The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results

Gary Keller’s nonfiction book The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results (2012) conveys Keller’s business, life principles, and advice on goal setting, prioritization, focusing, and discovering purpose. As the founder and chairman of the board of the global real estate corporation Keller Williams Realty, Inc., Keller has devoted much time and attention to distilling principles for professional success, personal well-being, and overall fulfillment. He co-authored the book, along with others, with Jay Papasan, a writer and business executive. The book appeared on multiple best-seller lists and has been listed as one of the top business books by Entrepreneur, Goodreads, and others. This guide references the 2012 Bart Press edition of The ONE Thing.

Summary

Keller divides The ONE Thing into three major parts but prefaces these with three introductory chapters. Chapter 1 outlines Keller’s idea of the “ONE Thing,” which means focusing on the most important task or concern of a given goal. Focusing in this way, Keller advises, ensures that goals are best aligned with purpose and prioritized in such a way that you can achieve them. In Chapter 2, Keller uses the metaphor of dominoes falling in succession to illustrate how tasks undertaken in the pursuit of a goal are most effective when they are incremental and cumulative, with a view to long-term purpose. Chapter 3 reviews examples of businesses and individuals that Keller views as successful, showing that all of them have benefited from focus and the help of mentors.

Part 1 of The ONE Thing (“The Lies”) then examines myths and misconceptions that surround traditional characterizations of success. Chapter 4 contends that believing all things are equal is a mistake. Keller cites the “80/20 Principle,” which states that 80% of success comes from 20% of effort, to argue that there is value in devoting attention to the most impactful tasks and goals. Chapter 5 critiques multitasking, with Keller drawing on research that shows it can harm energy and attention. He states that this is additional evidence for the power of focusing and prioritizing. In Chapter 6, Keller contrasts the concept of discipline with the idea of building habits and insists that developing positive habits and training oneself is key. Willpower is the subject of Chapter 7, with Keller recommending that readers avoid thinking they can summon willpower at any time and for any need. Instead, he encourages them to take advantage of the times when their willpower is at its peak (such as early morning) by devoting those times to the highest-priority tasks. Chapter 9 rejects the idea of work-life balance, arguing that the pursuit of success will at times mean intentionally getting out of balance. This is a good thing as long as you don’t forget the highest priorities (such as health and family). Keller closes Part 1 in by encouraging readers to think big in terms of their purpose and not to fear success.

In Part 2 (“The Truth”), Keller lays out the basic principles for developing more purpose-driven goals and setting priorities more effectively. Chapter 10 describes what Keller calls “The Focusing Question,” which asks readers to consider one thing they can do in pursuit of any task or goal to make all else easier or unnecessary. The Focusing Question provides the essential formula for discovering the “ONE Thing,” and in Chapter 11, Keller describes how to turn the insights of this question into habits that drive success. Chapter 12 goes into greater detail about what constitutes a “Great Question” or “Great Answer.” Keller encourages readers to seek goals that will push them beyond what they think they can do in order to achieve real success and move toward their purpose.

Part 3, “Extraordinary Results,” provides further details and advice to help readers become more productive, set better goals, and realize their purpose. This final section of the book also considers how Keller’s principles apply beyond the business world. Chapter 13 meditates further on the idea of purpose, while Chapters 14 and 15 delve deeper into the concepts of purpose and productivity. Keller introduces additional principles in Chapter 16 that can help readers on their journey, including mastery as a path instead of a destination, a purposeful rather than entrepreneurial mindset, and accountability. Conversely, Chapter 17 discusses four “thieves” that can hinder pursuit of your purpose: an inability to say “no,” fear of chaos, neglect of health, and unsupportive environments. Keller provides advice for overcoming each of these obstacles.

In Chapter 18, Keller summarizes the principles of The ONE Thing. He urges readers to live with purpose and to focus on that purpose so that they can live lives celebrating what they have accomplished rather than regretting what they have not done. Keller closes the book with a set of guiding questions to help readers apply his advice to all levels of their life, including their personal life, family, job, and work team.