Own Your ONE Thing: Focus on the Next Most Interesting Step

We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.
- Walt Disney


What if the secret to success isn’t about having everything planned out but simply following curiosity to take the next most interesting step?

In a world obsessed with precision and long-term strategies, we often feel pressured to have all the answers upfront. But what if the path forward lies in the art of asking questions, exploring possibilities, and following what feels most compelling in the moment?

The serendipitous success of products like Gmail or the microwave oven wasn’t the result of meticulously planned goals but a willingness to explore an interesting idea. Gmail started as a side project born from Google’s famed “20% time,” and the microwave was discovered when Percy Spencer noticed a candy bar melting near a magnetron he was testing.

These breakthroughs remind us that great outcomes often arise not from chasing rigid objectives but from acting on curiosity-driven moments of inspiration.

The Power of the “Next Interesting Step”

The ROCKET Goals framework emphasizes long-term clarity: Define your destination, map your path, and follow it. But what happens when the destination is uncertain? Or when new, unexpected opportunities arise along the way?

This is where the concept of focusing on your ONE Thing takes on a new, serendipitous twist. Originally designed to streamline your efforts around a single priority, the “ONE Thing” becomes even more powerful when viewed as a flexible guidepost rather than a rigid finish line.

• Why It Works: Neuroscience reveals that novelty stimulates the brain’s reward centers, sparking intrinsic motivation and enhancing engagement. By focusing on what feels most interesting today, you create a positive feedback loop of curiosity and productivity.
  

• Illustration: Consider an artist starting with a blank canvas. Instead of planning every detail, they might begin with a single brushstroke, responding to the interplay of colors and textures as they go. This process of discovery often leads to more inspired creations than strict adherence to a pre-set plan.
  

The Magic of Small, Curiosity-Driven Steps

Focusing on the “next interesting step” is more than just a creative strategy—it’s a practical one.

Here’s why it’s so effective:

1. It Reduces Overwhelm: Breaking a journey into manageable, curiosity-driven steps makes even daunting goals feel achievable.

2. It Increases Adaptability: Staying open to what intrigues you allows for pivots that might reveal better opportunities than your original plan.

3. It Fuels Momentum: Each small step provides a dopamine boost, motivating you to take the next one.

Example:
J.K. Rowling didn’t start writing Harry Potter with a detailed blueprint for seven books. She began with the intriguing idea of a boy wizard living under a staircase, and the world of Hogwarts grew organically from there.

Aligning Curiosity with Practical Frameworks

1. Reframe Your ONE Thing Through the 80/20 Lens:

   • Ask: What’s the ONE most compelling and impactful step I can take today—the step that aligns with my curiosity but also delivers the biggest return on effort?

   • Why This Works: The 80/20 principle ensures that even curiosity-driven actions are purposeful, focusing your energy on what creates exponential impact rather than scattering it across low-priority tasks.
     

2. Balance Compelling Steps with Strategic Action:

   • Use curiosity to identify the step that feels most exciting, but evaluate its potential against your long-term priorities or areas where exponential effort is most effective.

   • For example: If your goal is professional growth and you’re intrigued by a new trend in your industry, dedicate focused time to exploring it and assess how it might improve your key skill set or outcomes.
     

3. Combine Structure with Exploration:

   • Dedicate the first part of your day to a compelling, curiosity-driven task (the "next interesting step").

   • Use the rest of the day to apply structured, exponential action on what you already know is impactful. This ensures both exploration and execution work in harmony.

Example in Practice

Let’s say you’re a writer working on a book:

• The structured approach (ROCKET’s exponential effort): Commit to writing 500 words daily to ensure consistent progress.

• The curiosity-driven step: Spend 30 minutes exploring a fascinating side story, an idea that excites you but wasn’t in your original outline.

Even if that side story doesn’t make it into the final draft, it might spark a new theme or perspective that enhances the overall narrative. By combining the discipline of exponential effort with the flexibility of curiosity, you move forward while staying open to serendipitous breakthroughs.

Conclusion:

Success is not a fixed destination; it’s a journey of discovery, fueled by curiosity and the courage to take the next step.

When we allow ourselves the freedom to pursue what feels compelling in the moment, we unlock creativity, uncover hidden opportunities, and build momentum toward achievements we couldn’t have planned.

Tomorrow, we’ll dive into how celebrating small changes and wins creates a ripple effect that accelerates progress. Until then, focus on your ONE Thing for today and see where curiosity takes you! 🚀