“If you chase two rabbits…you will not catch either one.”
Russian Proverb
The “One” Thing is another productivity book I enjoyed reading. Dare I say, it taught me more lessons/page than entire textbooks from my undergrad in college.
While this might sound like hyperbole, it’s meant to stress just how important this book has been for me to bring myself towards the on “ONE” thing at a time lifestyle. And while every now & then I might falter in this pursuit, revisiting this book recalibrates my compass to point me the right way, yet again.
You know the drill, I summarize key learnings from this book below, some directly picked up from the book while some with my own twist:
Focusing on Your “One” Thing.
The entire book can be summarized in one sentence: “What is the ONE THING I can do TODAY/THIS WEEK/THIS MONTH/ THIS YEAR such that by doing it everything else will be easier or unnecessary?” Notice, it’s not phrased as, “What do I need to get done today?” This is a question that’s complicated by design & forces you to think long & hard before you start checking off stuff from your unusually large to-do list thinking you’re winning.
Do things that matter, everything else is noise.
How do I do this? Block 3-4 hours of interrupted time in your calendar for this “One” thing that will make everything easier AND/OR irrelevant.
Example: I don’t go full Super Saiyan with the above concept, but I wake up at ~8AM most days & read non-fiction for ~2 hours till 10AM or until I start losing comprehension. During this time, my phone is on DND & charging.
Why is reading my “One” Thing? Simple, I love learning. Reading has helped me with quite a few things: working better, living better, etc. Basically, I read to upgrade my software. Also, knowledge compounds over time. But enough rambling. Reading is fun, you should definitely try it some time.
Here is what my daily calendar looks like, I create a “Reading” event, set to repeat “Daily.”
I get it. There are countless things demanding your attention & time, but that doesn’t mean they contribute to your goals or life. In fact, I could argue some of the things you think you “have” to do, you really don’t “have” to do, but something someone else “wants” you to do for “them.”
Let me also fill you in on a little secret:
“You can’t have it all, do it all or know it all.”
Depressing? Hard to argue. Liberating? You bet your a**.
Since you realize you can’t have it all, do it all, or even have complete information about anything at any given moment in time, why not just want ONE thing & focus so ruthlessly that you end up getting it? Further Reading: Smarter, Not Harder: How to Succeed at Work
The concept of “One” Thing is like 80/20 on steroids. Fundamentally, both concepts revolve around the “less is more” concept of doing things but “One” Thing is much more unforgiving when it comes to eliminating distractions & wasted effort. Here is what I roughly mean:
- Pareto’s 80/20 Principle: 20% of your efforts lead to 80% of the results.
- Gary Keller’s “One” Thing: 10% of your efforts will lead to 90% of the results.
Maybe, I’m being a little too preachy here, but my point here is: definitely have a to-do list for your entire day, just not a laundry list of 15-20 items that are really good candidates for “could do” but not really worthy of a “should do.” Further Reading: A Better To-Do List: The 1-3-5 Rule.
Why Say No?
If only life were this linear where you spent every waking day with zero distractions & nobody bothering you? A man can dream…
There will always be distractions/time wasters, invites to events, strangers asking for help, friends asking for favours, interruptions from coworkers who think you’re all about that “#watercooler” talk.
It’s important to say no. Because saying “yes” to everything is the same as saying “yes” to nothing. Accepting every commitment that comes your way takes you away from your overall effectiveness or dare I say, your “One” Thing. And we all know that’s never going to lead to something great.
Learning to say no doesn’t make us a loser, anti-social or a recluse. Rather, it grants one more power, flexibility & freedom over their life. We all have limited attention, willpower & time on this planet. Why not use to it resourcefully by only saying “yes” to things that truly matter?
But…how do you say no? Further Reading: Eight Ways to Say No With Grace and Style.
“You can say no with respect, you can say no promptly, and you can say no with a lead to someone who might say yes. But just saying yes because you can’t bear the short-term pain of saying no is not going to help you do the work.”
Seth Godin
TL;DR: Do something, but make sure it’s just “One” Thing. Get the paperback.
Agree/Disagree with anything in this piece? I love hearing dissenting views. Leave a comment below!
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