“Simplify your life” by w. Tiki kustenmaker and lothar j. Seiwert
The seven steps in order to simplify your life! A while ago, a friend of mine took me to this flea market she knew - one of those places that sells all sorts of things where you can finds lots of interesting stuff.
I came across a book that I was immediately intrigued by when I started browsing through it. That’s often the way I choose books, so I prefer real printed editions: I don’t tend to look for specific titles (on the internet) unless someone has recommended something or I know the author.
Moreover, as Einstein himself suggests, simplicity is an advantage:
If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.
– Albert Einstein
The book I’m talking about was quite a find.
There are probably lots of articles and essays on the subject of creating order in the strict sense of the term and on the broader concepts inspired by Japanese culture (e.g. feng shui).
This book was written by a German author I didn’t know - a Protestant minister - and offers seven simple steps to take back control of your life and introduce order to it.
The author
Werner Tiki Kusternmaker, born in 1953, is an evangelical pastor who trained as a journalist. Since 1990 he has been working as a freelance cartoonist, author and journalist. He has published more than 50 books. Along with his wife Marion, he is the chief editor of the monthly consulting service "Simplify your life". They live with their three children just outside Munich.
The co-author
Lothar J. Seiwert, born in 1952, is the author of bestsellers, a well-known expert and the leading German time management and life organisation consultant. His books have been translated into more than 20 languages and he has received numerous national and international awards as an author and speaker. His coaching and consulting service based in Heidelberg specialises in Team Management and Life Leadership.
The book
It’s probably happened to you too: before resuming a project or embarking on a new adventure, I need to put things in order, get everything in its place and maybe even get rid of something or … someone. It’s only natural. You need to create some vital space in time, in your mind, in your heart ...
The seven steps - starting from the foundations – are arranged by the author in order of difficulty and effort:
- Simplify your stuff
- Simplify your finances
- Simplify your time
- Simplify your health
- Simplify your relationships
- Simplify the relationship with your partner
- Simplify yourself
This is an inspiring read and a manual that provides lots of useful tips. You can tell it was written a while ago (at least my edition was), but if you are open-minded enough to read the word “paper” and take this to mean "PC" (to make the tips more relevant to the present) you’ll enjoy it and get a lot out of it.
And GoodGoing! ?
GoodGoing! professionals won’t tell you how to live your life, they’re not Life Coaches…
But we can help people wanting to create order in their business affairs, their jobs and time. Moreover, it’s clear that a person is a SINGLE being, so you can’t be separated their job from their life, especially nowadays. Many of the issues and suggestions discussed in this book are ones we value too so we’d like to share these by recommending this book and - if necessary - through our own specific professional support.
