The ONE Thing

Whenever Jay and Gary are out giving talks about The ONE Thing, they inevitably hear someone say, “Oh, you can do that because you are Gary Keller.” The fact is, he is Gary Keller because he has consistently applied The ONE Thing in his life. Gary joins the show today to discuss one of the core principles of The ONE Thing: consistency. Anyone can be consistent, but few people are. Gary and Jay break down the intersection of consistency and motivation, the role of habits and rituals, and the importance of blocking out time for your own ONE Thing. Challenge of the Week: Sit down with your favorite beverage and pick a category in an area that matters to you and ask yourself, what's the one thing that I could do to move this forward such that by doing it, any other thing that I need to do would be easier or unnecessary. Then, once you've identified it, look at your calendar, and ask the question, at what time in the morning should I do that? And then make sure you protect that time. It could be a very small thing, but by putting it on your calendar, you take that first step. You might be surprised—that first step might be all the momentum you need to keep doing it.  If you're a bold risk taker who wants to dream big and achieve a higher level of success in your life or business, visit the1thing.com. *** To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit: the1thing.com/pods. We talk about: The power of relentless consistency The importance of identifying “the first domino” The value of work-to-home transition rituals Links & Tools from This Episode: Read “Flip” by Gary Keller, Rick Villani, and Clay Davis Free Resources Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email [email protected] or send us an audio note at Speakpipe.com/the1thing. Produced by NOVA

If someone asked you to name your core values, you might quickly list a few. But have you ever paused to deeply reflect on them? Are you honest with yourself about what truly matters—and how those values guide your life? In this episode, Jay is joined by his wife, Wendy Papasan, for a thought-provoking conversation on identifying and living by core values. For nearly two decades, they’ve done the core values exercise together. Today, they share their insights about how to uncover your true values, why they might evolve over time, and the importance of understanding the values of those closest to you. This discussion will leave you with a deeper understanding of how core values can shape your decisions, relationships, and overall sense of purpose. Challenge of the Week: Go to the1thing.com/free-resources, download the core values exercise, and complete it. In about 30 minutes, you can identify your top three core values and start applying them to your personal life, your relationships, and your team. Then report back to us! Let us know in the comments and reviews if you did it and what it did for you. If you're a bold risk taker who wants to dream big and achieve a higher level of success in your life or business, visit the1thing.com. *** Boost your language skills fast. Want to learn a new language but tired of the same old boring apps? Check out Lingoda. Lingoda provides real live classes with actual teachers, 24/7. Yes, 24/7. So whether you’re an early riser or a night owl, you can fit language learning into your busy schedule. Here’s the best part: Lingoda is extending their biggest sale of the year! You can save up to 50%! Visit try.lingoda.com/onething and use the code 50ONETHING at checkout. This exclusive offer ends on December 21st, so don’t wait!  *** To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit: the1thing.com/pods. We talk about: Why it can feel hard to be honest about your core values How core values can change over time Compatibility of values in partnerships and organizations Links & Tools from This Episode: Read “Dare to Lead” by Brene Brown Read "Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less" by Greg McKeown   Download the free Core Values exercise Buy the Core Values Deck Download the free 411 tool Listen to the Empire Building podcast Free Resources Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email [email protected] or send us an audio note at Speakpipe.com/the1thing. Produced by NOVA

The second Friday in January is “Quitters’ Day,” according to Strava, a company that helps people track their fitness goals. That’s because most people’s New Year’s resolutions grind to a halt around that time. You can avoid this trap for all your goals. Jay explains how in this episode. First, Jay outlines the common mistakes people make when goal setting and how to identify them in your own process. Then, Jay dives into the “first domino” concept, explaining how to pick your optimal keystone habit. Don’t underestimate the power of small habits to do extraordinary things in your life.   Challenge of the Week:  Look at your number one goal for 2025, Identify your first domino, and then try to make that a habit. If you have to get out your calendar like Jerry Seinfeld and put an X, we have it on the website. Go to the1thing.com/free-resources, download your calendar, and start building that habit around your first domino. If you're a bold risk taker who wants to dream big and achieve a higher level of success in your life or business, visit the1thing.com. *** Boost your language skills fast. Want to learn a new language but tired of the same old boring apps? Check out Lingoda. Lingoda provides real live classes with actual teachers, 24/7. Yes, 24/7. So whether you’re an early riser or a night owl, you can fit language learning into your busy schedule. Here’s the best part: Lingoda is extending their biggest sale of the year! You can save up to 50%! Visit try.lingoda.com/onething and use the code 50ONETHING at checkout. This exclusive offer ends on December 21st, so don’t wait!  *** To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit: the1thing.com/pods. We talk about: Common mistakes people make when goal-setting How to identify your keystone habit Why it’s ok to let go of habits that don’t work for you Links & Tools from This Episode: Get your free habit calendar on The ONE Thing Free Resources page. Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email [email protected] or send us an audio note at Speakpipe.com/the1thing. Produced by NOVA

December is chaotic. The kids are out of school. Family is visiting, or you're traveling. There are parties you should go to and gifts you should buy. Don't forget the holiday cards! If ever there was a season for The ONE Thing, 'tis the season. Jay and his personal coach, Jordan Freed, spend this episode giving you the tools you need to have a meaningful, calm(ish) holiday season. They walk you through how to use your imagination to gain clarity, identify the things you can't control, and stay on track with at least one positive habit. Our hope is you make this a holiday season that you'll look back on with joy.  Challenge of the Week: Don't Pause the Positive Identify one positive habit you already practice and commit to maintaining it throughout the holiday season. It could be taking 10,000 steps/day, drinking a set amount of water, or sticking to another simple, achievable habit. If you're a bold risk taker who wants to dream big and achieve a higher level of success in your life or business, visit the1thing.com. *** Boost your language skills fast. Want to learn a new language but tired of the same old boring apps? Check out Lingoda. Lingoda provides real live classes with actual teachers, 24/7. Yes, 24/7. So whether you’re an early riser or a night owl, you can fit language learning into your busy schedule. Start your 7-day free trial today! Use my promo code ONETHING50 to get up to 50% off. Visit try.lingoda.com/OnethingPod now and discover why Lingoda is your perfect language partner. *** To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit: the1thing.com/pods. We talk about: Sticking to at least one positive habit during the holiday season Using your imagination to achieve clarity Pausing to identify if you’re trying to control an uncontrollable Links & Tools from This Episode: Free Resources Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email [email protected] or send us an audio note at Speakpipe.com/the1thing. Produced by NOVA