What's Your ONE Thing?

Photo credit:  Wesley Wiley

On the way home from a recent business trip, I had some time to kill between flights.  While wandering aimlessly through the Hudson Newsstand, a book caught my eye.  I had seen it many times before, but it never spoke to me until that moment.

It was Gary Keller’s (of Keller-Williams Realty fame), The ONE Thing.  It is how he discovered that when he narrowed his focus to one thing, it was often wildly successful when it varied- so did the results.  As a big-time advocate for emulating success, he had my attention.

The book asks a simple question, “What is The ONE thing you can do in your life and work, that by doing it would make everything else easier or unnecessary.” 

Wow! As an “army of one”, there are so many things to do each day, how do I choose just ONE?  Like a prospect given too many choices, my mind went blank. 

He adds, “It’s not that we have too little time to do all the things we need to do, it’s the need to do too many things in the time we have.” 

Suddenly the heavens opened, and it became clear.  I was doing a number of things that were important (or not) to others, but only a few that were impactful to me and my business. 

That’s right, when I took an honest look, almost everything I was doing was moving someone else’s agenda forward.  I had given up control without even realizing it.

I had to ask myself again, “What is the ONE thing I can do in my life and work, that by doing it would make everything else easier or unnecessary.” 

It is important to get this right.  After several days of reflection and working with my business coach, I figured it out.  Now my day begins focused on my ONE Thing.  It may take only a few minutes, several hours, or all day -but I don’t move on to other priorities until I have finished what’s important to me first.

This book has reignited my passion and helped me to focus on what is important to ME.  It’s a quick read, but by no means should you read it quickly.  It’s a simple concept, but as I found out for myself, it requires complex thought.  Ask yourself the question, it can be a life-changing experience.

Dan Chappelle is a professional business advisor and best-selling author.  His training and consulting firm help develop sales focused business leaders and entrepreneurs in the travel and tourism industry. His book, Get Your S.H.I.P. Together: The Wealthy Travel Agent Guide to Sales is available on Amazon.com.

For information on the Wealthy Travel Agent Academy’s business building programs, visit: www.DanChappelle.com

©2019 Dan Chappelle, CCI Inc.