Focused Goals – By Michael Messinesi 

Many years ago, I read two books that helped me with my personal and business planning. Since then, I have applied the lessons and benefited.   

  • Eat That Frog by Brian Tracy  

 

In The One Thing, Gary Keller recommends that you identify and dedicate time to your “One Thing,” the task or goal that will make everything else easier or unnecessary. This will significantly simplify your life and work, increasing productivity and satisfaction. 

 

His key tool is the “focus question: “What’s the one thing I can do to make everything else easier or unnecessary?” Using this, I can prioritise what truly moves me closer to my broader goals. 

 

Here are the 4 main steps Gary Keller recommends.  

  • Time Blocking: scheduling uninterrupted blocks dedicated solely to your most important task. For example, I set aside 2 hours every Friday at Noon to work only on my “One Thing.” 
  • Eliminate Distractions: Say no to tasks that don’t align with this top priority. So do not set 20 goals; set just one. That way, you will be more focused and self-accountable.   
  • The Domino Effect: Completing one key task can often create a chain reaction that makes other tasks easier or unnecessary. For example, if your “one thing” is to complete SOAs more quickly, you will be freed up to take on more clients, increasing revenue, and so on.  
  • Prioritising Health: Personal well-being can ripple into all areas of life. Committing to daily exercise will give you more energy and mental clarity to tackle other important tasks. This is currently my personal “One Thing”.  

 

Eat That Frog by Brian Tracy is a book focused on improving productivity. The recommendations align well with The One Thing, even though the book focuses more on individual than leadership effectiveness.  

 

Here are the 4 main steps Brian Tracy recommends.  

  • Set Clear Goals: Define precisely what you want to accomplish. 
  • Plan and Organise: Break larger tasks into smaller, manageable pieces. This allows you to make incremental changes that lead to larger changes.  
  • Use the 80/20 rule: Identify the tasks to provide the greatest return. 
  • Avoid Perfectionism: Aim for progress, not perfection. One percent improvement per day compounds incredibly over time.  

 

So, each year, I set “One Thing.” I regularly put time and thought into this goal. At the end of the year, I ask myself if my “One Thing” has been achieved. Since I started this, I have reached my goal every year other than once. The benefits of reaching those goals are helping me now.  

 

 Michael Messinesi

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