The ONE Thing

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

1. Think Big to Achieve Big

Many limit their potential by failing to think beyond what feels achievable. Big thinkers like Arthur Guinness, who signed a 9,000-year brewery lease, or J.K. Rowling, who visualized seven Harry Potter books before writing the first chapter, embraced bold visions that guided their extraordinary success.

Thinking small often leads to mediocrity because negativity or fear stifles ambition. Science and history repeatedly show that big dreams drive groundbreaking discoveries—like humans flying or exploring space—that once seemed impossible. Letting go of perceived limits opens the door for greater accomplishments.

To create meaningful change and achieve exceptional outcomes, embrace big thinking. By daring to dream beyond your current limits, you create opportunities you might otherwise miss.

Examples

• Arthur Guinness’s 9,000-year lease expanded his vision for a global empire.
• J.K. Rowling outlined an entire Harry Potter saga before starting it.
• Human breakthroughs like space exploration were driven by daring aspirations.

2. Prioritize Key Tasks for Maximum Impact

Your daily to-do list may feel overwhelming, but not everything on it has equal importance. The Pareto Principle, or the 80/20 rule, states that 80% of results come from 20% of efforts. Identify these high-impact activities to prioritize what matters most.

For quality over quantity, focus on tasks that create the greatest outcomes. This approach aligns your efforts with impactful goals and prevents spreading yourself too thin. Joseph M. Juran’s findings in quality control at General Motors revealed focusing on a few flaws could eliminate most defects.

By shifting attention to key priorities, you’ll become more productive and efficient in achieving your goals.

Examples

• Joseph Juran’s discovery of the 80/20 rule revolutionized defect management in car production.
• Instead of tackling low-impact work, successful leaders concentrate efforts on high-value initiatives.
• Cutting a cluttered to-do list to just essential items improves focus and results.

3. Use the Focusing Question Daily

When faced with a maze of options, ask yourself: "What's the ONE thing I can do right now, such that by doing it, everything else will be easier or unnecessary?" This question clarifies your long-term goal while pinpointing actionable steps in the present.

On a macro level, the question helps identify overarching life or career goals. On a practical level, it highlights immediate priorities that move you closer to those goals. Repeatedly asking this leads to momentum and progress, one step at a time.

This simple yet effective question transforms complex goals into manageable pieces, helping you reach them efficiently.

Examples

• Mark Twain emphasized breaking big tasks into smaller ones to get started.
• Asking the question can turn an overwhelming dream (like writing a book) into actionable steps (writing one page daily).
• Repeated use of the question leads to sustained focus on meaningful goals.

4. Form Habits Sequentially for Lasting Discipline

Discipline works best when used to build habits, not through constant exertion. Successful people, like Michael Phelps, excel by focusing their discipline on forming small, positive habits that compound over time.

Instead of spreading your willpower thin, channel it into solidifying one habit at a time. Once automatic, these habits require less effort, freeing up your energy for the next goal. By doing this sequentially, you build a foundation for long-term success.

Forming habits helps you sustain productivity without feeling overwhelmed by discipline.

Examples

• Michael Phelps developed lasting discipline by swimming every day as a young athlete.
• Starting with small work routines, like arriving early, can lead to big improvements over time.
• Building habits one at a time helps create a smoother path toward goals.

5. Avoid the Trap of Multitasking

Multitasking spreads attention across multiple tasks, causing mistakes and inefficiency. Research shows people lose time and focus when switching between tasks, especially complex ones.

Instead of juggling many things at once, focus deeply on one important task at a time. Concentration improves performance and the speed of completion, ensuring higher quality work. Strive for undistracted focus, even if just for short periods.

Shifting toward single-tasking lets you accomplish more in less time.

Examples

• Studies reveal task-switching reduces productivity by up to a third of the workday.
• Professionals working on demanding tasks yield better results when focused.
• Office environments that eliminate unnecessary distractions improve output.

6. Protect Your Willpower as a Limited Resource

Willpower is not infinite; it functions like a fuel tank that depletes during the day. It ebbs as you make decisions, suppress emotions, or force focus. Using it wisely ensures it’s available for critical decisions.

Research, such as studies on judges’ parole rulings, proves decision fatigue impacts judgment. Ensuring your willpower is replenished—through breaks, rest, or avoiding unnecessary decisions—keeps you sharp when it matters.

By managing your willpower strategically, you’ll make better choices when it counts.

Examples

• Israeli judges gave more favorable rulings earlier in the day when their willpower was fresher.
• Avoiding tough decisions late in the day helps conserve mental energy.
• Recharging willpower is as simple as taking a short walk or enjoying a meal.

7. Learn to Say No

Saying yes to everything stretches you too thin, making it hard to focus on major goals. Saying no to unimportant requests creates room to focus your energy on what matters.

Steve Jobs famously reduced Apple’s efforts to ten products when he returned in 1997, ensuring intense focus on quality output. Saying no does not mean neglecting others; it can include offering alternative solutions or delegating less pressing tasks.

By learning to say no effectively, you give yourself the bandwidth to focus on impactful work.

Examples

• Steve Jobs’s “no” approach allowed Apple to achieve remarkable results.
• Suggesting alternatives to accommodate others’ needs balances relationships and priorities.
• Setting boundaries, like using auto-responses or FAQ systems, minimizes trivial requests.

8. Define Your Purpose, Then Visualize the Process

Having a clear purpose gives your work meaning and keeps you motivated during challenges. Without it, you risk drifting aimlessly—a recipe for stalled progress.

Visualizing the steps toward your goal adds a layer of preparation and motivation. For instance, students who saw themselves studying diligently scored higher on tests compared to those who only visualized success. With a defined purpose and process, you create a roadmap toward achieving extraordinary outcomes.

Purpose-driven effort keeps you energized and focused.

Examples

• Knowing your purpose, such as climbing Mount Everest, transforms vague desires into clear plans.
• Visualizing daily preparation can drastically improve work performance.
• Setting meaningful goals sharpens focus on what truly matters.

9. Accept Chaos While Prioritizing Your ONE Thing

Focusing on your one priority often means neglecting other tasks temporarily, leading to some degree of chaos. Accepting this allows you to channel your energy toward what matters most.

Strategic time-blocking ensures protected work periods for your top priority. Minimizing distractions by working in suitable environments further supports success. Trusting the payoff of this process keeps distractions in perspective.

Balancing work means letting some less vital areas slide while honoring your most important pursuits.

Examples

• Limiting meetings creates uninterrupted work time for significant priorities.
• Chaos in some tasks is manageable if your ONE thing leads to breakthrough outcomes.
• Delegating routine work allows you to give your real goal full focus.

Takeaways

1. Use the focusing question daily to drill down on both long-term and immediate goals.
2. Assign time blocks in your calendar to work on top priorities—and defend this time.
3. Practice saying no while offering alternatives to lower-priority requests that come your way.