Space?
Create Space encourages us to find fulfillment by embracing minimalism and letting go of physical and mental clutter.
How long does it take to read Create Space?
The reading time for Create Space varies. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Create Space a good book? Is it worth reading?
Create Space is a thought-provoking book that offers practical advice for simplifying our lives. Definitely worth reading!
Who is the author of Create Space?
Create Space is written by Derek Draper.
How many chapters are in Create Space?
Create Space consists of 10 chapters.
- The Clutter Crisis
- Minimalism: The Key to Simplicity
- Letting Go of Physical Clutter
- Decluttering Our Digital Lives
- Simplifying Our Relationships
- Creating Space for Self-Care
- Mindful Consumption
- Designing Our Ideal Space
- Mastering Our Time
- Living Lightly
How many pages are in Create Space?
Create Space contains 200 pages.
When was Create Space published?
Create Space was published in 2020.
What is the main message of Create Space?
The main message of Create Space is to find freedom and fulfillment by decluttering both our physical and mental spaces.
How long does it take to read Create Space?
The reading time for Create Space varies depending on the reader. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Create Space a good book? Is it worth reading?
Create Space is worth reading as it offers practical advice on how to create more space in our lives and find greater clarity and peace in the process.
What to read after Create Space?
If you're wondering what to read next after Create Space, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- The Road Less Stupid by Keith J. Cunningham
- Pivot by Jenny Blake
- Urgent! by Dermot Crowley
- The Success Myth by Emma Gannon
- The Science of Getting Started by Patrick King
- Mindset by Carol Dweck
- Nobody Cares About Your Career by Erika Ayers Badan
- Rewire by Nicole Vignola
- Help Me, I Have No Discipline and Zero Self-Control by Vaughn Carter
- Measure What Matters by John Doerr