THE JOURNEY TOWARD BALANCING ACHIEVEMENT AND LIFE
The One Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results by bestselling authors Gary Keller and Jay Papasan had the literary feel of a thought provoking business book with a dash of self-help. The very first litmus test that I used was why these men were qualified to offer advice on business and life. The advice giver is often as relevant as advice given. What would they know about "the one thing?"
I evaluated what the duo has accomplished themselves. Gary Keller is chairman of the board and cofounder of Keller Williams Realty, Inc., and Jay Papasan is former editor at HarperCollins. He is now vice president of publishing at Keller Williams, in addition to being a speaker and corporate trainer. Ultimately, I was convinced that both authors employed techniques in their book to achieve their own goals. As experts in their professional fields, I was eager to extrapolate tips regarding how to become my very best. Despite their great influence, The One Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results is an incredibly simple, easy read.
To me, the most powerful aspect of the New York Times Bestseller lies within the premise of the book: stick to one thing. Some readers may take the advice to focus time and attention on one goal literally. However, on page 35, the authors suggest that “achievers always work from a clear sense of priority.” That may be the golden nugget of this read. Upon reflecting on the book, I regard “one thing” like a tree root. The one thing may consist of many branches that represent other areas or topics. How to prioritize better leads to optimal efficiency. Regardless, many people misunderstand how to time block to focus. That’s what The One Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results points out how to develop an important skill to do so, step by step.
While pondering advice regarding how to prioritize my to-do list, I appreciated the comparison that was drawn between what I “could do” as opposed to what I “should do.” If multi-tasking is a lie as suggested, the biggest idea of the book becomes one of practicality. In today’s life, many of us don’t have the luxury of doing just one thing, but we can build powerful habits to remain conscious of balancing life with our goals. It’s easier said than done. Regardless, “the one thing” is reiterated throughout each chapter. For some readers, the reoccurring theme may seem unnecessary. To me, it makes the lesson impossible to forget how to goal set in the present and future. Forming positive habits are important for those who want to become better organized.
The authors practically illustrate how the path to productivity has become muddled with lack of focus, by over extending ourselves, and doing many things that aren’t truly necessary. The book leads to a focused question: What’s the one thing I can do such that everything else will be easier or unnecessary? By page 106, the authors build a powerful method or framing our lives within the context of areas that matter most, while maintaining the integrity of the single question. I regard the book as an exercise and reference tool to train one’s mind to become and remain organized. The reader must do the work to ignite the flow of the path; we already have the answers to our unanswered questions.
There are many facets of this book that require personal exploration. I highly recommend this read to entrepreneurs, authors, professionals and anyone who feels overwhelmed by too many obligations or goals. The1thing.com continues the discussion, offering more steps that can be taken through accountability. There is no magic formula in this book that guarantees success—or in any book for that matter— but it offers meaningful insight to take practical steps toward goal achievement while working within limitations of our flawed humanity.
Reviewed by Andrea Blackstone
Twitter: @AndreaBlackston
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