Create Space by Derek Draper Summary
Overview of Create Space
In a world where CEOs have just 28 minutes of uninterrupted work daily, "Create Space" offers the modern survival guide for reclaiming focus. Financial Times' Business Book of the Month reveals why, for the first time in history, success demands creating space - not filling it.
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Key takeaways
The Space Revolution: Breathing Room in a Crowded World
Imagine a world where your calendar isn't a battlefield of back-to-back meetings, where your mind isn't fractured by constant notifications, and where you actually have room to think deeply. This isn't some utopian fantasy - it's the revolutionary premise of "Create Space." While most productivity approaches focus on cramming more into our days, this counterintuitive philosophy argues for the opposite: creating deliberate emptiness that allows for deeper thinking, authentic connection, and meaningful action. The most striking insight? Before you can grow as a leader, you must first create the space you'll grow into. We've rapidly shifted from existing within boundless horizons to living in digital prisons of our own making. For 200,000 years, humans lived surrounded by limitless space, focused more on "being" than "doing." If human history were compressed into an 80-year lifespan, smartphones would appear only in the final few minutes. This transformation has profound implications - research confirms most professionals have only 70% of the space they need in their working lives. The solution? A framework addressing four dimensions: space to think, connect, do, and be. These dimensions align with capabilities like strategic thinking, collaboration, execution, and personal resilience that companies collectively spend nearly $50 billion annually trying to develop. Creating space isn't about managing time or energy alone - it's a state of mind that makes you master of your destiny rather than victim of circumstance.
The Power of Reflection and Learning: Finding Clarity in Chaos
Decisive Action: Knowing Your Mind and Trusting Your Judgment
Authentic Connection and Psychological Safety: The Foundation of Leadership
From Human Doing to Human Being: Reclaiming Your Purpose
Creating Your Space: A Call to Action
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"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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