The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results

Common sense warns a person not to “put all their eggs in one basket.” Keller dismantles this idea by referencing a quote from the enormously successful industrialist Andrew Carnegie, who suggested that a person should put all their eggs in one basket and then watch that basket carefully. Keller recommends that a person practice the “Focusing Question” technique to narrow down their tasks or ideas and find the ONE Thing that is most significant. He defines the Focusing Question as, “What’s the one thing I can do such that by doing it everything else will be easier or unnecessary?” (106). Starting with a good question is the key to pinpointing what to focus on in the pursuit of the goal that a person wants to accomplish. 

Keller developed the Focusing Question in the context of business. However, he believes it is helpful in all realms of life, including jobs, relationships, health, spirituality, business, and finances. For instance, a person might ask, “What’s the ONE Thing I can do to help others…?” in the context of their spiritual life (115).