The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results
By Gary Keller and Jay Papasan
•Reading time: 10 minutes
•Last updated: January 1, 2024
Overview
"The ONE Thing" by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan cuts through the clutter of productivity advice with a simple message: focus on the one most important task that will make everything else easier or unnecessary. This book presents a compelling case for narrowing your focus to achieve extraordinary results in all areas of life.
Drawing on research and real-world examples, the authors demonstrate how multitasking is a myth, how willpower has limits, and how purpose-driven productivity leads to greater success. Their approach helps readers overcome the six lies that block success and implement the focusing question that can transform your life and work.
"What's the ONE Thing I can do such that by doing it everything else will be easier or unnecessary?" — Gary Keller
The Focusing Question
The Focusing Question:
"What's the ONE Thing I can do such that by doing it everything else will be easier or unnecessary?"
Big Picture Question
"What's my ONE Thing?"
Small Focus Question
"What's my ONE Thing right now?"
The Focusing Question is the core concept of the book. It helps you find your most leveraged action by zeroing in on what matters most. The question can be adapted to any area of your life – from work to relationships, health to finances – always directing you to your highest priority action.
How to Use It
- Identify your area of focus (work, relationships, health)
- Apply the question to that area
- Make your answer specific and actionable
- Set a deadline to create urgency
- Block time on your calendar for this ONE Thing
Examples
- For Work: "What's the ONE Thing I can do to increase sales by 20% this quarter?"
- For Health: "What's the ONE Thing I can do to improve my energy throughout the day?"
- For Relationships: "What's the ONE Thing I can do to strengthen my marriage this week?"
The Six Lies That Block Success
Lie #1: Everything Matters Equally
The reality is that not all tasks are created equal. The majority of what you do will be unimportant. Success comes from identifying the vital few tasks that create the most significant results.
Instead of creating a to-do list, create a success list – a list that is purposefully created around extraordinary results. Go small by identifying the 20% of activities that will produce 80% of your results.
The Pareto Principle (80/20 Rule)
produce 80% of results
Lie #2: Multitasking
Contrary to popular belief, multitasking doesn't make you more productive. It actually decreases your productivity and effectiveness. The brain cannot focus on two things at once - it merely switches between tasks, losing focus and efficiency in the process.
The Cost of Task Switching:
Up to 28%
more time required to complete tasks
40%
productivity decrease
IQ drop of 10-15
points during task switching
Lie #3: A Disciplined Life
Success doesn't require you to be disciplined in all things, but rather to be disciplined about the ONE Thing that matters most at any given time.
Focus on turning specific behaviors into habits through repeated application, and eventually, they will become automatic, requiring less discipline.
Lie #4: Willpower Is Always Available
Willpower isn't always on call—it's a limited resource that depletes throughout the day with use.
Schedule your most important work—your ONE Thing—for when your willpower is highest, typically early in the day.
Lie #5: A Balanced Life
Balance is a myth. Extraordinary results require focused periods of unbalanced dedication to a singular priority.
Instead of seeking balance at all times, prioritize what matters most at specific moments, knowing that different areas will require priority at different times.
Lie #6: Big Is Bad
Thinking big isn't just a motivational cliché; it's a vital ingredient for extraordinary success. Small thinking leads to small actions and small results.
Allow yourself to think bigger. Big goals lead to big achievements, even if you don't reach the original target.
The Path to Extraordinary Results
The Domino Effect
The domino effect illustrates how success works: small actions build upon each other to create extraordinary results. One domino can knock over another domino 50% larger than itself. This geometric progression means the 18th domino could knock over the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and the 23rd could knock over the Eiffel Tower.
This is why focusing on your ONE Thing is so powerful – it creates a cascade of results that wouldn't be possible by dividing your attention across multiple priorities.
"Success is built sequentially. It's one thing at a time."
The Three Commitments to Your ONE Thing
Time Blocking
Block 4 hours daily for your ONE Thing. Protect this time from all distractions and interruptions.
Mind Your Environment
Create a workspace that supports your ONE Thing with minimal distractions. Your environment must support your goals.
Say "No" to Almost Everything
When you say "yes" to one thing, you're saying "no" to everything else. Protect your ability to focus by declining other opportunities.
From Work-Life Balance to Work-Life Counterbalance
Rather than trying to maintain perfect work-life balance at all times, the authors suggest a counterbalance approach. This means understanding that sometimes work will require more focus, and other times personal life will. The key is to be aware of when one area needs more attention and to make deliberate choices.
Conclusion
"The ONE Thing" provides a simple yet powerful framework for achieving extraordinary results in any area of life. By identifying and focusing on your most important priority, you can create a domino effect that leads to breakthrough success.
The core message is that going small – focusing on one thing at a time – is the path to big results. When you prioritize what matters most and eliminate distractions, you can accomplish more by doing less. This approach not only improves productivity but also reduces stress, increases satisfaction, and creates purpose-driven success.