One Thing

One Thing
By Jeff Earlywine
 
During a coaching session with a client a few days ago I said something that I don’t believe I have ever said before. I am certain I have had several discussions similar but this discussion took hold and really got my client going. If I could go back in time, I would like to invite you to listen in on the conversation.
 
I asked my client if he had ever seen the movie, “City Slickers?” He said he had. I asked if he remembered the part where Curley told the young buck (Mitch) what the most important thing in life was. With great anticipation the young buck was so eager to hear the wisdom from this old prospector. And then Curley came out with it. The most important thing in life is, “One thing.” That was it. One thing. Really???
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This led me to help my client think through this deep thought. I started with this question, “What is one thing that you want to get accomplished this year?” Just one thing. Not two, ten or a bunch. I wanted him to focus, with laser power. He gave me his answer and then I asked him to do something just as genius as Curley’s answer. I asked him to do just one thing each day, something that he can document that will move him towards accomplishing this goal. Just one thing.
 
I was not sure if this was too trivial. To basic. Not powerful enough to be taken seriously. After all my client is a busy man, running a multi-million dollar business. But he ran with it. So much so that it prompted this text message to me yesterday, “I turned one thing into ‘1 List.’ I’ve written down the most important thing to do today and I’m ½ way though.”
 
I must say I was proud. Not because I was able to communicate a very basic idea in a powerful way. Not because I even came up with it. No, I was proud because my client took the concept, made it his own and began using it to make a difference in his life and business.
 
So… what “ONE THING” do you want to accomplish this year. Be very specific when you answer this question. Your answer needs to be: Measurable, Achievable and Require Action. Then each morning write down ONE THING that you will do to accomplish this. Something that is documentable. Then end your day with writing down what you did that day. At the end of 2017 you will have taken over 300 actions, powerful and documentable actions that moved you closer to accomplishing the ONE THING you wanted to accomplish this year. And if you do accomplish it before year-end then dream up a new goal and start again.
 
Don’t get greedy and make a long list. Just ONE THING will do.