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The ONE Thing  By  cover art

The ONE Thing

By: Gary Keller,Jay Papasan
Narrated by: Timothy Miller,Claire Hamilton
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Publisher's summary

This is an audiobook for busy people. If you want less on your plate and more for your life and career, tune in to the #1 Wall Street Journal best seller, The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results. The ONE Thing will bring your life and your work into focus. Authors Gary Keller and Jay Papasan teach you the tricks to cut through the clutter, achieve better results in less time, dial down stress, and master what matters to you. Unabridged version includes:

  • A special foreword by Gary Keller. Interludes by legendary guitarist Monte Montgomery.

What’s your ONE Thing? For more information on The ONE Thing, events, coaching, and tools, visit www.The1Thing.com.

©2012 Rellek Publishing Partners, Ltd. (P)2013 Rellek Publishing Partners, Ltd.

What listeners say about The ONE Thing

Average customer ratings
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Really Helpful Book!

Where does The ONE Thing rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I read a lot of business and self help books and this is definitely one of the better ones. The content is unique and engaging.

What other book might you compare The ONE Thing to and why?

I would definitely compare this book to two other books - 1) The Compound Effect and 2) Manage Your Day to Day, Find Your Focus, And Sharpen Your Creative Mind. They discuss similar concepts.

What did you learn from The ONE Thing that you would use in your daily life?

I've learned how to FOCUS more. This book has very practical and useful worksheets/PDFs and trust me, it's totally worth doing those exercises; it will help a lot in terms of gaining focus and clarity with your ONE thing.

Below are some of elements of the book that really stuck with me.

1. Extraordinary results are directly determined by how narrow you can make your focus.

2. Achievers always work from a clear sense of priority. Instead of a to do list, you need a success list -- a list that is purposefully created around extraordinary results.

3. The majority of what you want will come from the minority of what you do.

4. Success is actually a short race -- a sprint fueled by discipline just long enough for habit to kick in and take over.

5. It takes an average of 66 days to acquire a new habit.

6. You make doing what matters most a priority when your willpower is at its highest. Do your most important work -- your ONE thing -- early.

7. Our purpose sets our priority and our priority determines the productivity our actions produce.

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185 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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This one surprised me!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Much much much better than expected. Everything is perfect about it:

1. Doesn't promote more stress and overwhelm. You're not asked to make lists, overwork yourself, etc – as it's often the case in other books in this genre.

2. It's so well-written. Engaging.

3. It's so well organised. Easy to follow and digest.

4. The method is sound and logical.

5. Perhaps related to point number three, but the music between the chapters add a positive note (pun intended) to the presentation and overall experience.

Such a keeper, this book.

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71 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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Should be called "FOR A FIRM GRASP OF THE OBVIOUS"

The secret: concentrate on ONE thing at a time.

How does it take 5 1/2 hours to get to ONE Firm Grasp?

Add ONE happy song, ONE ton of guitar filler and (my ONE compliment to the authors is their skill to) say ONE thing ONE Hundred different ways.

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70 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Life changing

This is my first book review. I am taking the time to review this because I truly think that it could change everyone's life for the better.

It is not difficult to follow the suggestions. When you do then it soon becomes apparent that you have been living and prioritizing the wrong way.

I have lost weight, started a new business and I am about to quit my 9 to 5. I have been talking about this for years. Now I can do it.

Read or listen to this book. It may change your life!

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63 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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Overly Simplistic, Good if You're Already Rich

First of all, I'll save you from wasting a lot of time listening to this book. He simply repeats this question thru the entire book, over and over. "What's the ONE thing you can do now to make all other things easier or unnecessary?" The problem is that you end up with 500 ONE things in a REAL life. It is evident that he is writing this book as someone who already had enough money that he could choose to ignore everything else in life but his ONE thing. In the real world though people can't simply ignore all their emails, all their employees requests, all their bosses demands, etc. I understand what he is trying to say "prioritize the various areas of your life and stay focused on the most important thing in each". This is obvious to anyone and doesn't need a long book to explain. But his book is overly simplistic for the real world. Don't bother wasting the time listening to this book. Choose something else as your ONE thing.

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52 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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"The one most ridiculous book" a waste of time.

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

As another reader said: for those who don't have a firm grasp of the obvious. Just stresses focusing on one thing that is important which will solve other issues. There. You've read it too. Plenty of better books on business and life problem solving/focus.

What was most disappointing about Gary Keller and Jay Papasan ’s story?

Simply ridiculously repetitive! Finally called it quits about half way through when I got sick of hearing "The one thing" repeated by the narrator for about the 100th time.

What aspect of Timothy Miller and Claire Hamilton ’s performance would you have changed?

High drama for poorly written book is simply a lame attempt to bring it to life.

Any additional comments?

Just felt like a magazine article someone felt like putting in book form.

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51 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Do this and you have the answer.

If you could sum up The ONE Thing in three words, what would they be?

Where do I start talking about a book so transformative it leaves you in awe of the potential in yourself. I have been a lifelong student of business and life and I am awash with new vigor after listening to the book. I also own the hard copy.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The One Thing. So simple, so unbelievably profound.

What does Timothy Miller and Claire Hamilton bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I really like Claire's voice outlining and reinforcing core elements. Nice touch. I liked Tim too all excellent.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Yes. A few laughs yes. No crying.

Any additional comments?

Do this. Get the book and do what they lay out. In my life I've achieved really cool milestones but still feel like it's not enough. Family, relationships, business, spiritually, all benefit from the strategy for better living in this book.

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34 people found this helpful

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Inspiring

This book is inspiring. It enlightens you to the misconceptions about being productive and give you tips on how to focus on the things that produce extraordinary results. Loved it!

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31 people found this helpful

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So dull!

I almost always finish books but I just couldn't do it with this one. Author has no interesting story or unique experiences to support his idea.

He just says "focus on doing one thing" over and over and over. His examples are really trite and unoriginal. How many times have we all heard the marshmallow study?

It's like the author had one idea and then just repeated it incessantly and slipped in examples from a google search.

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Tired and painful

Only made it to chapter 3 before I realize I can’t stand this book. Says it was written in 2013 but the format and narration seem like it’s right out of 1991. Totally dated. As someone who cares about the triple bottom line and companies actually giving a rip about something, anything in the world other than money, the glorification of monopolists like Bill Gates, companies like Starbucks who trash the earth with unrecyclable waste, and just about every giant conglomerate responsible for grave income inequality, makes me want to beat my head in.

And what is successful, talking about people and businesses that became so “successful” by doing “one thing”? Your definition is simply money, size, and more consumption of market. That’s so last century. Lame book in every way.

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24 people found this helpful