The One Thing - Garry Keller and Jay Papasan

In this book, the author told us how extraordinary results can be achieved just by concentrating on one right thing at a time. 
The book is divided into three parts:

1. The Lies
2. The Truth
3. Extraordinary Results

Part - I  The Lies

In Part -1 (The Lies) of this book the author told us about the six lies which we received from our parents throughout our childhood.
The Six Lies are: 

1. Everything Matters Equally
2. Multitasking
3. A Disciplined Life
4. Willpower is always on Will-Call
5. A Balanced Life
6. Big is Bad

Let's understand these Lies in detail:

1. Everything matters Equally

Since our childhood, we have been told and dragged to do many things which are being taught equally important. But that's not the truth, According to the author, there is always a single thing which is the most important of all others and we should concentrate on that ONE Thing to achieve success. 

The author also, said that instead of creating a to-do list we all should make a success list by applying Pareto 's 80/20 Principle which says that 80% of the result can be achieved by putting 20% of efforts. More to this the author said, if we need success we should continue to apply Pareto's principle to our success list until we get our most important ONE Thing to do. 

The author also, told that doing the most important thing is always the MOST IMPORTANT Thing.

2. Multitasking

We have been told that one who is capable of doing the multitasking is the most successful man but that's not the truth. We cannot do two most important thing at the same time. Though we can walk in the garden and talk over the phone at the same time; though whenever we are crossing the busy road we cannot do the same thing (both walking and talking). The term Multitasking came from computers and even there it's not the one thing it's just that the context switching is so fast that it seems that the work is done simultaneously. We are human and doing context switching between two works we always lose few details also, it takes more time and effort to do context switch rather than finishing one work at a time and then switch to other.

3. A Disciplined Life

One more lie we have been told that we have to have a disciplined life to get succeeded but that's not true. We can't be disciplined always but what we should concentrate on is Habit. 

To be successful we need to have powerful habits and we need selected discipline to develop those habits.

A research showed that it takes an average of about 66 days to form a habit. The range is from 18 to 254 days depending on the easy to the tough behavior of habit that needs to be formed.

4. WillPower is always on Will-Call

Every time it is said that we can do anything anytime if we have a willpower. But that's not true. As per the author, our willpower is based on the fuel we have for our mind. The more we use our mind the lesser fuel is left every day. Fuel for the mind can be recharged by taking proper rest and nutritious food. 

One of the real challenges we have it that when our willpower is low we tend to fall back to our default settings. So, you must do the most priority things when your willpower is at its highest.

5. A Balanced Life

Balanced Life is a myth because if you think that you can focus on all the things then you end up giving your best to nothing.
So, to achieve extraordinary results you need to give the time it demands to your ONE most important THING. Doing so, you will be out of balance but that's OKs.

6. Big Is Bad

We have been told from our childhood that doesn't think big it's unachievable. Though, the truth is: You can achieve, what you can think.
Your thinking will either empower or restrict your tomorrow. So, thinking Big is the most important part of achieving Big.

Part - II  The Truth

In Part -2 (The Truth) of this book the author talks about the path to productivity.

The author says that to achieve extra-ordinary you need to ask a great question to yourself. Only great questions can lead you to great answers. These great questions are called as Focusing Questions. Thinking should be BIG but Focus should be small (on ONE most important THING now). 

So, the Focusing question could be: What's my one thing doing which everything else will be easier or unnecessary.

The author also says that you need to make asking the focusing question everytime a habit will keep you on track to achieving what you want to achieve.

In this part author also, tells us about three types of answers which come from your focusing questions.

a) Doable

b) Stretch

c) Possibility

a) Doable - These are the solutions which we are already accustomed to. Applying these nothing new can be learned and we will be at the same place we are currently.

b) Stretch - These are the solutions which we are not accustomed but, with a little effort we can achieve this.

c) Possibility - These are the solutions which we don't know we need to find it. Most of the times to achieve these we might need to change our behavior and acquire new skills and knowledge but doing this will lead us to a new world of knowledge and power and by doing this we can achieve extraordinary results.

Part - III Extraordinary Results

In this part, the author told us about how to achieve the extraordinary results. The author told us about three things to do to achieve extraordinary results:
a) Live with Purpose
b) Live by Priority
c) Live for Productivity

• The author says that if we have a Bigger Purpose in life than we will have happiness in the way of achieving that purpose. 
• To achieve big you need to train your mind to think of the Bigger Purpose but you also, need to drill it down over time until you know the most important thing that you need to do NOW to achieve your bigger purpose that's your Priority. 
• To achieve the one thing you need to block your time (for that one thing) and you have to stick with that Time Block. Not only this you also, need to have Time Breaks to fill recharge your energy which is important for achieving your ONE THING. This will increase your Productivity.

At the end here is the summary.

• Be like a postage stamp-stick to one thing until you get there - Josh Billings
• Going small is a simple approach to extraordinary results.
• The key is over time. Success is built sequentially. It's one thing at a time.
• Everyone has one person who either means the most to them or was the first to influence, train or manage them. No one succeeds alone. No one.
• Success demands singleness of purpose - Vince Lombardi
• The ONE Thing sits at the heart of success and is the starting point for achieving extraordinary results.