The Goal of This Post

In this post, I share some of my favorite passages from the book The One Thing, by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan.

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Start with the Focusing Question

The Focusing Question is a double-duty question. One is about finding the right direction in life and the other is about finding the right action.

• The Big-Picture Question: “What’s my ONE Thing?”
• The Small-focus Question: “What’s my ONE Thing right now?

What’s the ONE Thing I can do such that by doing it everything else will be easier or unnecessary?

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The Big Ideas

“Knowing what matters to you and taking daily doses of actions in alignment with it. When you have a definite purpose for your life, clarity comes faster, which leads to more conviction in your direction, which usually leads to faster decisions.”

1. Small. Extraordinary results are determined by how narrow you can make your focus.
2. Compound. Create a domino effect in your life. Success is built sequentially.
3. Prioritize. Achievers operate differently. They have an eye for the essential.
4. Focus. Figure out what matters most in the moment and give it your undivided attention.
5. Discipline. Be a person of powerful habits and use selected discipline to develop them.
6. Willpower. Build your days around how it works and let it do its part to build your life.
7. Balance. Let the right things take precedence when they should and get to the rest when you can.
8. Think Big. Think big, aim high, act bold. Big Outcomes <– Big Actions.
9. Say “no”. You can’t please everyone.
10. Embrace chaos. Accept messiness and disorder in other things.
11. Manage your energy. Avoid Poor health habits. High achievement requires big energy.
12. Context. Take ownership of your environment. Pay attention to the people and space around you.

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Build a Success Habit

Make the ONE Thing part of your daily routine.

• Understand the concept and believe it can make a difference in your life.
• Use it. Start each day by asking the focusing question.
• Make it a habit. Leverage reminders.

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Live with Purpose

“Knowing what matters to you and taking daily doses of actions in alignment with it. When you have a definite purpose for your life, clarity comes faster, which leads to more conviction in your direction, which usually leads to faster decisions.”

• Happiness happens on the way to fulfillment.
• Discover your Big Why. Ask what drives you.
• Absent an answer, pick a direction.

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Live by Priority

“Train your mind to think. To connect one goal with the next over time until you know the most important thing you must do right NOW… Connect today to all your tomorrows. It matters.”

• There can only be ONE.
• Goal Set to the Now.
• Put pen to paper.

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Live for Productivity

“Get the most out of what you do, when what you do matters… Knock down your most important domino each day.”

• Connect the dots. Tap into your purpose and allow that clarity to dictate your priorities.
• Timeblock your ONE Thing.
• Protect your time block at all costs.

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Commit to Greatness

“Taking complete ownership of your outcomes by holding no one but yourself responsible for them is the most powerful thing you can do to drive your success.”

• Commit to mastery. Commit to be your best.
• Commit to purpose. Be purposeful about your One Thing.
• Commit to accountability. Take ownership of your outcomes.

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In Conclusion

“Put yourself together, and your world falls into place. When you bring purpose to your life, know your priorities, and achieve high productivity on the priority that matters most every day, your life makes sense and the extraordinary becomes possible.

All success in life starts within you. You know what to do. You know how to do it. Your next step is simple.
You are the first domino.”

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All content credit goes to the author. I’ve shared the bits I’ve enjoyed the most and found most useful.

Cheers ’till next time! Saludos!
Alberto