We live in a world obsessed with doing more. More tasks, more activities, more goals, more possessions. We feel overwhelmed, stressed, and like we’re constantly running on a hamster wheel, trying to keep up with the endless demands of modern life.
But what if there was a simpler way to achieve success and happiness? What if the answer wasn’t more, but less?
That’s the central idea of The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan. This book completely challenges our assumptions about productivity, goal setting, and how we prioritize our lives.
Success is Sequential, Not Simultaneous
It’s easy to assume successful people achieve their goals by doing everything all at once! They seem superhuman and achieve success in more than one area of their lives – business, sports, family, you name it. However, that’s usually not how it actually works. Their success is built sequentially, one thing after another.
Think of it like a domino effect. When we focus on that one key task, that one important goal, and knock it over, it creates a ripple effect that simplifies and amplifies everything else we do:
"Extraordinary success is sequential, not simultaneous. What starts out linear becomes geometric. You do the right thing and then you do the next right thing. Over time it adds up, and the geometric potential of success is unleashed.”
So, instead of scattering our energy and attention across multiple projects, multiple tasks and burning out before achieving any of them, what if we focused on just one thing at a time?
Success Leaves Clues, look For the “ONE Thing”
If you want to see this principle in action, look around! It’s everywhere!
Think about successful companies: They usually have ONE product or service that made them successful! Microsoft? Windows. Apple? The iPhone. Google? Search.
Look at successful individuals: They usually focus on ONE key skill, ONE passion, ONE area of expertise that sets them apart from the crowd! Think Michael Phelps (swimming), Oprah Winfrey (connecting with her audience), or Bill Gates (coding).
Why Multitasking is a Lie
Multitasking makes us less productive, not more.
It’s tempting to try and juggle multiple tasks at once. We want to feel productive and it’s easier to switch than focus on a hard problem. But this is a trap.
Switching between tasks can lead to increased:
Stress
Error
Time
What’s happening in our brains? Every time we shift our attention from one task to another, there is a switching cost.
The more frequently we check our messages or notifications on our phones or change our tasks on our computers, the less time we actually have left to actually focus and do meaningful work.
So what’s the solution? It’s focus.
Gary says that “When you try to do two things at once, you either can’t or won’t do either well”.
It’s like trying to listen to two songs at the same time – you end up not really hearing either of them. Or being stuck between two people. Or even just juggling multiple different things at once. It’s all going to end badly. You can’t give your full attention to two things simultaneously.
When we learn to prioritize and to say no to distractions, that’s when our productivity soars! When we block out distractions and get into a state of deep work we produce those amazing results, the ones that are hard to replicate.
Living a Life of No Regrets
We’re told to chase happiness, to seek out those experiences that make us feel good. But what if happiness isn’t the goal, but a byproduct of something bigger, of living a life aligned with our deepest values and goals? What if happiness happens on the way to fulfillment?
I found the Begging Bowl Story in the book really thought-provoking. It’s about a king who encounters a beggar and asks, “What can I give you?” The beggar gives a seemingly simple request. And it’s that kind of thing, we want to be finding those small tiny requests that are so profound, but that are going to give us everything.
This story is a powerful reminder that acquiring things, achieving goals, and collecting experiences, won’t bring us any lasting happiness. True fulfillment comes from connecting our actions to a larger purpose, a "Big Why” that drives us and makes our lives feel meaningful.
As the authors say:
“Purpose is the straightest path to power and the ultimate source of personal strength—strength of conviction and strength to persevere.”
This is one thing I’ve noticed about high achievers, they’re not just good at what they do; they believe their work matters, and that belief pushes their efforts.
Living a Life of Purpose, Priority, and Productivity
The authors argue that the secret to achieving extraordinary results comes down to three key areas:
Purpose: Finding our “Big Why,” the thing that drives us and gives our lives meaning.
Priority: Identifying the actions we need to take to achieve our purpose. It’s not about doing it all, but about doing the most important things!
Productivity: Making those priorities a reality, consistently taking those actions, even when it’s hard, even when it’s boring, and especially when we don’t feel like it.
Here’s the formula for extraordinary results:
Live with purpose. Live by priority. Live for productivity.
The Focusing Question: How to Get It Right, Every Time
When it comes to identifying our priorities, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. We have good intentions, and tons of opportunities, and feel like if we say “no” we’re going to miss out on something important.
The authors recommend using a simple, yet transformative question called the Focusing Question to cut through the clutter, identify the most impactful task, and move us closer to our goals.
“What’s the ONE Thing I can do such that by doing it everything else will be easier or unnecessary?”
There are two ways to use the Focusing Question:
Big Picture: “What’s my ONE Thing?”—for long-term vision and strategic planning. This question should be asked on a somewhat regular basis to identify what is important for our lives and in particular if you are a student thinking about your studies if you’re working on extracurricular projects or if you’re starting your own business. The question here is, what am I going to do with my life? It’s about aligning our efforts with a larger purpose and giving our lives meaning! This big-picture question has to be regularly asked so that we know if we’re drifting or deviating from where we’re going.
Small Focus: “What’s my ONE Thing right now?”—for daily actions and decision-making. It’s about taking that big vision and breaking it down into specific tasks, those daily actions that move us closer to where we’re going! This is a powerful question, the kind that you can use to break through procrastination, focus on what truly matters, and make every moment count.
The Focusing Question isn’t identifying impactful tasks; it’s also eliminating those tasks that don’t contribute to our ONE Thing, those shallow activities, non-essential projects, and everything else that clutters our days and scatters our focus.
Success is a Habit – Learning to Live The ONE Thing
Asking the Focusing Question is the first step to achieving success through this methodology, but it’s not enough to just know it; we have to live it!
We have to turn it into a habit, an automatic response.
Here are a few tips:
Ask the Question… Often! Make it a daily ritual, a non-negotiable part of your day, like drinking coffee, brushing our teeth, or even waking up! At first, you might feel like it’s a bit much, but over time, with enough repetitions, the answers become clearer, the distractions are silenced and the right actions come to you almost effortlessly!
Write Down the Answers: We’re more likely to take action on those answers and turn them into reality when we actually take the time to write them down.
Use Visual Reminders: We’re more likely to remember if there’s a visual. So put your ONE Thing on a sticky note, make it your phone wallpaper, or create a vision board that keeps you focused and motivated. It could even be those reminders that other people have that are making sure that you remember what’s important to you.
Get an Accountability Partner: Knowing that someone is expecting us to follow through can make all the difference. Find a friend, a mentor, or even a coach who will support you, challenge you, and keep you on track with your ONE Thing.
It’s Your Life: Design It for Extraordinary Results
The ONE Thing is a surprisingly simple, yet incredibly powerful concept. Focusing our time, energy and attention on the activities that will make the biggest difference in our lives, then using that focus to achieve results we never thought possible. Ditching the myth of “having it all” and embracing the power of ONE.
So, What is your ONE thing?
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