The Power of Doing Only One Thing

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The ability to focus is becoming increasingly rare in our constantly connected world. But it's still possible to train your brain to focus on one thing at a time. Doing so can have a major impact on your productivity and creativity. If you want to learn how to harness the power of single-mindedness, watch on!
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[@TheArtofImprovement]

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[@gybx4094]

Yes. I call it "unitasking". I've found it beneficial to immediately make notes of random thoughts and then refocus on what I'm doing. This is especially important as we age. Sometimes we think we're developing a mental condition when we're really just juggling too many thoughts in our minds.

[@danielvibez4000]

Interesting. Did you make that word up yourself?

[@harrisonmwenda7122]

THE ONE THING by Garry Keller. What a coincidence. It's actually my current read. I'm on chapter 6. Awesome video.

[@brandonl2555]

Awesome book! Great follow up books are the compound effect and atomic habits!

[@Veritasominavincit]

Multi tasking is nonsense. Good to hear this being pointed out.

[@edwarddankin8138]

Wow!!! that’s exactly what I needed for today thank you & right on time 🙏💯

[@Joewalshe38]

I agree with the basic principle but with a few amendments to my lifestyle. For example; I am working on something which is very important and I've been doing it for hours this morning. It's a nice sunny day so I'll go outside and do some less important chores from my To-do list for fresh air, a mental break and exercise. I know what needs to be done in order of priority to achieve my goals but cannot ignore my to-do list of seemingly unimportant things like cook, cleaning, answering mail, digging up weeds etc. etc. I think what this video is saying is to focus, as best you can, on one thing at a time. The amount of small jobs that distract me from my main tasks are endless and if a mate calls by for a chat I might decide to put my task on hold. I think a degree of flexibility is essential and life is not always so simple that we can focus on one task at a time.

[@glenmatthes8839]

Agree. I think the issue is when we flit back and forth between two or more things that we're trying to get done. He mentioned "flow state" as an argument against multitasking. If you're spending hours doing one important thing then you're likely getting into flow state. When doing chores, do one chore at a time rather than two or more simultaneously - so you're still doing one thing at a time. If your mate calls by for a chat, it's fine to put your task on hold. Just know that it can take up to 20 minutes to get back into the same state of mind you were in before the interruption. It's the context-switching that really eats away at your time and energy.

[@bajantraian]

@@glenmatthes8839 I work in insurance and talk to at least 10-15 people via mail/phone/messages and every single one of them has a unique problem or request. It does exhaust me switching between all kinds of different cases and I always need to take some time to remember what was it that I need to do. A certain flexibility is required, as this is not an ideal world. The flow state has certain steps and certain conditions for ever everyone, and through observation anyone can learn how to stay in that state. The next level for me is to attain a flow state while alternating from one task to another, BUT at the same time maintaining a certain structure and sequence of those taks. Basically, combining order with disorder while still going where I need to go. I just finished 2 days of research in the field of management and I like to share what I discover. This is a great channel, btw. Thanks for reading!

[@rickhaydan3433]

At no time are you multitasking. When you do each task, you are doing that task and no other. It is impossible to do two tasks at once.

[@bajantraian]

I appreciate the ending music, uplifting and with emphasis on the new things you just found out, telling you go and apply. It's a perfect match for your videos! Love it! The name is Niem No Bon Sau - Quang Thanh

[@gamingcollection270]

Thank you for this video, this is just what I needed.

[@rickhaydan3433]

I am so sick of the myth of multitasking. This term originated in Japanese factories. It referred to workers who were not only trained for one process on an assembly line but also for the processes just before it and just after it. This allows workers to step in when needed to prevent or break bottlenecks. American CEOs corrupted the term to mean: Doing two jobs while only getting paid for one. The rest is history.

[@danielvibez4000]

Seems like it was lost in translation.

[@SirLoochie444]

This is very very true! Glad I came across this video.

[@nikneumann9170]

Thanks, Adam....another timely reminder ❗👍🏼

[@improvingmyself7410]

Very true about what you said in this video. I liked the filling many glass at once example which says it all. If you want to achieve more take one at a time as time goes on we would accomplish what we need finally. Thank you

[@dannyspitzer1267]

I've found this through experience to be so true. I wish I was aware of it a long time ago though...

[@HungDao-uq5zw]

Can you elaborate please?

[@AI.ADITYA]

Great video 👍🏻

[@yugandharsajja6763]

Thank you.

[@TheAromaticMind]

Totally love the way you explain. Fan of your work.

[@danielvibez4000]

Yes, I like it too. Very clear and able to hold my attention.

[@34perelli]

Amazing video !

[@Yousef-qf9qh]

When i setted several tasks and started doing one of them i hadn't a clear mind when doing the task due to knowing that i have other things to do although i didn't embark on the other ones.

[@narainsrividya341]

Quite nicely summarised and good reminder of how to keep it simple !

[@tahirahmed33]

Great video

[@mekuekandemgrace3360]

You’re video are amazing

[@fitnessuniverse111]

Another great video and book summary- Actually,I have a separate playlist just for your videos 'till now - they are quite different from all "motivational" and "educational" videos on youtube...:)

[@aziyaaligeorge7750]

Amazing video

[@inmate0054]

I saw this book and immediately learned I should just focus on doing one thing. It was like I read the whole book

[@loubino18]

Wow, great info.....

[@warrenbradford2597]

I need to get around creating a success list instead of a to-do one. Just focus on one thing at a time.🙂

[@tomikodickinson2803]

I agree 🥰

[@amaanislam]

This video makes my own video about putting your eggs in one basket look like child’s play 😂

[@petitscarabee7662]

Merci

[@The.Matzo.ball5]

Watching this while on my phone

[@tlwest1]

Should do a video on what to do when you don't know what to do

[@TheMoneyPlantChannel]

Jack of all trades... master of none springs to mind

[@talagold6102]

Hello Thank you for your good channel I and many Persian language friends follow your channel Please put Persian subtitles Thank You

[@dialvin]

5:23 sounds like youre talking to me.

[@gwarlow]

Question: Does this single focus objective make people who work on assembly lines more able to complete goals outside of their jobs?

[@abj136]

Assembly line work is exhausting. It tends to become then your One Thing, so I think the answer is No.

[@gwarlow]

@@abj136 Agreed. :-)

[@rickhaydan3433]

See my comment above for insight into factories and multitasking.

[@erniea5843]

No, assembly work is “repetition” while focusing is about “thinking” about a single problem or aim. Focus is about being engaged, not monotonous work

[@mahmadabdi8259]

جيد

[@RonBaker456]

In creative works I often need to flit from task to task within the same focused objective. The goal is creating the music but the task list goes between creative tasks, organizational tasks, and tasks that support that creativity. Making productivity objective #1 misses the whole point of creating art IMO so you should take that into account in the planning phase. If your goal is to sell a product or build a company this is Gospel. If it is applied to creative endeavors it skews the whole paradigm.

[@scscyou]

Except what if you're not lucky enough to have the high priority tasks at the same time as a high efficiency of acting upon them? If someone already has a singular goal and knows exactly what they need to do to achieve it, without first requiring to do something else before they can start, then they already have 90% of the work behind them anyway. What about typical situations where such idealistic scenarios can't apply?

[@iSovereignKing33]

I have so much I want to do right now tho

[@joz3568]

people usually do one thing at a time. But within a time frame, we can do different things at different time point. For example, at a dinner table, while u wait for dinner, u may make a phone call, check couple of email, or read an article, before the dinner, and when meal comes, u just have to be focus on meal and fully enjoy the meal. our day, always has different things need to accomplish. But the right way and clear views are related. If one doesn’t have a clear view about what’s the general details of plan, I doubt one can really act on anything at all. So the question from me is how to tell what is the right way if there is multiple way lies there.

[@NguyenAnh-ww2tq]

Thời gian, năng lượng, tiền bạc Keller viết rằng “thành công đòi hỏi sự duy nhất về mục đích. - Trạng thái của dòng chảy là một thuật ngữ mà các nhà tâm lý học sử dụng để mô tả một trạng thái mà bạn không - Một lý do khiến việc chỉ làm một việc tại một thời điểm hoạt động rất hiệu quả là vì bạn có thể đạt được một trạng thái của dòng chảy. - Trạng thái của dòng chảy là một thuật ngữ mà các nhà tâm lý học sử dụng để mô tả một trạng thái mà bạn không dễ bị phân tâm và có thể làm việc trôi chảy và bình tĩnh. Cách tốt nhất chỉ để tập trung vào 1 thứ duy nhất! Là tạo 1 danh sách thành công

[@FloydMaxwell]

Timeslicing -- the computer term -- is more accurate. And apparently only 2% of the population are good at that.

[@FloydMaxwell]

I disagree with the study conclusion that it isn't efficient/effective. It depends. When you place an order on Amazon, you are multi-tasking. Amazon workers will now scurry around on your behalf for hours and maybe days. Meanwhile you can do something else. You are doing two tasks at once. Similarly, when you walk your dog, you also walk yourself. And can listen to an audiobook. And pick up trash. And notice the state of the neighborhood. All at once. What doesn't work well are two information digesting tasks at the same time. Try listening to a documentary while you do some targeted Internet searches -- one or the other will suffer.

[@visulino]

Each person is different. Mr. Carlos Slim, who was the richest person in the world in the 2000s and today is the 12th, opened 100s of companies in many different fields, food, energy, real estate, construction, banking, telecom, TV, drinks, internet, he oversees them, he is a multitasker and this does not apply to people like him.

[@zoherdaher4059]

you have another video about marginal improvement, i'm getting confused

[@BlondeQtie]

doing just one thing is very boring. i want to play the piano and workout and learn how to sew and speak 8 languages! i want to do my phd and be a fitness instructor. i don't care about excelling in one area. i love variety!!!! the better you get in one field, the more narrow minded you get and the more unpleasant your colleagues get.

[@ObsoleteTutorials]

I couldn't even focus on listening to this video....I need help.

[@myst47]

like Bruce lee says: dont fear a 1000 tecnichs man fear a man who have trained only 1 technich

[@kimjongil5200]

The pilot asking Warren buffett story is not real and refuted by Mr. Buffett

[@quaffie]

the only thing i do is destroying my life

[@archeacnos]

A true person which is as focused multi-tasking as not multi-tasking basically has ADHD, is that still attractive? N0

[@buzzcutbiene2211]

yes, but it is so boring to do only one thing at a time, I cannot stand it.

[@metasamsara]

Bad advice

[@esoterictime]

my "successful" engineer friend acts like this. Does one thing only... Hes incredibly BORING and UNIDIMENSIONAL

[@spikeboy101]

1 minute in and this is bs. Cooking requires massive multitasking skills especially for complex dishes and I get in a state of flow all the time.

[@bajantraian]

cooking is a process which contains subprocesses ; to get a better view, try cooking while watching TV, and then your friend calls, but your dog barks. Would you be able to tackle them while still being in a state of flow?

[@potterylady44]

​@@bajantraian lol exactly. It aint happening.