Book Summary — The One Thing

Completed another fantastic book while running and here I am sharing my learnings with you.

First of all, as many of you reached out after reading my last LinkedIn post to share the notes around the books I have been listening to.

So hereon, I will share bite sized notes as posts every day and then in the end will combine it as a summary.

Note: I am not a voracious reader but a voracious listener.

I dont know its good or bad, listening to a book while running but it has worked in my case and I would suggest you should try it too.

Here is the proof :P

Book completed while becoming a Local Legend :P

Now let’s talk about the book “The One Thing”

Gary Keller has been running one of the world’s largest real estate companies in the world for the past 30 years and then he wrote this masterpiece which is also a New York Times bestseller.

My 5 biggest takeaways from the book

1. Aim big but set small goals to reach there.
2. Figure out what is that one thing which will help you to reach your goal. Ask questions.
3. Block your time to do that ONE thing, dont let anyone/anything take it away from you. Learn to say no.
4. Never sacrifice your personal life for work. Prioritise and your productivity will improve too.
5. Priority is singular for a reason.

Favourite Quote of Author

Let’s think of it in a real world scenario.

You have your business/work goals, your personal goals, your family goals etc. but lets look at work goals.

Now KPI ( Key Performance Indicators) exists for a reason and that is to help you to understand what goals you have to achieve by quarter/half yearly/yearly and if you dont there goes your promotion/bonus.

Now while you read/listen to this book, you will learn that everyday you have to thrive for the goal you want to achieve.

Keller suggests to ask this question on two levels: macro and micro.

If your ultimate goal in life is to fly a plane across the Atlantic, then the answer to the focusing on a macro level would most likely be to get a pilot’s license — it will make actually flying a plane a lot easier.

But on a micro level, i.e. “What’s the ONE thing I can do right now, such that…”, that would probably mean to sign up for flying lessons.

Once you have found the answer to the focusing question on a macro level, all you have to do whenever you find yourself in “what-should-I-do-next-land”, just ask it again on a micro level, and you’ll know what to do.

If you dont have clarity on the goal, connect with the manager and get clarity.

You cant have goals like you will increase the sales by 5% this quarter because even market fluctuations can help you attain this. If you want to be a star performer keep if your KPI is to attain 20% bump in sales, keep a goal of 50% and then move towards it.

Once you have a goal then next thing is to ask yourself a single simple question everyday before you get to work.

What is that one single thing you will do today to help you move towards your goal and then prioritise it.

Author has also talked about assigning atleast 4 hours to your One Thing and to not let anyone/anything take those hours away from you.

To achieve the above you need two things

1. Focus
2. Time

As long as you are working on your ONE thing, you’re making sure that when you’re working, you’re doing what’s most important.

Now focus will lead to productivity but time is something you have to find. Couple of suggestions here

1. Try to work on your One Thing when you are the most productive.
2. Block everything out while you are doing this. It is hard but achievable.

You know Priority is singular for a reason. You cant have multiple priorities. Focus on one single thing. Multitasking is a myth. You can do it but the results will always be not what you wanted.

Block time for yourself. Needn’t be on calendar but make sure that you are with your loved ones during that time.

If you will do the above you will find time to spend with your loved ones and will also feel a sense of achievement and will not be bothered that there is work pending.

Believe me, the kind of satisfaction you get if this happens is something outwardly.

When you are reading/listening you may feel that we are focusing on just one thing (Isnt that what is the book all about).

While the focusing question is the core concept, the chapters around it are like supporting pillars, making the whole thing come together in a big, beautiful picture that makes a lot more sense than the question alone.