The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth About Extraordinary Results

by Gary Keller

Convert it to the Focusing Question: “What’s the ONE Thing I can do to double sales in six months such that by doing it everything else will be easier or unnecessary?”

Convert it to the Focusing Question: “What’s the ONE Thing I can do to double sales in six months such that by doing it everything else will be easier or unnecessary?”

Answers come in three categories: doable, stretch, and possibility.

The next level up is a “stretch” answer. While this is still within your reach, it can be at the farthest end of your range. You’ll most likely have to do some research and study what others have done to come up with this answer.

Think of this as potentially achievable and probable, depending on your effort.

Extraordinary results require a Great Answer.

They not only dream of but deeply crave what is beyond their natural grasp. They know this type of answer is the hardest to come by but also know that just by extending themselves to find it, they expand and enrich their life for the better.

A possibility answer exists beyond what is already known and being done. As with a stretch goal, you can start out by doing research and studying the lives of other high achievers. But you can’t stop there. In fact, your search has just begun. Whatever you learn, you’ll use it to do what only the greatest achievers do: benchmark and trend.

A possibility answer exists beyond what is already known and being done. As with a stretch goal, you can start out by doing research and studying the lives of other high achievers. But you can’t stop there. In fact, your search has just begun. Whatever you learn, you’ll use it to do what only the greatest achievers do: benchmark and trend.

The first thing to do is ask, “Has anyone else studied or accomplished this or something like it?”

The first thing to do is ask, “Has anyone else studied or accomplished this or something like it?”

in my experience books and published works offer the most in terms of documented research and role models for success.

in my experience books and published works offer the most in terms of documented research and role models for success.

The research and experience of others is the best place to start when looking for your answer.

establish a benchmark, the current high-water mark for all that is known and being done.

establish a benchmark, the current high-water mark for all that is known and being done.

With a stretch approach this was your maximum, but now it is your minimum. It’s not all you’ll do, but it becomes the hilltop where you’ll stand to see if you can spot what might come next.

With a stretch approach this was your maximum, but now it is your minimum. It’s not all you’ll do, but it becomes the hilltop where you’ll stand to see if you can spot what might come next.

This is called trending, and it’s the second step. You’re looking for the next thing you can do in the same direction that the best performers are heading or, if necessary, in an entirely new direction.

This is called trending, and it’s the second step. You’re looking for the next thing you can do in the same direction that the best performers are heading or, if necessary, in an entirely new direction.

The benchmark is today’s success—the trend is tomorrow’s.

the best answers rarely come from an ordinary process.

the best answers rarely come from an ordinary process.

benchmarking and trending is your best option. Because your answer will be original, you’ll probably have to reinvent yourself in some way to implement it. A new answer usually requires new behavior, so don’t be surprised if along the way to sizable success you change in the process.

benchmarking and trending is your best option. Because your answer will be original, you’ll probably have to reinvent yourself in some way to implement it. A new answer usually requires new behavior, so don’t be surprised if along the way to sizable success you change in the process.

This is where the magic happens and possibilities are unlimited.

This is where the magic happens and possibilities are unlimited.

trailblazing up the path of possibilities is always worth it—for when we maximize our reach, we maximize our life.

trailblazing up the path of possibilities is always worth it—for when we maximize our reach, we maximize our life.

Think big and specific.

Think big and specific.

big and specific: big, because you’re after extraordinary results; specific, to give you something to aim at and to leave no wiggle room about whether you hit the mark.

A big and specific question, especially in the form of the Focusing Question, helps you zero in on the best possible answer.

Think possibi...

Think possibilities.

A stretch goal is more challenging. It aims you at the edge of your current abilities; you h...

The best goal explores what’...

The best goal explores what’s possible.

When you see people and businesses that have undergone transformations, t...

When you see people and businesses that have undergone transformations, this is where they live.

Benchmark and trend for the b...

Benchmark and trend for the best answer.

with practice you can become surprisingly good at anticipating wher...

“Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.” — Will Rogers

simple formula for implementing the ONE Thing and achieving extraordinary results: purpose, priority, and productivity.

simple formula for implementing the ONE Thing and achieving extraordinary results: purpose, priority, and productivity. “Today, what’s the ONE Thing I can do for my ONE Thing such that by doing it everything else will be easier or unnecessary?”

Your big ONE Thing is your purpose and your small ONE Thing is the priority you take action on to achieve it.

Your big ONE Thing is your purpose and your small ONE Thing is the priority you take action on to achieve it.

The most productive people start with purpose and use it like a compass. They allow purpose to be the guiding force in determining the priority that drives their actions.

The most productive people start with purpose and use it like a compass. They allow purpose to be the guiding force in determining the priority that drives their actions.

This is the straightest path to extraordinary results.

Think of purpose, priority, and productivity as three parts of an iceberg. With typically only 1/9 of an iceberg above water, whatever you see is just the tip of everything that is there. This is exactly how productivity, priority, and purpose are related. What you see is determined by what you don’t.

Think of purpose, priority, and productivity as three parts of an iceberg. With typically only 1/9 of an iceberg above water, whatever you see is just the tip of everything that is there. This is exactly how productivity, priority, and purpose are related. What you see is determined by what you don’t.

Productivity is driven by purpose and priority.

foundation— purpose and priority.

foundation— purpose and priority.

the best path to attaining them is through purpose-driven priority.

the best path to attaining them is through purpose-driven priority.

In business, profit and productivity are also driven by priority and purpose.

Great businesses are built one productive person at a time.

Connecting purpose, priority, and productivity determines how high above the rest successful individuals and profitable businesses rise. Understanding this is at the core of producing extraordinary results.

Connecting purpose, priority, and productivity determines how high above the rest successful individuals and profitable businesses rise. Understanding this is at the core of producing extraordinary results.

“Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.” —George Bernard Shaw

“Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.” —George Bernard Shaw

to show him his past, present, and future. Through these visits he sees how he became the man he is, how his life is currently going, and what will ultimately happen to him and those around him.

to show him his past, present, and future. Through these visits he sees how he became the man he is, how his life is currently going, and what will ultimately happen to him and those around him.

Live with purpose. Live by priority. Live for productivity.

Live with purpose. Live by priority. Live for productivity.

He implies that our priority is what we place the greatest importance on and our productivity comes from the actions we take.

our purpose sets our priority and our priority determines the productivity our actions produce.

our purpose sets our priority and our priority determines the productivity our actions produce.

As a result, his productivity is always aimed at making money. When he takes a break from making it, for fun, he counts it. Earning, netting, lending, receiving, tallying—these are the actions that fill his days, for he is greedy, selfish, and unmoved by the human condition of those around him.