The One Thing Book Review: A Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results

What if, instead of doing everything at once, you focused on just ... one thing?

In a world where everyone is constantly busy and the calendar is overloaded with tasks due "yesterday," a book emerges that says: Hey, slow down! Do less – achieve more.

Sounds like another coaching cliché? Maybe so. But "One Thing" manages to convince us that there's power in simplicity – and that sometimes less really is more.

New York Times bestselling authors Gary Keller and Jay Papasan teach us how the one thing delivers extraordinary results in every area of your life: work, personal, family, and spiritual. Don't fall into the trap of checking things off! Do what matters most.

"The One Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth behind Extraordinary Results" by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan. Publishers Weekly. 

Interestingly, some top bookstores list this self-help book using a slightly changed subtitle: The Surprisingly Simple Truth About Extraordinary Results. 

What is this book about? What does it concern?

This guide explores the power of focus and minimalism in both professional and personal life. The book answers the following question:

How can you achieve extraordinary results by focusing on The ONE thing at a time?

The author explains that achieving better results is not about doing more things — it's about doing the right things. It all hinges on a simple yet powerful question:

“ What's the ONE thing I can do such that by doing it everything else will be easier or unnecessary? ”

This Focusing Question runs through the book like a mantra. It changes the way we think about productivity, goals, missed deadlines, success, and life itself.

The publication is divided into three parts. The author guides us through the key elements of his philosophy.

In the first part of the book, he focuses on debunking various productivity myths and introduces the reader to the foundations of his approach. Here's a quick summary of all the key myths:

• Everything is equally important – not true. Some actions have a much greater impact than others. “Successful people always base their actions on priorities.”

• Multitasking works —that's also a myth. Switching between tasks reduces efficiency and the quality of work. Doing two things at once is like doing nothing at all. Multitasking is passé! It's time to understand this.

• Self-discipline is also a myth. We only use discipline to develop habits ("follow the discipline, and the habit will become your habit").

• Willpower is always available – false. Willpower is a limited resource. You must use it wisely and not count on it lasting the entire day. We tackle the most important tasks when our willpower, or our energy, is at its highest.

• Balance in life is a goal — it's an illusion. True growth requires a momentary imbalance. It's important to tip the scales where it makes sense. "An exceptional life is the art of constant balancing."

• Big is bad – nothing could be further from the truth. Don't be afraid to think big – bold questions lead to big results. "Think big, aim high, act boldly."

In the second part of the book, the author directs our attention to what's most important. He helps us identify "the one thing," that action that brings the greatest impact and moves us forward. This is a specific method for narrowing our focus.

The key tool is the most important question, the so-called "focusing question":

“What is that one thing I can do that will make everything else easier or irrelevant?”

This question helps narrow our focus and uncover the actions that have the greatest impact. It's not enough to ask "What to do?" — we need to ask ambitiously, but also concretely and realistically.

We seek the best answers, not just "good enough," because the best goals require exploration. Focusing on one thing isn't a one-time decision, but a habit that must be cultivated. This requires conscious management of time and energy, the use of reminders, and the support of loved ones.

The author also illustrates how to link significant aspirations to daily actions from "the one thing in life" to "one thing at work" to "one thing today." It's akin to a roadmap: transitioning from vision to specific tasks.

Here is a concise summary of the third part of the book written by Gary Keller, where he demonstrates how to incorporate the concept of "one thing" into your life—permanently and effectively.

The author provides guidance on how to safeguard our time and attention, build habits that enhance concentration, shield ourselves from "urgent matters," and establish environments conducive to focusing on what genuinely matters. This isn't theoretical advice disconnected from reality—it's practical, actionable guidance that can be implemented right away. If you want more productivity and satisfaction in life, while simultaneously reducing stress and second-rate work, you can't overlook this transformative chapter.

Here are some tips that each of us can test and verify:

• Time blocking. Securing a block for "one thing." The most important task requires the best time of the day—reserving a specific, untouchable block of time just for your "one thing." This is key to concentration and real progress. Set aside time for vacation, for planning, for "one thing."

• Daily discipline. It's not about perfection, but about consistency. Keller emphasizes the importance of habits and creating rituals around a priority. Even small, regular actions have enormous power.

• Protection from distractions and "urgent matters." Our surroundings often don't support focus – that's why we need to learn to say "no," set boundaries, and communicate why a given thing is a priority. Set aside time for your one thing, protect that time – make an agreement with yourself and keep your word! "To protect one YES, you have to say NO a thousand times."

• Living in harmony with values and meaning. The greatest results occur when "one thing" is not just professional, but consistent with our values, identity, and what truly matters to us.

"If you agree to something, you must realize what you are automatically rejecting at the same time."

The author moves from theory to practice. Demonstrates that focusing on what's most important isn't a fleeting technique, but a way of life. It's a philosophy that can transform not only the way we work but also the quality of our daily lives.

The entire book provides a framework for achieving extraordinary results.  

Who is this book for?

For anyone feeling overwhelmed by too many tasks, a lack of time, and constant rushing. It will especially benefit:

• Entrepreneurs, freelancers, managers, and project managers.

• Full-time employees who struggle with work overload.

• People who no longer feel satisfaction and meaning in what they do.

• People working creatively and imaginatively.

• Students who try to reconcile academic life with work and passions.

• Everyone who wants to manage their time and energy effectively.

The main advantages of the book.

• Clear structure and transparent layout – the book is easy to read, divided into short chapters, each ending with specific tips.

• Practical tools – such as reserving time or the “priority ladder” (goal → sub-goal → daily action).

• Intriguing questions and metaphors – such as comparing life to throwing dominoes – all it takes is to knock over the first block to trigger an avalanche effect.

• Strong support from scientific research and psychology – the authors debunk various myths, such as those about multitasking, explaining, among other things, that "Multitasking is a myth. You do many things wrong instead of one thing right."

• Motivational style – the book inspires, does not moralize.

My reflection after reading the book. 

Engaging with this powerful book was an exceptionally motivating experience. It restructured many of the concepts I had previously understood regarding prioritization and goal-setting, imparting them with renewed significance and a fresh outlook. It heightened my self-awareness in areas I had only somewhat grasped before, yet hadn't consistently applied deliberately. It also made me rethink how I go about my day.

The most significant insight I derived from the book is the question, "What is this one big thing? It stays with me daily. It assists me in halting my relentless pace, framing my everyday obligations, and prompting me to ask myself:

"What is genuinely essential today? What can I do now to render everything else easier or unnecessary?"

I commence each day by pinpointing this one crucial action — and I refrain from distractions until it is accomplished. This approach grants me enhanced tranquility, a sense of authority, and the fulfillment derived from genuine agency.

I also took many valuable notes and inspiring quotes from the book, which I gladly return to. The following are particularly memorable:

"The surest path to long-term happiness is to set a long-term goal in life that will give meaning to your daily actions and give them a specific direction."

"When it's time to work, work. When it's time to relax, rest. An exceptional life is the art of constant balancing."

"No one knows where their potential ends. A rung on a ladder wasn't intended as something to sit on and rest on, but as a support for one foot, so that the other foot could be placed higher."

The book not only inspired me to change, but also provided me with specific tools that help me act smarter, more consciously, and with greater effectiveness. 

Here is the review from Maria Sharapova, World No. 1 tennis player: 

It kind of hit home for me (…) that when you wake up in the morning, you put your focus on this one thing of what you want to accomplish during the day, which seems like a no-brainer.” 

Brandon Turner, Author and Podcast Co-Host, commented on the book as follows: 

“The ONE Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan is an easy to read but profound book that helped me to focus on keeping the main thing the main thing in all areas of my life.” 

Customer review: rating the One Thing book on a scale of 1–10.

I rate this book very highly – 9/10 – primarily for its clarity, factual approach, and exceptional practicality. The author clearly presents ideas that are not only inspiring but, above all, implementable in everyday life and work.

I also appreciated that many of the concepts presented were already familiar to me, and reading this book allowed me to organize them and give them a new context. I found both fresh inspiration and confirmation of the value of practices I had already been partially implementing.

The only point I'd subtract is for a certain repetitiveness – some ideas appear multiple times, which at times feels like an oversimplification. At the same time, I'm aware that this approach may be intentional – serving to reinforce the book's main principle.

A few words about the authors of "One Thing".

Gary Keller is the chairman of the board and cofounder of Keller Williams Realty Inc., the largest real estate company in the world. This holding company encompasses all Keller Williams affiliates, subsidiaries, and Keller Williams Realty International.

Several of his books have been bestsellers and secured spots on the New York Times and Wall Street Journal lists. Keller and Papasan worked on such best-selling books as The Millionaire Real Estate Agent, The Millionaire Real Estate Investor, and SHIFT. Collectively, the titles have sold over 5.4 million copies globally.

Originally from Memphis, TN, Jay Papasan attended the University of Memphis before spending several years in Paris. He later graduated from New York University’s writing program and began his publishing journey. Before Papasan co-authored the bestselling Millionaire Real Estate series with Gary Keller, he worked as an editor at Harper Collins Publishers. 

Jay Papasan holds the position of Vice President of Publishing at Keller Williams Realty. Additionally, he serves as Vice President of KellerINK and co-owns a successful real estate team affiliated with Keller Williams Realty in Austin, Texas, alongside his wife Wendy.

His most recent collaboration with Gary Keller on The ONE Thing has sold nearly 2.5 million copies worldwide and achieved over 500 appearances on national bestseller lists, including No. 1 on The Wall Street Journal’s hardcover business list. It has been translated into 41 languages. The book also received recognition as one of the Top 100 Business Books of All Time on Goodreads.

Book Review Summary. 

The One Thing by Gary Keller isn't trying to wow you with flashy theories. Instead, it gives you something far more valuable: clarity and a simple tool for action. It doesn't promise miracles, but it shows that great achievements start with ... one good decision a day.

The authors suggest focusing on one most important thing, rather than trying to do several at once. Success is about doing the right things, not doing everything right, they write. The author’s premise is that extraordinary results are directly determined by how narrow you can make your focus. 

If you're ready to do less to achieve more, this book can truly change your life.

In the Polish introduction to this book, you can read the following words:

In the face of uncertainty, unpredictability, and turbulence in the modern world, the brightest minds in life and business are reaching for models and strategies that combine a holistic, process-based approach to reality (complexity) with the search for simple and effective solutions to complex problems (simplicity). This is how a new philosophy, a school of life (simplexity), is developing, to which this book belongs. It's simply brilliant. We're adding it to the reading list of the Academy of Leadership Psychology at the Warsaw University of Technology Business School and Values.

Also, check out other books worth reading:

• "Change Your Questions Change Your Life" - Marilee Adams

• "Who Moved My Cheese?" - Spencer Johnson

• "The Mastery of Love" - Don Miguel Ruiz