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The One Thing : ActiveRain Contest : Willpower

By
Real Estate Agent with Douglas Elliman Real Estate

Written by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan, The One Thing is a book that focuses on bringing to our attention the most simplistic and effective way to achieve our goals.  I will writing about the chapter on "Willpower." This ActiveRain challenge was a great way exercise and something I enjoyed.

"Where there is a will, there is a way" the author's state that this universally used statement is commonly misunderstood as its simplistic approach is anything but. Treating willpower like it was an object a tool that you always have in your toolbox ready to be used at any moment is a fallacy. You have to manage willpower to obtain its best use. An essential aspect of willpower is timing, "the key to willpower is when you use it."

Treating willpower like a limited resource, their analogy was like the battery power on your cell phone.  The more you use it throughout the day, the less power it will have, it will get depleted and drained unless you rest it and build it back up. 

"The brain takes up more than 1/5th of the calories we burn for energy", that is a staggering number to me. Willpower is a mental muscle, the more you use for it one task, the less you will have for the next task. The food you eat has a direct impact on your ability to maintain willpower, that's a new idea to me.

Another statement the authors make, "When our willpower is low, we tend to fallback on our default settings." Essentially if your default setting is not a positive one, you run the risk of repeating those bad habits when your willpower is running thin. 

Main learning tool: "We lose our willpower, not because we think about it, but because we don't." Not treating your willpower like a limited resource is a mistake. They ask the question, "How do you put your willpower to work?" Their answer which I agree with, treat with respect, realize that you need to utilize it when it is at its strongest.  Basically take on your hardest task when its ready for the challenge, because then you stand the greatest chance to have success with that task.


The timing aspect of willpower is essential.  Fight the biggest fight when you have the most willpower at your disposal and then manage what you have got left throughout the rest of the day so you don't backtrack your earlier achievements.

Practical lesson to implement: Take on the toughest or most important task of the day FIRST, before all of the daily minutia sucks out your energy and focus, your willpower.

Treating willpower like a limited resource is a very new idea to me, I haven't thought of it like that before.  It makes sense and its a good way to put yourself in the best position to succeed and get the best of yourself.

Posted by

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Morgan Evans is a Licensed Real Estate salesperson in Manhattan New York specialize in neighborhoods such as: Greenwich Village, Soho, Union Square, Upper East Side, Upper West Side, Chelsea, Midtown West, Midtown East, Nolita, Lower East side, Financial District in Manhattan. Morgan specialize in working with international buyer, high net worth buyers,  parents buying for children and investors buyers. Contact him today by calling (917)837-8869.

https://www.eileenandmorgan.com/
Dorchester Towers Condo

 

Comments (6)

Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Morgan, great thoughts for this contest.   I have changed around my schedule, and all my appointments are now scheduled in the afternoon, and I work on contacts, prospecting, blogs, etc. in the morning.

Apr 29, 2013 07:40 AM
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

Great report Morgan.  I, too, enjoyed this chapter about willpower.  Learned a lot from it.

Apr 29, 2013 10:32 PM
Will Nesbitt
Nesbitt Realty at Condo Alexandria - Alexandria, VA
Nesbitt Realty is a family-run brokerage.

Contact Morgan Evans for all your Manhattan NY real estate needs (212) 321-7147. Keep up the good work!

May 01, 2013 01:40 AM
Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi, MA, PSA, TRC - Greater Clearwater Florida Residential Real Estate Professional
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL
Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Clearwater, Safety Harbor

ActiveRain always has so many great contests! Have a wonderful week.

May 02, 2013 08:43 AM
Silvia Dukes PA, Broker Associate, CRS, CIPS, SRES
Tropic Shores Realty - Ich spreche Deutsch! - Spring Hill, FL
Florida Waterfront and Country Club Living
Hi Morgan, I read the chapter as well and you did a good summary of the main points. I too was fascinated by the idea of willpower as a limited yet renewable resource. I think, deep down we did know that but were not aware of it.
May 02, 2013 10:24 AM
Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi, MA, PSA, TRC - Greater Clearwater Florida Residential Real Estate Professional
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL
Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Clearwater, Safety Harbor

Hope you are having a wonderful week up there in that beautiful city!

May 07, 2013 10:15 PM