35 pages • 1 hour read
Gary Keller, Jay PapasanThe ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results
Gary Keller, Jay PapasanNonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2013A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Themes
Healthy Business Culture
Keller designs The ONE Thing to help individuals learn to more effectively set goals and achieve success by aligning their priorities with their purpose. Throughout the book, he also suggests that businesses have purposes just as individuals do—the implication being that businesses have to live up to their purpose or risk failing. Companies like Coors, Apple, KFC, Walmart, and the Star Wars franchise exemplify qualities Keller values in both businesses and individuals, such as focus and innovation.
Keller’s book does not directly criticize any specific companies or people, but it does remark that businesses that do not function in alignment with their purpose are misguided. He is resistant to the idea of the status quo or business as usual. For instance, when providing his recommendations for how individuals should structure their time to achieve success, Keller writes, “Normal business culture gets in the way of the very productivity it seeks because of the way people traditionally schedule their time” (167). A 9-to-5, Monday through Friday schedule, for instance, might not be the most conducive to productivity. Similarly, expecting that workers should schedule their tasks around meetings rather than holding meetings at times that are accessible to workers can crush productivity. Such criticisms of traditional business culture also imply how much Keller values the well-being of workers. At several points in his book, he advocates for personal time, rest, the importance of health, and good treatment of workers, noting that “[r]esting is as important as working” and that a worker pushed to put work before family “may be placing a bet [they] can’t cover” (164, 79).
According to Keller, business leaders should develop company culture in such a way that it ensures business success while also ensuring the wellness of workers. Moreover, by caring for workers, companies can establish conditions that will allow those workers to succeed in reaching their own goals by promoting a broader environment of achievement. In order for companies to create a thriving culture, they must go through the same process that Keller suggests individuals utilize, focusing their goals and identifying priorities. They must keep their ONE Thing in mind and continually refer to it as they set priorities in both the short term and long term as well as at all levels of responsibility. Doing so will set them on the path to both success and the creation of a thriving company culture that cares about worker interests.
Productivity and Narrowing Focus
Productivity is one of the key concepts in Keller’s The ONE Thing, but part of his mission is to bust many myths that surround this concept. Traditionally, we define productivity as doing as much as possible in a given time frame. For Keller, however, productivity without focus does not lead to real achievement.
Keller accepts the common sense that productivity is clearly connected to success, writing, “The most successful people are the most productive people” (158). This statement implies two things at once: First, productive people are successful; second, success comes from productivity. Yet neither of these points are a given, in Keller’s view. People will not become successful simply by doing as much as they can. Indeed, Keller writes, “If your to-do list contains everything, then it’s probably taking you everywhere but where you want to go” (35). Similarly, trying to do many things at once to increase output can actually derail productivity. Keller makes this clear when analyzing the concept of multitasking in Chapter 5, noting, “Task switching exacts a cost few realize they’re even paying” (48). The feeling of accomplishing much by creating a long to-do list or by attempting to multitask only creates an illusion of productivity. In actuality, constantly switching between tasks and filling your time with tasks that may be low priorities can sap your energy, lead to endless distractions, and cause you to lose sight of your ultimate goals—and be left wondering where all your time went.
Keller strongly emphasizes that the way to avoid these pitfalls is to align your tasks with your purpose. You must understand the reason why you are doing the task you’ve chosen to focus on, constantly reflecting on whether or not that task will help you most effectively work toward your short-term and long-term goals. In other words, to achieve real productivity, you must continually turn to what Keller calls the Focusing Question, asking yourself what one thing you can do right now (or today, this week, this year, etc.) to work toward your purpose. Keeping this purpose in mind means narrowing focus: “When you go as small as possible, you’ll be staring at one thing. And that’s the point” (11). With this purpose constantly in mind, you will ensure that you select the most important tasks to accomplish first and devote the most time to, thus achieving real productivity. For Keller, productivity means doing the right thing at the right time, not just filling your time.
Individual Purpose and Common Happiness
Keller’s The ONE Thing is commonly characterized as a handbook for success in business, and the author certainly draws on examples from the world of business while tailoring his advice for those who want to achieve success in their professional lives. However, Keller’s book also consistently considers the success of individuals from a holistic perspective, as the author’s emphasis on aligning goals with purpose demonstrates. Keller is interested in helping individuals realize their purpose and find fulfilment even as they work with others. Thus, The ONE Thing is a guide for discovering individual purpose as well as for increasing the happiness of all.
The concern for individual well-being emerges in The ONE Thing’s emphasis on things like health, spirituality, and family. Keller does not believe that success is simply a matter of money but instead connects wealth and purpose, writing, “I believe that financially wealthy people are those who have enough money coming in without having to work to finance their purpose in life” (142-43). That purpose must be one that is good for a person’s health, encourages spiritual growth, allows time with family to be a priority, and otherwise aligns with factors that support the fulfillment and happiness of both the individual and those around them.
At multiple points in the book, Keller praises the importance of mentors, teachers, and coaches, noting, “No one succeeds alone. No one” (20). These influences help an individual define their purpose, showing how each person can contribute to others. Rather than simply acknowledging the value that mentors have in helping individuals discover their purpose, Keller argues that individuals must make it a priority to return that concern for others. For instance, Keller recommends arranging your time to ensure that loved ones receive the attention they deserve; if you try to accomplish too much in the world of work, “[E]verything gets shortchanged and nothing gets its due” (75), including other people. Conversely, giving other people attention both supports your purpose and increases happiness all around.
Keller believes that discovering the personal matters that are key to your purpose takes reflection, just like setting priorities and goals in the world of business. He notes, “When our lives are defined by our choices, the all-important question becomes, How do we make good ones?” (33). These “good ones” include those that lead to success in business as well as personal fulfillment, and we discover them by asking the Focusing Question about all aspects of life.
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