Sometimes all it takes to move your life and your business forward by an appreciable amount is accomplishing just one thing. We often don’t start on that one thing because, taken as a whole, the one thing can seem way to big, daunting and overwhelming. But what if we could start with one small task, the first small step, that leads us to accomplishing something much bigger.
For example, maybe your business has been booming and for months you have 
known you need to hire an assistant, but the concept seems to daunting. Where do I find an assistant, how much do I have to pay them, what kind of paperwork do I need to fill out? It all seems overwhelming, so you don’t take action. Instead of looking at the big, hairy problem of hiring an assistant, think about what is the first step you need to take to start the process. Oh, now you remember, Barbara just hired an assistant and she probably has some ideas on the steps needed to hire an assistant. I need to meet with Barbara to get this started. So, your “One Thing This Week” is to schedule a meeting with Barbara. Seems simple, right? But now, by the small act of scheduling a meeting with Barbara you will officially be in the process of hiring an assistant.
Mentally, you have moved this from a big, hairy task that was completely overwhelming to now something In Process. You are getting it done. You don’t have to know what to do next, because the meeting with Barbara will surely identify the next step you need to take.
Let’s recap. You have known for weeks, months you needed to hire an assistant, but the task was overwhelming. You have been worrying about how you would ever get it done and where to start. By thinking of the first, small step you need to take and making it your One Thing This Week you have now started the process of hiring an assistant by taking 2 minutes to schedule a meeting with Barbara.
Remember, “No Action leads Nowhere.” What have you been putting off in your life because it seems daunting and overwhelming? What is the one small step that would move it from the I Need To Do column to the In Process column. Make that your One Thing This Week.
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Let's talk about Rocks in the Attention Economy
There is a well known and illuminating story about rocks, pebbles, sand, maybe a little water, and a jar. It has been around for decades in various forms. However, I think the paradigm has shifted in the last few years and now there is a new lesson to be learned.
If you haven’t heard it before, here is the story.
