The ONE Thing – Gary Keller and Jay Papasan

by · 16 October 2024

“The ONE Thing” emphasizes a simple but powerful concept: to achieve extraordinary results, you need to focus on the one thing that matters most in any given situation. Keller and Papasan argue that we often try to do too much, spread ourselves too thin, and lose sight of what drives success. By identifying your top priority—the “one thing” that will make the biggest impact—you can achieve better results in less time, with less stress.

1. The Focusing Question

At the heart of the book is the Focusing Question:

  • “What’s the ONE thing I can do such that by doing it, everything else will be easier or unnecessary?”

This question helps you pinpoint the most critical task in any area of your life. Whether it’s for your career, health, or relationships, identifying your one thing allows you to direct your energy toward what matters most. By focusing on your most impactful task, everything else either falls into place or becomes irrelevant.

2. The Domino Effect

  • Small steps lead to big results: The analogy of dominos explains how small, focused actions can lead to massive results. If you knock over the first domino (your one thing), it sets off a chain reaction that can lead to huge breakthroughs. By consistently focusing on your one thing, even the most challenging goals become achievable over time.
  • Start with small, manageable actions: Just like a single small domino can topple much larger ones, taking consistent, focused action on your one thing can lead to exponential progress.

3. The Myth of Multitasking

  • Multitasking is inefficient: Keller and Papasan emphasize that multitasking is a myth. Our brains can’t truly focus on more than one thing at a time, and switching between tasks reduces our productivity and increases stress.
  • Focus on one task at a time: To maximize efficiency and effectiveness, you need to time-block your schedule and dedicate uninterrupted time to your one thing. When you focus on one task, you can complete it faster and with better results than when you try to juggle multiple tasks.

4. Time Blocking

  • Time blocking is one of the most practical strategies. It involves setting aside specific blocks of time during the day for your one thing. During this time, you eliminate distractions and fully focus on your priority.
  • How to time block:
    • Block time for your ONE thing: At least 4 hours a day to work on your most important task.
    • Block time for rest and recovery: It’s also essential to set aside time for breaks, rest, and self-care to avoid burnout and maintain long-term productivity.

5. The Lies that Hold Us Back

The book identifies six common myths, or “lies,” that can derail your productivity and prevent you from focusing on one thing:

  1. Everything matters equally: Not all tasks are created equal. Only a few things (the “one thing”) drive results, and focusing on those high-impact tasks is what makes the difference.
  2. Multitasking: As mentioned earlier, multitasking divides your focus and energy, making you less productive.
  3. A disciplined life: People often believe that success requires constant discipline, but Keller and Papasan argue that discipline is only needed to form habits. Once a habit is formed (like focusing on one thing), it becomes automatic, and you need less discipline to maintain it.
  4. Willpower is always on call: Willpower is like a battery—it depletes over time. That’s why it’s important to tackle your one thing when your willpower is strongest, typically early in the day.
  5. A balanced life: Striving for balance can be counterproductive. Instead, you should embrace purposeful imbalance by focusing heavily on one thing and allowing other areas to take a backseat temporarily.
  6. Big is bad: Thinking small limits your potential. Keller encourages readers to set ambitious goals and embrace the possibility of achieving big, extraordinary results.

6. Goal Setting to the Now

One of the unique concepts is “Goal Setting to the Now,” which helps you break down long-term goals into actionable, short-term steps:

  • Someday Goal: What is the ONE thing I want to achieve someday?
  • Five-Year Goal: Based on my someday goal, what’s the ONE thing I need to accomplish in the next five years?
  • One-Year Goal: Based on my five-year goal, what’s the ONE thing I need to achieve this year?
  • Monthly Goal: Based on my one-year goal, what’s the ONE thing I can accomplish this month?
  • Weekly Goal: Based on my monthly goal, what’s the ONE thing I need to do this week?
  • Daily Goal: Based on my weekly goal, what’s the ONE thing I need to do today?
  • Right Now: Based on my daily goal, what’s the ONE thing I can do right now?

This method ensures that your daily actions are always aligned with your long-term goals, creating a clear path toward success.

7. The Power of Habits

  • Habits build momentum: Success is built through consistent habits. By making your one thing a daily habit, you can create sustained progress over time.
  • The 66-Day Challenge: Research shows that it takes an average of 66 days to form a new habit. To commit to focusing on one thing for 66 consecutive days to make it an ingrained habit.

8. Protecting Your One Thing

To make sure you stay focused on your one thing.

  • Learn to say no: Saying no to distractions, fewer tasks, and unnecessary commitments is essential for staying focused on your priorities. This might be uncomfortable, but it’s key to protecting your time and energy.
  • Manage distractions: Create an environment that minimizes distractions—turn off notifications, set boundaries with colleagues or family during your time block, and remove any non-essential tasks.

CONCLUSION

“The ONE Thing” teaches us that success doesn’t come from trying to do it all, but from focusing on the few things that truly matter. By consistently asking the Focusing Question—“What’s the ONE thing I can do such that by doing it, everything else will be easier or unnecessary?”—and dedicating time to that task, you can achieve extraordinary results.

Gary Keller and Jay Papasan’s approach simplifies the path to success. By identifying your one thing, time-blocking your schedule, and forming habits around your priorities, you can accomplish more with less stress and create a life of purpose and productivity.

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