281: Jeff Woods - How to Identify, Prioritize, and Do the Most Important Thing in Your Life

None of us want to waste our lives on trivial things. That’s why we care about productivity and working effectively. Geoff Woods says it’s therefore vital that we discover the most important thing we need to accomplish at any given time. It’s the singular focus that has enabled him and the organization he works with to become a world-class leader in their industry. Geoff is on the show to chat about his life-changing experience over the last year as CEO of the new “One Thing” company alongside Jay Papasan and Gary Keller. What he shares on this episode is simple but powerful. You won’t want to miss it. ## The most important thing is the most important thing. There are many things that crowd into our lives, seeking our attention and energy. But the most important things are simply that - the most important things. And Geoff Woods would argue that we don’t have the capacity to effectively focus on more than one thing at a time. That’s why we must simplify our “to dos” - boiling them down to one main thing that deserves our focus. It’s not easy to explain in a short paragraph, but you're in luck - because Geoff explains it in detail, in this conversation, so don’t miss it. ## You don’t have the right to think of tasks down the line until you complete the first task. I huge mindset shift included in “The One Thing” approach to productivity that Geoff Woods describes on this episode, is that even though you may have decided upon steps you need to accomplish to move you toward a certain goal, you haven’t earned the right to work on or consider the things that are later on your list until you’ve completed those listed first. This concept is at the heart of doing the most important things first so that you are more productive and eventually successful at accomplishing your greater goals. Find out how it works, on this episode. ## How can you identify your “one thing?” One of the hardest aspects of productivity is the process of discovering what things are actually the most important to accomplish. Geoff Woods has learned from his mentor, Gary Keller that a singular focus on one thing until it is accomplished, makes him productive at an accelerated rate and moves the needle to a greater degree. How do you discover what is most important for you to do? And is it always a major task, or can it sometimes be a simple, small one that simply must come first? Geoff explains the powerful “One Thing” approach in detail, on this episode. ## When you say “yes” to other people, you’re saying “no” to yourself. When Ari asked Geoff for 3 pieces of advice to those who want to be more effective, Geoff's first piece of advice was that most people need to learn how to say “no” to more things. He made the point that when you say “yes” to other people, you’re saying “no” to yourself - and more specifically, to the things you’ve determined are most important for you to accomplish. Geoff has a great way of explaining the nuances surrounding these kinds of decisions, so be sure you give yourself the opportunity to learn from him by listening to this episode. ## Outline of This Episode - [0:03] Ari’s introduction to Geoff Woods and his history. - [1:41] What is “The 1 Thing” concept Gary Keller has written about? - [2:05] The life-changing year Geoff has lived alongside Gary Keller and Jay Papasan. - [4:37] The framework for identifying your “one thing” in each area of life, and how to choose which one to start with. - [6:03] How big or small should your “one thing” be? - [8:22] The vital nature of systems to recruit amazing, talented people. - [11:07] How the KW team uses their “411” tool to identify the big tasks to do each week. - [13:30] Using the “one thing” approach to work effectively as a team. - [14:48] Geoff’s top 3 pieces of advice in order to be more effective. ## Resources Mentioned - [The Mentee Podcast](http://menteepodcast.com/) - [The One Thing Podcast](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-one-thing-p