In 2019, a friend gave me a brand-new copy of Essentialism by Greg McKeown, telling me it was the perfect book for a young professional and new leader. At the time, I was just stepping into an executive leadership role in a vocational rehabilitation agency. I was managing projects, supporting staff, and trying to stay afloat. This book wasn’t a productivity manual. It didn’t offer tips for doing more in less time or color-coded systems for task management. It was a mindset shift: an invitation to slow down, reflect, and rethink what

actually deserves our time and energy. It challenged the idea that success is about doing everything and instead offered a framework for doing the right things, the essential things, with clarity and purpose.

McKeown writes, “The way of the Essentialist means living by design, not by default. Instead of making choices reactively, the Essentialist deliberately distinguishes the vital few from the trivial many, eliminates the non-essentials, and then removes obstacles so the essential things have a clear, smooth passage. In other words, Essentialism is a disciplined, systematic approach for determining where our highest point of contribution lies, then making the execution of those things almost effortless.” That reframed how I approached my time, my leadership, and my life.

I’ve since read it three times and even offered it as the focus of a management book club. The conversations that followed sparked meaningful discussion and fresh approaches to how we structure time, communication, and collaboration. My copy is now well-worn:

highlighted, flagged, and filled with margin notes. When I feel adrift or rudderless, I return to Essentialism to pause, think, prioritize, and remember what is within my control and what truly matters.

The lessons from this book have shaped how I lead, how I rest, and how I help others navigate the pressures of service. In a field where burnout is common and time feels scarce, Essentialism offers clarity. Its themes align with purpose-driven, conscious, and

collaborative leadership. It reminds us that we make the greatest impact not by doing more, but by doing what truly matters with intention and heart.

Submitted by:
Heather Servais, CRL

Heather Servais is a results-driven Project Manager and Vocational Rehabilitation professional with over 15 years of experience in vocational rehabilitation, program management, leadership development, and stakeholder engagement. Her career has been dedicated to creating meaningful opportunities and driving positive outcomes for individuals with disabilities by leveraging innovative strategies, collaborative partnerships, and evidence-based practices. Heather is currently a Project Manager at New Editions Consulting, Inc., where she oversees complex initiatives, ensures compliance with federal standards, and fosters knowledge-sharing through outreach, training, and resource development. Prior to New Editions, Heather held executive and leadership roles within state vocational rehabilitation agencies, where she spearheaded statewide service delivery models, developed workforce and transition programs, and designed professional development pathways for staff. Her leadership style emphasizes collaboration, inclusion, and empowering teams to excel. In addition to her professional roles, Heather serves on the Executive Committee for the National Rehabilitation Association and mentoring Certified Rehabilitation Leader (CRL) candidates. These roles allow her to give back to the rehabilitation community while advancing the mission of ethical and effective practices. Heather holds multiple credentials, including PMP, CRC, CVE, CPM, and is a Certified Rehabilitation Leader (CRL), graduating from the inaugural Transformational Rehabilitation Leadership Training cohort.