It's Tuesday at 2:00pm! (PST Time: I live and work from Southern California)
I found this book years ago while browsing through a bookstore in an airport and I really enjoyed reading it. I recently pulled it off my shelf to look at again, and decided to use the title to inspire us to share some things we're learning.
Many times, we read a book and there are so many great ideas and concepts, that when we are finished, we are simply overwhelmed, so we don't act on any of them.
This book is a challenge to identify the ONE activity, the ONE idea, the ONE task, the ONE THING that leads to your greatest productivity and do that.
I'm going to gather a couple of my favorite books, and over the next few weeks I want to share THE ONE THING that stood out to me that I was actually able to process, apply and develop to affect my leadership.
I'd like to ask you to share some of yours. Do it simply:
What's the book?
What's The One Thing that stands out to you (we all see different things)?
How has it made a difference?
Send it to me HERE and I'll share it with others reading this weekly post.
Here's my ONE THING from The One Thing:
This book is full of challenges, but after grabbing the book again after some time, I was drawn to a thought the authors have called "The Four Thieves".
They talk about 4 things that steal our productivity and keep us from doing what we know we want to and need to do. I'll add my comments to the authors 4 things:
1 - Inability to Say "NO"
When we say no to something, we can then say yes to what we need to focus on. I need to do this more. There are too many GOOD things to say yes to, but I need to focus on the GREAT things and say no to so many others.
2 - Fear of Chaos
When we focus on one thing or few things, chaos comes because of all the other things waiting for our attention. Many of us can't live in chaos so we choose lower productivity and less chaos. When I'm focusing on something that is a priority, I need to be OK with a messy desk, longer response times to emails, being less available. It's messy. Focus requires me to set some things aside to be 100% on the priority.
3 - Poor Health Habits
The author shares, "Personal energy management is a silent thief of productivity". I know this too well. I'm at my best when I'm living with healthy rhythms of life, health, relationships and faith. As I take care of myself, I am a better leader for others. Often, this is the first thing to go when we get busy.
4 - Environment Doesn't Support Your Goals
The people I surround myself with either support my goals or they work against my goals. For me to be successful, I need an environment around me that supports where I'm going. This includes people, works space, how I handle and manage distractions... my environment can be a thief!
This kind of sounds like 4 things, but it's really one.
The challenge I was reminded of from this book is simply to pay attention to each of these things in my life. Each of them determine my effectiveness and my success.
Thoughts? Comment HERE on the blog page.
"Until my ONE thing is done, everything else is a distraction." Gary Keller
"What's the ONE Thing you can do such that by doing it everything else will be easier or unnecessary?" Gary Keller
"Success is built sequentially. It's one thing at a time." Gary Keller
Things I'm Reading and Listening To This Week:
The One Thing"The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results" by Gary Keller, with Jay Papasan.
Here's a flash-back to 1981 when Men At Work released their first album. I enjoyed listening to Men At Work Essentials this week in my office. Great music that takes me back to another time!
Gina and I enjoyed this YouTube video that was shared with us by a good friend, "Five Truths That Will Fundamentally Transform Your Marriage" by Ed Welch
I've created some "Two-Minute Trainings" that are on the "Lead With Russ" YouTube Page. Simple challenges and thoughts in two-minute segments, and you get to experience my hair and facial hair challenges over the years. Subscribe to these to catch new ones coming
I was introduced to an online stock trading platform called ROBINHOOD. It's an easy way to do free online trades. There's a podcast that's connected to their platform called, "ROBINHOOD SNACKS". I listen to this 15-minute entertaining finance podcast that highlights 3 stories a day. It's very clever and fun to listen to. You can find it where you listen to podcasts. It's also a daily newsletter that comes out if you'd like to read it instead. I usually listen to it while I walk!