The One Thing is knowing that at any given point in time, there is only one most important thing to do. Always doing the One Thing will enable you to achieve anything and everything you want in life. It will either make everything else easier or make those things unnecessary entirely.
Favorite Quote
"It's recognizing that not all things matter equally and finding the things that matter most. A tighter way to connect what you do with what you want. Realize that extraordinary results are directly determined by how narrow you can make your focus." ~ Gary Keller
Key Takeaways
- Ask the Focusing Question constantly: "What's the ONE Thing I can do such that by doing it, everything else will be easier or unnecessary?"
- Success works like dominoes. Line up the right one first and it can topple everything else in a chain reaction.
- Multitasking is a lie. You can do two things at once, but you can't actually focus on two things at once, and task switching has a real efficiency cost.
- A "balanced life" is also a lie. Extraordinary results require going out of balance on purpose, on the things that matter most, for a defined period of time.
- Do your One Thing first, early in the day, before your willpower and self-control get drawn down by everything else.
- Time block your calendar: your time off first, then your One Thing, then your weekly planning time, and protect those blocks fiercely.
- Watch for the Four Thieves of productivity: an inability to say no, fear of chaos, poor health habits, and an environment that doesn't support your goals.