The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth About Extraordinary Results

by Gary Keller

“Be like a postage stamp— stick to one thing until you get there.” —Josh Billings

Curly: Do you know what the secret of life is?

Mitch: No. What?

the absolute truth. The ONE Thing is the best approach to getting what you want.

the absolute truth. The ONE Thing is the best approach to getting what you want.

a simple question: “Do you know what you need to do to turn things around?”

a simple question: “Do you know what you need to do to turn things around?”

I stepped down as CEO and made finding those 14 people my singular focus.

As success begat success, something else happened along the way. The language of the ONE Thing emerged.

So, in an effort to help them succeed, I started shortening my list: If you can do just three things this week. ... If you can do just two things this week. ... Finally, out of desperation, I went as small as I could possibly go and asked:

“What’s the ONE Thing you can do this week such that by doing it everything else would be easier or unnecessary?”

“What’s the ONE Thing you can do this week such that by doing it everything else would be easier or unnecessary?”

And the most awesome thing happened. Results went through the roof.

Where I’d had huge success, I had narrowed my concentration to one thing, and where my success varied, my focus had too.

Where I’d had huge success, I had narrowed my concentration to one thing, and where my success varied, my focus had too.

why do some people seem to get so much more done than others? How do they do more, achieve more, earn more, have more? If time is the currency of achievement, then why are some able to cash in their allotment for more chips than others?

The answer is they make getting to the heart of things the heart of their approach. They go small.

The answer is they make getting to the heart of things the heart of their approach. They go small.

“Going small” is ignoring all the things you could do and doing what you should do. It’s recognizing that not all things matter equally and finding the things that matter most. It’s a tighter way to connect what you do with what you want.

“Going small” is ignoring all the things you could do and doing what you should do. It’s recognizing that not all things matter equally and finding the things that matter most. It’s a tighter way to connect what you do with what you want.

extraordinary results are directly determined by how narrow you can make your focus.

Extraordinary results are directly determined by how narrow you can make your focus. ++++ The entire point of Yoga: To narrow and focus your concentration into a laser beam; because, extraordinary results are directly determined by how narrow you can make your focus.

The way to get the most out of your work and your life is to go as small as possible.

The way to get the most out of your work and your life is to go as small as possible.

Most people think just the opposite. They think big success is time consuming and complicated. As a result, their calendars and to-do lists become overloaded and overwhelming.

big success comes when we do a few things well,

big success comes when we do a few things well,

You want your achievements to add up, but that actually takes subtraction, not addition. You need to be doing fewer things for more effect instead of doing more things with side effects.

You want your achievements to add up, but that actually takes subtraction, not addition. You need to be doing fewer things for more effect instead of doing more things with side effects.

It works all the time, anywhere and on anything. Why? Because it has only one purpose—to ultimately get you to the point.

works. It works all the time, anywhere and on anything. Why? Because it has only one purpose—to ultimately get you to the point.

When you go as small as possible, you’ll be staring at one thing. And that’s the point.

“Every great change starts like falling dominoes.” — BJ Thornton

Each standing domino represents a small amount of potential energy; the more you line up, the more potential energy you’ve accumulated. Line up enough and, with a simple flick, you can start a chain reaction of surprising power.

Each standing domino represents a small amount of potential energy; the more you line up, the more potential energy you’ve accumulated. Line up enough and, with a simple flick, you can start a chain reaction of surprising power.

When one thing, the right thing, is set in motion, it can topple many things.

When one thing, the right thing, is set in motion, it can topple many things.

domino falls could not only topple many things, they could also topple bigger things. He described how a single domino is capable of bringing down another domino that is actually 50 percent larger.

FIG. 2 A geometric progression is like a long, long train — it starts out too slow to notice until it’s moving too fast to stop.

FIG. 2 A geometric progression is like a long, long train — it starts out too slow to notice until it’s moving too fast to stop.

Do you see the implication? Not only can one knock over others but also others that are successively larger.

Do you see the implication? Not only can one knock over others but also others that are successively larger.

a geometric progression. The result could defy the imagination.

So when you think about success, shoot for the moon. The moon is reachable if you prioritize everything and put all of your energy into accomplishing the most important thing.

Getting extraordinary results is all about creating a domino effect in your life.

Getting extraordinary results is all about creating a domino effect in your life.

every day they line up their priorities anew, find the lead domino, and whack away at it until it falls.

every day they line up their priorities anew, find the lead domino, and whack away at it until it falls.

Why does this approach work? Because extraordinary success is sequential, not simultaneous. What starts out linear becomes geometric. You do the right thing and then you do the next right thing. Over time it adds up, and the geometric potential of success is unleashed.

Why does this approach work? Because extraordinary success is sequential, not simultaneous. What starts out linear becomes geometric. You do the right thing and then you do the next right thing. Over time it adds up, and the geometric potential of success is unleashed.

it applies to the smallest moment in each day when you’re trying to decide what to do next.

it applies to the smallest moment in each day when you’re trying to decide what to do next.

Success builds on success, and as this happens, over and over, you move toward the highest success possible.

Success builds on success, and as this happens, over and over, you move toward the highest success possible.

The key is over time. Success is built sequentially. It’s one thing at a time.

The key is over time. Success is built sequentially. It’s one thing at a time.

“It is those who concentrate on but one thing at a time who advance in this world.” — Og Mandino

Proof of the ONE Thing is everywhere. Look closely and you’ll always find it.

Extraordinarily successful companies always have one product or service they’re most known for or that makes them the most money.

The list of businesses that have achieved extraordinary results through the power of the ONE Thing is endless.

And what about Star Wars? Is the ONE Thing movies or merchandise? If you guessed merchandise, you’d be right— and you’d be wrong.

Revenue from toys recently totaled over $10 billion,

while combined worldwide box office revenue for the six main films totaled less than...

always asking: “What’s our ONE Thing?”

always asking: “What’s our ONE Thing?”

an extraordinary ONE Thing can exist while transitioning to another extraordinary ONE Thing.

an extraordinary ONE Thing can exist while transitioning to another extraordinary ONE Thing.

From 1998 to 2012, Apple’s ONE Thing moved from Macs to iMacs to iTunes to iPods to iPhones, with the iPad already jockeying for the pole position at the head of the product line.

From 1998 to 2012, Apple’s ONE Thing moved from Macs to iMacs to iTunes to iPods to iPhones, with the iPad already jockeying for the pole position at the head of the product line.

As each new “golden gadget” entered the limelight, the other products weren’t discontinued or relegated to the discount tables. Those lines, plus others, continued to be refined while the current ONE Thing created a well-documented halo effect,

As each new “golden gadget” entered the limelight, the other products weren’t discontinued or relegated to the discount tables. Those lines, plus others, continued to be refined while the current ONE Thing created a well-documented halo effect,

“There can only be one most important thing. Many things may be important, but only one can be the most important.” —Ross Garber

“There can only be one most important thing. Many things may be important, but only one can be the most important.” —Ross Garber

No one is self-made.

Everyone has one person who either means the most to them or was the first to influence, train, or manage them. No one succeeds alone. No one.

Everyone has one person who either means the most to them or was the first to influence, train, or manage them. No one succeeds alone. No one.

Look behind any story of extraordinary success and the ONE Thing is always there.