Have you ever found yourself buried in a mountain of tasks, feeling productive but not really moving the needle in any significant way? I know the feeling all too well. It’s easy to get swept up in the busyness of daily work, answering emails, attending meetings, and crossing off an endless to-do list, only to realize at the end of the week that you haven’t made real progress on what actually matters. That’s the problem Gary Keller’s book, The One Thing, tackles head-on. The book doesn’t just advocate for prioritization—it offers a whole new lens through which to see your work, your day, and even your long-term ambitions.

“The successful warrior is the average man, with laser-like focus.” — Bruce Lee

Let’s start with perhaps the most powerful idea from the book: the Focusing Question. Keller suggests that we boil our priorities down to a single transformative query: “What’s the one thing I can do such that by doing it, everything else becomes easier or unnecessary?” I urge you to try it. When your brain is buzzing with obligations, pause and ask this question. It acts like a filter, cutting through the noise. Behind its simplicity lies a profound principle. You don’t need to work harder; you need to work smarter, starting with that one action that ripples out benefits everywhere else.

What would happen if you let go of the idea that everything matters equally? Would your schedule look different? Most people instinctively treat every task on their list as equally urgent, which dilutes their energy and time. Keller refers to this as the “equal importance” myth. The reality is that, in almost any project or career, a tiny fraction of your efforts drive the majority of your results. This isn’t just a productivity hack—it’s a fundamental shift in how we approach achievement.

The focusing question can be applied on many levels. Say you want to become a better writer. At a macro level, your one thing might be to write daily. But at a micro level, it means sitting down and getting words on a page right now. It’s a way to guide both your broad ambitions and your next action. I find that whenever I’m unsure what to do next, coming back to this question provides instant clarity.

“Most of us spend too much time on what is urgent and not enough time on what is important.” — Stephen Covey

But recognizing your one thing is only the first step. The second strategy from the book—time blocking—addresses the ever-present enemies of focus: distractions and interruptions. Keller is adamant about protecting time for the work that matters most. This means not just hoping you’ll get to your priority, but literally scheduling it first and defending it fiercely. I recommend starting your day with a 90-minute session focused solely on your key activity, before checking emails or answering calls. You’d be surprised how transformative this simple habit can be.

Why 90 minutes? It’s long enough to make substantial progress, but short enough to maintain deep concentration. After that, you can handle the flood of smaller requests and obligations. The secret is to treat these time blocks as appointments with your most important work. If you’re interrupted or called away, reschedule—you wouldn’t casually skip an appointment with a client, so don’t skip on your own crucial work.

Ask yourself: How often do you allow everyday emergencies to hijack your calendar? What would change if you fiercely guarded your focus time each morning?

“If you chase two rabbits, you will not catch either one.” — Russian proverb

The third strategy is what Keller calls the domino effect. The metaphor is apt: if you line up your tasks and knock over the smallest, most strategic one first, it sets off a chain reaction. Success isn’t a single giant leap but a series of small, deliberate actions, each building on the last. Keller points out that a tiny domino can topple another domino 50% larger in size. Imagine the potential when you apply this to your goals, steadily taking actions that, over time, multiply your momentum.

Let’s get real—how many of us overestimate what we can do in a day and underestimate what we can accomplish in a year? The domino effect is about consistency over intensity. It’s less glamorous than a mad sprint, but over time, it yields extraordinary results. When I started applying this idea, I focused on completing one key task each day—no matter how small. Over weeks and months, these small victories accumulated into major progress.

Winston Churchill once said, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.” Momentum in life and work is precious. Small, steady progress sustains it.

There’s a subtle, often overlooked implication in these strategies: to master focus, you must get comfortable with saying no. Keller isn’t saying you’ll never have to do other tasks—he’s pointing out that your most meaningful progress often requires you to defer or delegate the less essential. This can feel uncomfortable at first, especially in workplaces or cultures that equate busyness with value. But ask yourself—are you busy, or are you effective?

Let’s consider multitasking. The book is blunt: multitasking is a myth. The brain isn’t wired to do multiple complex tasks at once; instead, it toggles between them, draining mental energy and degrading performance. Focusing on your one thing isn’t just more productive; it’s less cognitively taxing.

“Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work in hand. The sun’s rays do not burn until brought to a focus.” — Alexander Graham Bell

Another angle that often gets less attention is the psychological impact of focus. When you commit to one thing, your mental load lightens. Decision fatigue drops. Instead of standing at a crossroads every hour, you follow a clear, pre-chosen path. This mental clarity is empowering; it transforms overwhelming days into purposeful, calm action.

Yet, protecting your one thing isn’t always easy. Workplace cultures often reward rapid response and constant availability. Here’s a question to ponder: how would your colleagues react if you declined meetings or delayed responses to prioritize your top goal? Sometimes the hardest part of protecting your focus is the fear of disappointing others. But what if, instead, you inspired others to do the same?

Let’s talk about the link between the focusing question and long-term vision. The question operates at two levels: macro (your biggest life objectives) and micro (your next step). For example, if your long-term ambition is to master a skill, your one thing today might simply be to practice for 20 minutes. The beauty of this approach is that it connects the present moment to your overarching purpose, making even small actions feel meaningful.

What might your week look like if you started each day with a clear-eyed commitment to a single priority? How would that change your energy, your results, and your satisfaction at week’s end?

The truth is, these focus strategies extend well beyond work. They apply to health, relationships, personal passions—practically any area where consistent progress matters. Are you struggling to get fit? Ask the focusing question: what’s the one thing you can do today for your health that would make other efforts easier? Maybe it’s laying out gym clothes the night before, making a healthy breakfast, or blocking time for a walk. These small actions, compounded over time, create noticeable transformation.

“Nothing is less productive than to make more efficient what should not be done at all.” — Peter Drucker

Let’s not ignore another unconventional angle: the role of distraction in modern life. Attention spans are shrinking, not because we lack discipline, but because the world is designed to capture our gaze at every turn. The practice of time blocking and rigidly protecting focus isn’t just for peak performers—it’s a survival skill in the age of constant interruption.

There’s an irony here. Technology promises efficiency, but without boundaries, it scatters our attention in a thousand directions. That’s why these focus strategies are more relevant than ever. Deliberately choosing what to ignore is as important as choosing what to tackle.

Here’s what’s fascinating: when you center your life on your one thing, you often find that many problems solve themselves. By making significant progress in one area, you free up energy, reduce stress, and build confidence that spills over into other parts of your life. I’ve seen entrepreneurs whose businesses took off only after they pared down all but the essential. I’ve watched artists and professionals thrive, not by adding more, but by subtracting the nonessential.

A final thought to consider—focus isn’t something we achieve once; it’s a daily practice. Every morning offers a renewed choice. Will you scatter your attention, or will you ask, “What’s the one thing I can do today?”

“I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.” — Bruce Lee

In the end, I challenge you to try these three strategies for just a week. Ask the focusing question, block time for your top priority, and treat each small task as a domino that could set off a chain reaction. See how this changes your results, your stress, and even your sense of purpose.

So, what’s the one thing you can do tomorrow such that by doing it, everything else becomes easier or unnecessary? Your answer might just change everything.