Since we love quick reading I’ve always wanted to summarise books so that it urges the reader to pursue reading the full book.
Since we love quick reading I’ve always wanted to summarise books so that it urges the reader to pursue reading the full book. This is the first of my attempts to let you get a glimpse of one great book every week.
I always considered myself to be a good multitasker. And naturally was suprised know about this book, THE ONE THING by Gary Keller as it talks about the myths behind “multi tasking “ and the art of getting things done, by doing one thing at a time. Here I will take you through some excerpts and summaries from this method changing book.
Its not about doing ten things in a day but doing one important thing in ten times better way.
The One Thing starts with the phrases “If you chase two rabbits, you will not catch either one “As the above phrases, this book endorses one to focus on one thing at a time.
“Be like a postage stamp, stick to one thing until you get there ” as quoted by the book, clearly defines what the book is going to hold inside !
The entire anatomy of the book has three chapters and whereas :
PART 1: THE LIES: In this part, it completely focusses on the myths which people accepted and believed it as a truth to gain success.
1. Everything matters equally – Things that mattered most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least. Equality is a lie and achievers always work from the clear sense of priority
Go Small: Don’t focus on being too busy ; focus on being productive. Allow what matters most to drive your day
Go Extreme: Once you have figured out what actually matters, keep asking what matters most until there is only one thing left. That core activity goes at the top of your success list
Say No: Whether you say “later” or “never”, the point is to say “not now” to anything else you could do until your most important work is done
Don’t get trapped in the “check off” game: If we believe things don’t matter equally, we must act accordingly
2. MultiTasking: “To do two things at once is to do neither“
Multitasking is merely an opportunity to screw up more than one thing at a time.
In order to be able to put the principle of THE ONE THING to work, you cat buy into the lie f trying two things at a time is a good idea. Though multi tasking is sometimes possible, it is never possible t do it effectively
3.A Disciplined life: “Its one of thoseprevalent myths of urculture: selfdiscipline”
The trick to success is to choose the right habit and bring just enough discipline to establish it
4.Will Power is always on Will call:
On any given day, you have a limited supply of willpower, so decide what matters and reserve your will power to it Full Strength willpower requires a full tank. Never let what
matters most be compromised simply because your brain was under fueled. Eat right and regularly Do what matters most first each day when your willpower id strongest. Maximum willpower means maximum success.
5.A Balanced Life
A balanced life is a myth. Extraordinary results require a focussed attention and time. Time on one thing means time away from another. This makes balance impossible
To achieve an extraordinary result you must choose what matters most and give it all the time it demands. This requires getting extremely out of balance in relation to all other work issues
6.Big is Bad
Its about bold ideas that might threaten your comfort zones but simultaneously reflect your greatest opportunities. Believing in big, frees you to ask different questions, follow different paths, and try new things. This opens to new possibilities that until now only lived inside you.
The only actions that become springboards to succeeding big are those informed by big thinking to begin with “People who think crazy enough to think they can change the world are the only ones who do“.
PART 2: THE SIMPLER TRUTH TO PRODUCTIVITY
The Focussing question:
always ask this ”What the one thing I can do such that by doing it, everything else will be easier or unneccessary ?” By asking this question, you get the focussed answer and with that focussed answer, one has to keep doing what one thing they have to do and by doing it, everything else becomes easier and unneccessary
PART 3: EXTRAORDINARY RESULTS -UNLOCKING THE POSSIBILITIES WITHIN YOU
Simpler formula to implement the one thing that is very important to achieve extraordinary results as the author suggests are Purpose, Priority and Productivity
Live with Purpose:
Our purpose sets our priority and our priority determines the productivity our actions produce Purpose is simply the one thing you want your life to be about more than any other. Lets try writing down something one’d like to accomplish and then shall describe how would one do it
Live by priority:
Purpose without priority is powerless Knowing the goals and doing one thing from right now that will get one to the goal
Live for productivity:
Time Block – a tool to manage your time such that you block your time everyday to that one thing which you have to do it
The best way to make your ONE thing happen is to make regular appointments with yourself . Block time early in the day and block big chunks of it – no less than four hours!
The People who achieve extraordinary results don’t achieve them by working more hours. They achieve them by getting more work in the hours they work
The three commitments:
The three commitments to your one thing:
1. Follow the path of Mastery – block your one thing and make sure you approach with mastery
2. Move from “E” to “P” – rathe than just doing things in a natural way, “P” way means it has to be done in unnatural way- that is – doing one thing by taking the extra mile effort in getting the things done
3. Live the accountability cycle : Take the ownership of the outcome. If extraordinary results are what you want, stay out of the passenger seat and take the driver seat
The four thieves:
1. Start saying “NO”: Always remember that when you say “yes” to something , you’re saying “NO” to everything else. learning to say “NO” will liberate you. its how you will find
time for your one thing
2. Accept Chaos: learn to recognise that your one thing moves will make other things to back burner. Make peace with it. The success you accomplish by your ONE THING
will continuously prove you made the right decision
3. Manage your energy: Take care of your physical and mental health
4. Take ownership of the environment: The right people in your life and the right physical environment on your daily path will support your efforts to get you ONE thing
So, Go live your life. Live it fully, without fear. Live with purpose, given it your alland never give up.A life worth living might be measured in many ways , but the one way that stands above all others is living a life of no regrets The authors finally pens that ”.. make sure everyday you do what matters most . When you know what matters most, everything makes sense. When you don’t know what matters most, anything makes sense. The best lives aren’t led this way.
Put yourself together , and your world falls into place.When you bring purpose to your life, know your priorities, and achieve high productivity on the priority that matters most everyday, your life makes sense and the extraordinary becomes possible“
So don’t delay. “Whats the one thing I can do right now to start using “THE ONE THING ” in my life such that by doing it everything else will be easier or unnecessary?”
And he ends
.. make doing the answer your first ONE Thing !
BOTTOM LINE
A very important book for those who are struggling to focus their mind to do “one thing at a time”. It definitelyis an eye opener for all of us who are in the illusionary world of having a false thought that “Multi tasking ” is boon for one !