Own Your ONE Thing!

“What's the one thing I can do, such that by doing it everything else is easier or unnecessary?”

That's it.

- Gary Keller

As we wrap up our series on “Own Your ONE Thing”, it’s important to emphasize that the ONE Thing is both the big, inspiring GOAL that is down the road, AND ALSO - the very next, relatively small but meaningful task that is right in front of you!

In other words - once you have your ONE Thing clearly defined in the future, bring your vision back to the immediate present and gently tap over the next domino in your sequence of events. As accurately as possible, try to determine the Next Best Action.

Of course the question pops to mind - “but how do I really know what the next domino is that will lead me to my goal?”. The reality is, we can’t always be sure that every single task we do is directly aligned to our ultimate ONE Thing. That being said - here are some simple steps for aligning you day-to-day tasks with your bigger ONE Thing vision.

1. Remember Your Future Self: As we explored last week, be sure to start by envisioning your future self having achieved your ONE Thing vision. What does that look like? Feel like? What tasks are you doing regularly that got you there? Use this future perspective to guide your daily task selection. This technique, inspired by Emily Balcetis's work on vision and focus, encourages you to keep your end goal in sight, making it easier to identify which tasks are steps towards it. Every morning, ask yourself, "Is what I'm planning to do today getting me closer to where I want to be tomorrow?"

2. Owning Your ONE Thing: As we’ve been emphasizing, the key is to identify the core activity or task that drives the most progress towards your vision. Break down this ultimate vision into smaller, measurable goals, and then into daily tasks. Use the Pareto Principle (80/20 rule) to focus on the 20% of tasks that will yield 80% of the results towards your ONE Thing.

3. Celebrating Change: Embrace flexibility and adaptability in your daily tasks. While staying focused on your ONE Thing, be open to changing how you achieve it based on what you learn and experience. This takes a certain amount of practice and intuition. Learn to move quickly on your hunches and ideas and see if they start developing momentum towards your ONE Thing. Celebrate each task completion as a step closer to your vision, no matter how small. This is the key to unlocking your Prosperity Protocol!

4. Keeping Kind Intentions: Be sure to align your tasks with your values and the greater good. Buckminster Fuller's principle of doing more with less and making the world work for 100% of humanity reminds us that our small daily efforts should not only serve us but also contribute to the well-being of others. This holistic approach ensures that your daily tasks not only bring you closer to your personal vision but also align with a larger purpose.

5. Engaging with Exponential Effort: Apply focused effort and time blocking to your most critical tasks. Recall the story of Jose Hernandez, a Space Shuttle astronaut who is a captivating example of how determination, vision, and hard work can propel one from humble beginnings to stellar heights. Dedicate uninterrupted time blocks to your key tasks each day, ensuring these are the first things you tackle. By doing so, you're applying exponential effort where it counts, ensuring that your daily actions are not just busy work but are meaningful steps towards your ONE Thing.

6. Transforming Time with Your Team: As you become proficient in tapping over the next domino in your field of vision, you can also begin recruiting other team members to help accelerate the fall of dominoes down the road. Learn how championship teams stay focused on their ONE Thing. This kind of easy but targeted leverage can dramatically accelerate your time to success!

By integrating these tips into your daily planning and execution, you're more likely to see a direct line from your day-to-day tasks to your larger ONE Thing vision. It's about making each day count, being intentional with your time, and always keeping your bigger picture in mind as you make a series of simple but targeted next best actions.