The One Thing by Gary Keller, Jay Pappasan

THE ONE THING

        
Gary Keller, Jay Pappasan

  Management

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The simple approach to productivity.

 

1.The One Thing:

  • According to the author, there is only one question that needs to be asked to figure out your long-term and short-term priorities- “What’s the ONE thing I can do, such that by doing it everything else will become easier or unnecessary?”
  • The best shot at success at anything is by narrowing your focus on that ONE thing the most. 

 

2. Create A Domino Effect:

  • The secret sauce for extraordinary results is to create a domino effect in your life. Success will happen over time. It is built in a sequential manner and also compounds with time. Slowly but surely.

 

The author tackles a few conceptions/myths regarding success:

 

1. All things matter equally:

  • When everything feels important and urgent, we develop a sense of being active and busy. But in hindsight, this doesn't take us anywhere near to success. 
  • Learn to develop a clear sense of priority.
  • Create a Success list that will contain purposeful goals with the aim to deliver extraordinary results. Until you go from many to critical few, to the essential ONE.
  •  

2. Multitasking:

  • One of the most common myths is that multitasking is the same as productivity.
  • Truth is, doing two things at once results in doing half work or even worse no good work. 
  • Doing two things at once is possible, but doing two things effectively at once is not.
  • Avoid multitasking at all cost when performing important tasks.

 

3. A Disciplined Life:

  • A very different perspective that is not so commonly caught on to. But in reality, according to the author, you don't need to have a lot of discipline to become successful. 
  • The reason behind this that success is actually about doing the right thing, not about doing everything right. 
  • And that's the trick to success- to pick the right things and fuel them with enough discipline to properly establish them.
  • The key is to develop the right habits and the important things more regularly.

 

4. Willpower Is Always On-Demand:

  • Do not commit yourself to willpower for success without understanding it. 
  • Using your mind throughout the day will significantly reduce your mental capacity and willpower. You cannot suddenly create it. It takes patience and practice to slowly develop it. 
  • The author suggests doing the important thing, the ONE thing first before you burn your willpower. 

 

5. Living A Balanced Life:

  • No matter how hard you try, at the end of the day, there will always be things left unfinished and unattended. That's just the reality of life. 
  • Trying vigorously to get all things done may actually be more detrimental in achieving productivity than doing all the right and important things. 
  • The key is to understand that leaving some things undone is a critical and necessary trade-off for achieving exceptional results.
  • Pick what matters the most, and give it all.

 

6. Big Is Bad:

  • You can never estimate or set a limit to the potential that can be achieved. 
  • Don't put a cap on believing in big, else you might miss out on many great opportunities and risk settling for less.

 

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