One Word that will Change Your Life

by Dan Britton, Jimmy Page, Jon Gordon

One Word is a simple concept that delivers powerful life change! In 1999, the authors discovered a better way to become their best and live a life of impact. Instead of creating endless goals and resolutions, they found one word that would be their driving force for the year. No goals. No wish lists. Just one word. Best of all . . . anyone, anytime can discover their word for the year.

One Word that will Change Your Life will inspire you to simplify your life and work by focusing on just one word for this year. That's right! One Word creates clarity, power, passion and life-change. The simple power of One Word is that it impacts all six dimensions of your life - mental, physical, emotional, relational, spiritual, and financial. Simply put, One Word sticks. There is a word meant for you and when you find it, live it, and share it, your life will become more rewarding and exciting than ever.

Join thousands of people and hundreds of schools, businesses, churches, and sports teams who have found their one word . . . and discover how to harness the transformational power of One Word.

The book includes a personal Action Plan and simple process to help you discover your word for the year.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Business, Audiobook, Personal Development, Christian

96 pages, Hardcover

First published December 3, 2012

Reviews

[Joni Hartman · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting idea of taking a word and using it as a focus point for your year. The main idea is to take time to allow God to speak to your heart as you speak to Him about your life and concerns. Then, as you wait and meditate, He will give you a word that will encompass where you are in life, or what you should focus on in the coming year. Good illustrations as to how families could do this together, and encourages accountability partners.

[Nigel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Small book, easy to read in an hour. Simple, yet impactful concept. Look in. Look up. Live out. One word shapes, influences, focuses you for a year. Actually, going through the process (3 questions) your word finds you.

[Monique AJ Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Implementing

[Debora DeSpain Greene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recommended!!!

[Eric · Rating 1 out of 5]

Received as part of a corporate holiday gift basket in 2014.

I believe that words have power, that they hold tremendous strength, influence, and beauty; that when used correctly they can transform and build, and when used destructively they destroy. God created the universe when He spoke. Yes, words have inherent, vast, and limitless power.

With that said, I've no patience for a cheap refrigerator magnet 'get rich schemes' wantonly disguised as a life transformation philosophy in order to sell books. Perhaps it is because I do not find much respect for owners of organizations whose professional philosophies, management style, and business goals vary far more often, and with less regard for other people, than the changing of the seasons, but I cannot overlook the ignorance, lack of respect, and hypocritical nature of those who offer this book as a gift and have ignored similar teachings from a vast variety of other sources, including their employees (a statement in no way directed at the authors of this book).

I can appreciate the place where this philosophy was derived- a desire for simplicity, and of the reshaping of mind, spirit, and body; but when that life-altering philosophy is reduced to a single word that influences our lives then it is an excessively dumbed-down version of a minimalistic and purpose-driven approach.

There is some value here, in that the authors recognize the power of God, His ability to influence our lives in silence when the culture surrounding us seems to be in a constant state of deafening, attention-grabbing shouting. They also acknowledge that in order to perform life-changing transformation we must examine the very essence and foundations of our lives, and ask hard questions of what we wish to do with the life we've been given. Beyond that it's nothing more than various quotes, and 'success' stories, with undefined and vague ties to anything described in the book as a means to life-transformation through the use of a single word. Why stop at one word, why not just reduce it a single letter, or perhaps a sound, like a fart.

My word: Discernment.

Be wise about where and how you spend your time, money, and which doors you open in your heart in order to transform your own life into what you wish it to be.

[Mallory · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read and very thought-provoking. Not really a self-help book, more like changing your lifestyle by changing your way of thinking. I like the idea of approaching each new year with one word to focus on. Some words came to me as I read through this book, but I'm taking time this week to figure out what the best one for 2017 for me will be.

Favorite quotes: "The power of One Word is found in its narrow focus and broad impact. Less really turns out to be best. Simple is powerful."

"As experts at multitasking, we've bought into the lie that activity means achievement."

[Richard Brand · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a continuation of the whole concept of Purpose Driven life. This is a self-help book to help you find your purpose each year by following their process to find a theme word for a year. I was not impressed with the book nor the process. I guess if you have to be told how to find a purpose, this may be as good as any other way, but I would not engage in it.

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book can be read in under an hour. That is, if you don't have 4 kids, a husband, and a cat. Either way, it was very simple. My word for 2016 is "peace". It's honestly so simple, it's hard to believe everyone doesn't already do this without reading a book on it. Still, I'm all about self-improvement and I'm looking forward to how this will play out with the rest of the year.

[Kristen Wiles Folk · Rating 3 out of 5]

So the one word process is supposed to create laser like focus throughout the year. (Unlike resolutions that mostly fail in the first 30 days.) I am not sold on this process, but I have not done it before. I bought this book used, not sure I would buy it for full price due to its short length. Not bad but not amazing either.

[Shae Burton · Rating 5 out of 5]

My husband and I read this together and really enjoyed it. It's process is simple and has a plethora of positive potential outcomes. Worth the 44 minute read to at least consider the possibilities.

[Kevin Mcbeath · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best way to renew any season of the year (especially the New Year).

[Jared Pilkington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Narrow the focus, broaden the impact!!!!

[Marshal Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book and breaks it down simplisticly.

[Ihor Vozniuk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simplicity creates clarity, power, and passion.

Ідея цікава. Але відчувається притаманна таким книгам зацикленність на одному методі. Дам шанс на 2222 рік.

[Jennifer Koch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read, and a cool concept. I stopped making New Years resolutions a long time ago, but this is something better and doable.

[Bhupesh Doda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent insightful and useful

[Cindy Buss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great concept.
Fast easy read . something we are going to implement at our office. Great accountability.

[Shalamar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, so the book itself is not *amazing* but the concept is ingenious. The book is really just a teeny tiny guidebook that outlines this concept of having just ONE WORD to focus on for the year. As a person that does not believe in New Year's resolutions (I just do the things I want to accomplish at that time), this gave me a whole new perspective. Don't misunderstand, this concept is for New Year's Resolvers and the those of the more jaded persuasion, alike. The concept is simple: instead of listing off *tasks* or *things* you want to accomplish, focus on WHO YOU WANT TO BE. Pray/meditate for one word that will encompass the person that will more easily deal with the challenges we all face. Whether your word is Gratitude, Love, Patience, Power, Ambition, Grace, Focus, whatever, this book lays out the groundwork to choose a word and apply it to six different dimensions in your life: spiritual, physical, emotional, mental, relational, financial. The authors tell their stories of transformation and the impact to their lives when they began to rely less on strength and resolve, and more on surrender and simplicity.

Must read (and must do!)

[Jana Eggers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love this concept. I think focus and themes are important and absolutely deliver results. So, really like the idea of this book. I just don't find this well executed. On the one hand it is easy to read. And I'm delighted if it inspires others. On the other, here's a summary: define one word to drive your actions in the next year and live it. Yes, there are a lot of inspiring words given with a few stories around it. Most of the stories don't give the depth though to say how people actually implemented living their word and how it impacted them.

Also, it might or might not work for you, but the authors are believers in letting God choose your word. "It will just come to you if you let it." I'm not a believer in that kind of God, but I do believe in our inner selves and believe that kind of focus will help you discover your own drivers.

So overall, I think this can inspire you, but if you need much depth, it isn't there. If you are a true believer in God giving you a word and you will follow that, then this is great for you too.

[Aaron Maurer · Rating 4 out of 5]

really like this book. To be honest it does not need to be a book. You can find all you need on the website.

With that being said I do think it is worthy of the read and really gives you something to focus on and think about. Since reading the book I have decided to have my whole family come up with a word. I finally came up with a word and I chose Zendurance.

A short read that will take under an hour to read. The power lies in what you plan to do with the contents in the book and the website.

Short, sweet, and to the point. Just like the book and just like we need it to gain focus and clarity in life.

Give it a read. You won’t be disappointed. Just don’t buy it and spend money on it.

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short, quick read. It's only 71 small pages. [And yet it costs the same as a full size book, what's up with that?!]

This book outlines the idea of picking one word specifically for you for one year. This word then becomes your focus and your overarching goal. I've already been doing this for about 10 years now and I have to say it is a practice I find helpful - sometimes even profound. And although the book is very basic and brief it was nice to see I'm not alone with this word-picking practice.

The authors review the process from a spiritual POV. But anyone interested in pursuing this way of goal-setting would find this book a worthwhile quick read.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this as a part of January's book club selection. It took less than an hour for me to read. It couldn't come at more perfect time for me! Instead of making a New Year's resolution, I am going to chose my ONE WORD to focus on. I'm not sure what that word is quite yet, but I really like the premise of this book and I like how it gives you steps to come up with your word and how to incorporate it into your daily life. This book really inspired me to make a positive change in 2016 without feeling overwhelmed.

[Tasha enderby · Rating 2 out of 5]

The title will grab your attention and make you want to know more. This book in itself is just a tiny guidebook that you can follow up with an action plan on their website which to me may be worth the look. The concept of less is more is very true I can't keep up with resolutions or lofty weight loss goals. It's the focus and the work on those goals I get lost in. They say you should not pick a good word but a God word and that to me takes the work off of me.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here is an excerpt from my review: "The One Word process is not about making a New Year's Resolution. It's not about setting to-do goals. It's about setting to-be goals. By choosing just one word, you can focus more on transforming yourself in spiritual, physical, mental, emotional, financial, and relational ways."

You can read my full review here: http://cookscrapcraft.blogspot.com/20...

[gail]

a worthwhile exercise. I saw a reference to this the other day and decided to check it out. I was thinking this might be a good middle of the year reboot activity for when school starts again tomorrow and I like to read a "change" book every January anyway. I like the idea here and obviously I won't be including all the God talk, but this is something I'll follow through on. this literally took a half-hour to read

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Instead of making a long list of goals and resolutions, why not chose a simple, one-word theme for your life in the year ahead? That's the big idea of this short but practical book that explains why you should consider adopting one word and then walks you through a step-by-step process to help you discover your very own one word.

[Kevin Eikenberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very small and short book (and a short recommendation). Perhaps that makes sense since it promises that one word will change your life. The book doesn’t give you the word, but it helps you … - See more at: http://blog.kevineikenberry.com/leade...

[Leigh Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book to help give perspective on how to approach the new year. Give up resolutions and give one word a try.

"Your word shapes your character. Your character influences your actions. Your actions influence others. The lives you touch and the impact you have determine the story that will be told about you tomorrow."

[Corey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book Talk: Why do our yearly resolutions fail? They are too complicated and we forget them. Queue "one word", the yearly goal that will stick in your mind and drive your decisions for the next year.

My Thoughts: Great concept, poor execution. Not much meat to this book, and the advice is pretty canned. Still, I like the idea of an easy-to-remember focal point.

[Stephen Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book takes a simple idea, focusing on one word for an entire year, and turns it into a powerful tool for personal development. It's a short book that is easily read, but the work involved takes both thought and time. I found the book to be very powerful.