Own Your ONE Thing

“Extraordinary results are directly determined by how narrow you can make your focus … when you spread yourself out, you end up spread thin.” - Gary Keller

We intuitively understand that specialization and focus can make a tremendous impact on results. This narrowing of focus is seen in many fields such as medicine where doctors begin with a broad medical training but then narrow down their specialty area to areas like cardiology, oncology, neurology, etc.

There is a necessary pre-requisite to narrowing your focus, and that is deciding what to focus on. Then there is the habit and skills and needed to actually focus and do the work in that particular area. Finally, there is the skill of re-focus - getting back on track when you drift off course. Ultimately, by working on these skills you can build a Fortress of Focus!

Here are 7 Strategies to Concentrate on What Matters Most.

1. The Crystal Ball Effect: See Your ONE Thing Clearly
To achieve extraordinary results, you need to see your target with razor-sharp clarity. Imagine you're holding a crystal ball—everything is blurry until you focus on the one thing that matters most. Ask yourself, “What is the single goal that, if achieved, will make everything else easier or unnecessary?” When you clarify this goal, it becomes your North Star, directing all your actions and decisions.

2. The Pareto Power Play: Amplify Your Impact
Use the 80/20 Rule to amplify your impact by identifying the 20% of actions that generate 80% of your results. Not everything you do has equal importance, so cut away the excess and give your energy to the activities that truly move the needle. Make a habit of regularly asking yourself, “What are my most impactful actions today?” and spend your time there.

 3. The Domino Effect: Line Up Your ONE Thing
Just like a line of dominos, knocking down the first one can set off a chain reaction. Find your ONE Thing—the priority that knocks over every subsequent domino, creating a ripple effect toward your goal. Ask yourself, “What one task, if completed, will make the greatest difference in achieving my goal?” and then focus on executing that task consistently.

4. Chunk, Don’t Choke: Break It Down to Build It Up
When staring at a large mountain, it’s easy to choke on the enormity of the climb. But by breaking your big goals into "chunks," you create a manageable path. Think of it like building with LEGOs; each piece is small, but they all connect to form something significant. Start with one task and stack from there, focusing on completing one chunk at a time.

5. Future-Self Fuel: Visualize and Propel Yourself Forward
Picture yourself as the person who has already reached the finish line. How do they act? What habits have they mastered? Let this vision of your future self fuel your present-day efforts. When you lose motivation, reconnect with your future self and ask, “What step can I take today that will bring me closer to who I want to become?” Let your future success pull you through current challenges.

6. Relentless Consistency: Turn Small Wins into Big Results
True progress comes from relentless effort over time. Think of yourself as a snowball rolling down a hill, accumulating size and speed with every rotation. Consistency is about showing up every day and putting in the work, no matter how small. Remember, the "Won’t Quit" mindset isn't about perfection—it's about perseverance. Celebrate every small win, as each one compounds over time to create unstoppable momentum.

7. Fortress of Focus: Guard Your Time Like a Castle
Distractions are like invaders to your castle of focus—each one threatens to steal your most valuable asset: time. Build a fortress around your priorities by identifying your distractions and developing strategies to block them out. Use time-blocking to create sacred, non-negotiable periods for your ONE Thing. Guard this time fiercely, and let nothing disrupt it.

Maintaining focus is not a one time skill, but an ongoing approach to each and every day. First all - always be sure to that you are working on your most important tasks. Then, fiercely carve out the time needed to complete those tasks successfully. Finally, whenever you find yourself getting off track, re-focus your efforts and continue to make steady progress on your ONE Thing.