facebook

Blog Post

The ONE Thing

Renee Daggett • September 23, 2020

What is the ONE thing?

Time management and productivity is a struggle. Gary Keller, the founder of Keller-Williams Real Estate, has written a book titled “The ONE Thing” and it offers a simple approach to productivity. The premise is to minimize distractions, reduce stress, and be successful at focusing on the priority to get accomplished.

You can figure out your goals with a single question: What is the ONE thing I can do, such that by doing it everything else will become easier or unnecessary? Organize your life around ONE thing! The key to success is figuring out your ONE most important thing in your business, career, or life. Then, once you know what that is, you identify how many steps you need to take to accomplish your ONE thing!

I hope my summary of my favorite parts will give you ideas on how to be more productive, but also encourage you to read the book for yourself!

Multi-tasking is a lie! I loved the story he told of multi-tasking. Back in the 1960’s computers were designed to complete many tasks, but it was deceptive because as humans, we really cannot intently focus on many things at once. Yes, we can walk and talk at the same time (we really don’t focus on doing both activities), but you cannot focus effectively on two things at once. If you chase two rabbits you will catch neither! In the workplace, if you are focusing on a project and you get interrupted, it will take 11 minutes each time you are interrupted to recover and refocus again. This can result in many wasted dollars. So then why do employers feel that multi-tasking is a skill that all employees should have? We really need to rethink this one!

Learning to say no ! Steve Jobs was quoted to say that “You’d think focus means saying yes, but it actually means to say no.” It was then that he cut Apple’s product line from 350 down to 10. Reflecting on what Apple has become, you’ll see that he was right! If you chase two rabbits you will catch neither of them. Focus is something you are not going to do.

It’s about the journey ! Close your eyes…imagine your life as big as it can possibly be. Dare to dream and then some. Can you see it? I love the fact that Arthur Guinness signed a 9,000 year lease before brewing a single drop of beer! Gary Vaynerchuk, despite his colorful language, is right when he says that his goal is to buy the NY Jets, but more important is the journey to him achieving the goal.

This book is a great resource for time management and productivity. Here are a few of my favorite takeaways:

· 20% of the input gives you 80% of the results.

· A small dose of discipline develops into a long-lasting habit.

· You don’t need a to-do list. You need a success list…a list purposely designed around your highest leverage activities.

· Power off your phone when you are working. Close your email. Put up a sign to prevent people from disrupting your focus.

· If you have a goal for “someday”, break out that goal like a row of dominos. Start with the ONE thing you can do right now, daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, one-year, five-year so that you can reach your someday goal.

· No regrets = be happy, stay in touch with friends, have the courage to express your feelings, don’t work so hard, live life true to yourself, not what others expect of you.

EntreLeadership All Access has a book club and Alex Judd interviewed Jay Papasan and it was jam packed with nuggets!

· While I feel good when my to-do list gets shorter, it may have been better to do ONE thing on the list really well

· Of all the things I could do, what really matters? If I could get ONE thing done, what is your priority?

· What is a successful day? Identify what matters, block my calendar and live my calendar and my intensions!

· Discipline is training yourself to do something until it becomes a habit. Successful people have rituals they have built. Build a habit to give you the best results for your life! If it takes 66 days to form a habit, you can add 5 new routines to your life each year!

· Willpower actually makes your blood sugar drop and consume energy. Jay told a story of judges making decisions to parole inmates. If you were number 1 in line, you had a 65% chance of getting paroled. After two hours, the percentage dropped to 0%. After a snack of cheese and apples, the next parolee had a 65% chance of being granted parole and then it drops again. Everyone is at their best in the morning! Millionaires get up 3 hours before they go to work.

· Work/life balance is a lie. Balance is not a destination…it is an activity. James Patterson talks about glass balls: work, marriage, family, health, spiritual; the work ball always bounces back. Block time on your calendar when you might want to get away and schedule your work around it; it is a boulder in the stream. Work on ONE thing to improve, other things will start course correcting as well.

· It is difficult to systemize and delegate. While it might take you 30 hours to teach someone in your company what you do, it will save you time in the end of you doing it for an hour each week. We need to delegate to our team in order to focus on the ONE thing we need to do. Invest in today to buy you thousands of hours in the future!

Deadline for businesses filing a BOI
February 19, 2025
The BOI reporting deadline has been extended to March 21, 2025, but more changes may be coming. Stay informed on the latest updates, compliance requirements, and what your business needs to do now. Read more on AdminBooks.
Computer screen with
February 5, 2025
Protect your QuickBooks Online account from fraud by enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA). Follow our step-by-step guide to secure your financial data today.
January 24, 2025
The Supreme Court has ruled to reinstate BOI Reporting.
January 20, 2025
The recent wildfires in Los Angeles County have devastated communities, leaving thousands dealing with property loss, displacement, and financial uncertainty. In response, both the IRS and the State of California have granted tax deadline extensions and financial relief to help individuals and businesses recover.
January 7, 2025
The new year is here, and with it comes an important deadline for business owners: January 31, 2025. If you’ve paid independent contractors, service providers, or freelancers $600 or more in 2024, you may need to file a 1099 form for them. With the deadline just weeks away, now is the time to get organized. Filing your 1099s on time not only avoids penalties but also keeps your business in good standing.
December 30, 2024
The requirements for filing Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reports under the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) have shifted yet again. As of December 26, 2024, BOI filing is not currently required, following an order from the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals that restored an injunction against enforcing the CTA. However, this situation remains fluid and could change on short notice.
A reminder for end of the year accounting tasks for business owners
By Renee Daggett November 13, 2024
The end of the year is fast approaching! It’s time to wrap up those final tasks that can make a big difference in reducing stress and preparing your business for tax season. Here’s a handy checklist to help you complete important end-of-year to-dos: Record Your Vehicle’s Odometer Reading Note the odometer reading for any vehicles used for business. This is essential for calculating your business versus personal mileage usage. Ideally, you have a mileage log, but at the very least, an end-of-year reading will help determine your annual total. Count Your Inventory If your business holds inventory, you’re required to do a year-end count and record its value. This ensures accurate records for taxes and helps you start the new year on track. Collect W-9s from Vendors Check if you’ve paid any contractors or vendors over $600 throughout the year, as you’ll need to issue a 1099-NEC form for them or a 1099-MISC for rent or attorney payments. The IRS provides free forms (call 1-800-829-3676), but be sure to order early as they can take a couple of weeks to arrive. Back Up Your Data Make sure to back up all your data, especially financial records. Double-check that backups are copying correctly and consider keeping a second backup for added security. Verify Payroll Tax Rates For businesses with payroll, check if your state’s employment tax rates have changed for the upcoming year. You should have received a letter with any updated rates by early December. Send them to your payroll processing team ASAP. Copy Thermal Receipts Many receipts, like those from gas stations and office supply stores, are printed on thermal paper, which can fade over time. Make copies of these receipts, as the IRS requires readable details, not just credit card statements, in case of an audit. Schedule Corporate Minutes If applicable, make note of your corporate meeting dates for the coming year. Corporate minutes are often required annually, so it’s helpful to mark them in your calendar now. Review and Update Your Business Plan Reflect on your business goals. What are your revenue projections for 2024? Consider how they compare to 2023, and think about strategies to boost profits and streamline operations in the year ahead. Set a Closing Date in QuickBooks In QuickBooks, set a closing date and password to lock down your financial records, helping ensure accuracy and security for the year-end. Review Accounts Receivable and Payable Check your outstanding invoices and follow up with any clients who haven’t paid yet. Also, settle any bills you owe to maintain accurate records and cash flow. Assess Estimated Tax Payments Review your quarterly estimated tax payments to ensure they’re accurate. Making an extra payment by the end of the year can help avoid penalties and reduce next year’s tax burden. Evaluate Your Tax Deductions Look for any additional expenses you can deduct this year, like office supplies or software subscriptions. You may also want to contribute to retirement plans to maximize deductions. Analyze Business Expenses Go through your expenses to identify any unnecessary costs you could reduce or cut in the coming year. This can improve profitability and efficiency. Renew Business Licenses and Permits Check if any licenses or permits are expiring soon and renew them in advance. This helps avoid penalties and interruptions in business operations. Review and Update Employee Benefits Review your employee benefit plans, such as health insurance and retirement contributions, to ensure they’re competitive and compliant with regulations. Evaluate Your Financial Goals and Set New Ones Look at your business’s financial performance and set realistic goals for the next year. Whether it’s increasing revenue, reducing costs, or expanding services, setting measurable goals can help guide your strategy. Completing these tasks will help your business start the new year in a stronger position and make tax season that much smoother.
November 11, 2024
For businesses where tips and gratuities are common—such as salons, spas, or other service industries—knowing how to record these amounts correctly is essential. Tips need to be accurately recorded to ensure employees are paid properly and taxes are managed. Here’s a simple guide on handling tips in QuickBooks Online (QBO), with options to make your process as smooth as possible.
Grandparents learning about the tax liabilities of investing in their grand children.
September 4, 2024
Investing in your grandchild's future can be one of the most rewarding ways to secure their financial well-being. Whether you're contributing to a 529 College Savings Plan or setting up a UGMA/UTMA account, understanding the tax implications is key to maximizing your investment. Learn about gift tax exclusions, how to avoid the Kiddie Tax, and tips for using tax-advantaged accounts. This guide will help you make smart decisions for long-term growth while minimizing tax burdens. Discover how to invest wisely in your grandchildren's future! Read our complete guide now.
By Renee Daggett August 25, 2024
Want to save money in taxes WITHOUT working harder? One way is to shift income from a higher bracket taxpayer to a lower one or even a zero rate-bracket. Let me give you an example of how this can work.
More Posts
Share by: