The ONE Thing

Lesson 1. Introduction.

The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results discusses the value of simplifying one's workload, which can be done by focusing on the most important task in any given project.

It also talks about the general business principle of choosing a single task to work on. This theoretically maximizes the efficiency of that task and the overall project.

The authors, Gary Keller and Jay Papasan, are also real estate entrepreneurs. The ONE Thing refers to numerous scientific studies on willpower, habits, and productivity, that illustrate their importance. 

The book also discusses the benefits of prioritizing a single task, while providing examples of how to engage in those tasks with singular focus. The authors also challenge the concept of "work-life balance", calling it "idealistic, but not realistic." 

The book mainly advocates the fact that success comes from focusing on only that ONE thing, not many. You should figure out that ONE thing and work hard towards achieving it. Try to avoid the pitfalls. In the end, you should be able to give your best shot, where it matters. 

Lesson 2. Prioritize your tasks.

When you have a lot of things to work on, how and from where do you start? Having multiple things to complete, can create confusion and reduce interest. 

To effectively perform all the tasks, it is important to prioritize them first. Make a to-do list of all the things you have to complete. But create your list in a way that the most important tasks are given the highest priority.

It is crucial to keep in mind that all the tasks aren’t equally important. Some of the tasks can be completed in less time compared to others. Hence, choosing the ones of higher importance is vital.

This point is made on the basis of the Pareto Principle. Pareto Principle is the 80/20 principle, which was introduced by Joseph M. Juran. Joseph was a pioneer of quality-control management while working for General Motors.

The 80/20 principle states that 80 percent of your results and outputs are delivered by 20 percent of your inputs and actions. The key point of this principle is simple enough: find a task that is important and will contribute the most to your success. Prioritize on this task.

Work hard on the things that will make your future achievements easier and then build momentum over time. Do fewer things, and focus on a single achievement. 

In that way, your energy will remain concentrated on the areas where the