This week we are kicking off with the first part of The One Thing. This book has many great principles to focus on what matters. The focus of this book is to focus on the ONE thing you want to do and becoming successful in that. It is narrowing down the focus on the task and lining up your priorities to make everything fall into place when you do the right thing. When you make something visual, you make it public and it steps it up and holds you to more accountability. No one succeeds alone. Success builds on success over time; it is one right choice than another right choice over and over again.  

Passion leads to time spent; time spent on a task leads to skill; skill on a task leads to results; results leads to enjoyment; enjoyment leads to passion. It is a full circle on repeat. 

Part one’s focus is: If you repeat lies enough it eventually becomes true. They list out six lies we make ourselves believe and attack those beliefs. The first lie we tend to believe is “Everything Matters Equally.” Everything we do is a choice, the question is, is your choice the right one with the right priority? Achievers work from a clear sense of priority. They are focused in a specific direction and organized. Take the first 20%, then the 20%, then the 20%, then the 20% down to the ONE thing.  Sometimes the first thing you do will be the only thing you do, make sure it's the right task! 

The second lie is “Multitasking” which is a lie. You might be able to do two things, but you can only focus on one thing; your attention bounces back and forth. With multitasking, it often leads to slower progress, more mistakes, and more stress. We expect pilots and surgeons to focus on their ONE thing, why don’t we focus on our ONE thing? Distraction is natural but it undermines results. Focus hard on the ONE thing.  

The third lie is the need for a “Disciplined Life.” We don’t need more discipline, we just need more direction and learn how to manage it better. Once a new behavior becomes a habit it takes less discipline. Be disciplined to build one habit at a time, giving each habit enough time. The momentum takes over once you have systems and habits built. 

“Willpower is always on will-call” is the fourth lie we tend to repeat. Especially this generation we struggle with delayed gratification.  Willpower is a timing game. Work can be exhausting. The more we use our mind, the less mind power we have and there comes a point where we need to be recharged. When willpower runs out we all revert to our default settings. Knowing this it is critical to do what matters most when your willpower is high. Timing is everything. Monitor your energy and effort. 

This leads to the next lie of a “Balanced Life.” This is a juggling act between and within Work, Family, Health, Friends, and Integrity. Work is a rubber ball and can bounce back up but you have to be careful because all others are made of glass if they fall. It is important to remain aware and focus your time and energy on what matters the most. You can’t get time back. Extraordinary results require focused attention and time. “Even if you're sure you can win, be careful that you can live with what you lose.” The act of living a full life by giving time to what matters is the true balancing act.

The final lie mentioned is, “Big is Bad.” Thinking big is essential to extraordinary results. It’s about bold ideas that might threaten your comfort zones but simultaneously reflect your greatest opportunities. What you build today will either empower or restrict you tomorrow. It's a platform or a box that is trapping you. Dare to think big, set a goal far above and do a different. One of the biggest setbacks to being bold is the fear of failure. Strive to hit your ONE thing and stay focused to achieve it.   

 

What's the ONE thing you can do this week such that by doing it everything else would be easier or unnecessary?