After watching Chris Smith's recent invterview with Gary Keller and understanding his genuine desire to reach out to real estate people, I have a new respect for him and where he has taken his company. Certainly The ONE Thing is an epistle to the 21st century work force who suffers from technology-induced ADD.
But it also addresses other issues that need the attention of just ONE thing, and willpower is the one that spoke the loudest to me. It reminded me of the speakers who instruct business people to make a TO DO list for the next day. Do the most difficult items first.
Wow. Gary pointed out why to do the most difficult ones first without ever referencing a list or a plan at all. Have you ever thought about your willpower and when you are at your best? That's when you need to tackle the ONE most important thing you have to do today.
It's a kind of take off on the analogy of the 'big rocks.' Put those in the jar first, and the little ones will fill in around it. What's the BIG rock, the ONE rock that you need to put in your jar tomorrow? Take care of that one and all the little rocks will settle in around it, but you will have the satisfaction of taking care of the MOST important item on your list.
Studies have been done to determine what we need for willpower and nutrition definitely enters into it. Also, time of day - like low blood sugar - can lead to low willpower. Students who had to memorize a seven-digit number had less willpower to choose a healthy snack then the ones who only had to memorize a two-digit number.
We tend to think of ourselves as limitless beings - at least I have been guilty of this, not taking into account the fact that any act of willpower is draining and that there are many things that happen during the day to dwindle it. Sure, we can recharge, but that takes time and busy schedules may not allow for it. So consider this a healthy reminder - do the most difficult task on your schedule the very first thing in the morning, when your willpower is at its peak.
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