Gary Keller is the chairman of Keller Williams which is the largest real estate company in the United States. Gary and his colleague Jay Papasan have written The One Thing which is about focusing on the one most important goal in your life and working continuously and proactively to achieve it.
The authors note, "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."
The first section of the book examines false beliefs we hold. This section will convince you that some discipline on the front end will result in positive habits that won't require willpower. It helps you to understand and overcome the following six myths about time management and strategic planning that so many of us share:
- Everything matters equally - the most important step is learning to say no.
- Multitasking - it doesn't work because we are built to focus on one thing at a time.
- A disciplined life - give each powerful habit 66 days to develop.
- Willpower is always on will-call - you have a limited amount of willpower each day.
- A balanced life - lead a counterbalanced life by letting the right things take priority.
- Big is bad - you have to think big to be big.
The second section helps you determine the ONE thing in your life, and in each area of your life.
The third section helps you overcome the obstacles that keep you from focusing on that most important thing. Your productivity is driven by your purpose and how you prioritize. You achieve extraordinary results by applying the knowledge gained from the book and utilizing the tools in your life.
I enjoyed this book as it points out the power of focusing on the one big thing and avoiding all the distractions that can get you off track.
Jeff
"The key is not to prioritize what's on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities." - Stephen Covey