One Thing That Creates Positive Change
What's the one thing you can do such that by doing it everything else will be easier or unnecessary? - Gary Keller
With a little extra time over the holidays, my podcast and book consumption happily increased. One of my newest discoveries is a podcast called The One Thing Podcast which sprung from Gary Keller’s best selling book of the same name. The overarching theme is that success in all areas of your life, both professional and personal, is reliant on your ability to dismiss distractions and concentrate on your “One Thing”.
Keller argues strongly against the concept of “balance”. In reality, we simply can’t put equal amounts of energy into all areas of our lives at the one time. I’m sure we’ve all had that moment when we decide to be a better person. You are going to stop eating sugar, pray or mediate daily, read the parenting book that has been gathering dust on your bedside table, launch your new business and learn the piano. In this situation, one of two things will happen:
You don’t achieve any of these things, OR
You continue to be average at everything.
Keller outlines seven areas of our lives that are constantly vying for our time (below). In order to live a fulfilling life, we need to learn how to counterbalance our time between each one. There are seasons when certain areas of our lives require increased levels of attention and it’s our ability to tip to and fro between these areas that will allow for a balanced life over time.
Our spiritual life
Our physical health
Our personal life
Our key relationships
Our job
Our business
Our finances
Here’s a simple exercise to help you decide where to put your energy. Looking at these 7 areas, give yourself a score out of 10 according to how you think it’s going, with 1 being not-so-well to 10 being I’ve-got-this! Then decide on 1 or 2 areas you would like to devote more energy to at the moment. It could be an area that is going well e.g. if key relationships got an 8 you may want to work to get it to a 10. Or it could be an area that scored particularly low and you want it to improve e.g. if physical health scored a 3 then you may (hopefully!) decide this area needs some attention.
It is of course important that you don’t allow one thing to overtake your time and energy to the detriment of something else that matters to you. For example, if you decide you want to devote more energy to your business, as long as your relationships are in a good place and you are well supported, then now might be the time. However, if you start to see your relationships suffer because of the increased time and energy you are giving to your business, then this is when you need to employ the counterbalance initiative and you tilt your energy back towards relationships more.
Or take your health. Spending time on your health and fitness on a consistent and daily basis is, of course, vital. However, if you want to take on a physical challenge such as running a marathon, this takes more than the usual level of commitment. For 16 weeks or so, this will become your “one thing” as the training requires an enormous amount of commitment. Other things will have to fall by the wayside and you may see your friends less, or step back from helping at a school event for that term. Therefore, the decision to train for an event such as this shouldn’t come at a time when you are starting a new job, or the family is struggling, or your finances need attention. As soon as there are one too many balls in the air, they will all come tumbling down.
Examples of focussing on One Thing:
Spiritual health: Set aside time on a daily basis to do the activity that brings you to peace. Read / pray / meditate / walk in nature. Create a time to meet with others who share your faith.
Business: Block out a period each day that you turn off your phone, emails and distractions, lock yourself in a bunker and work.
Relationships: Prioritise family meals over all other things. Or schedule lunch with a friend once a week. Or if you need some professional help consider relationship counselling. Do whatever it takes.
Physical health: Sign up to a group exercise program or get a PT on board. Block out your training time and turn up no matter what. Or, better yet, combine working on your relationships with working on your physical health and exercise with a friend or your spouse.
Finances: Take time to create a spreadsheet to see where money is going in and out and stay diligent in your recording of finances. Spend time researching some better rates for insurance, phone charges and the like.
Simplify your life by focussing on the one thing that you think will create the most positive change in your life today.
by Angie Black
The above blog is a compilation of my thoughts and understanding from the ideas in the One Thing podcast and book. These are not Gary Keller’s words.
ANGIE BLACK
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