530. Turn Your Ideas into Action in 5 Simple Steps

Every year, Americans spend more than $100 billion on education—books, courses, conferences, and training—and research shows that less than 20% ever do anything with what they learn. That means roughly $80 billion of potential goes unrealized every year. This episode is about joining the 20% who act. Jay Papasan walks you through the T.I.P.P.S. framework—a simple process he’s taught for years to help people turn learning into lasting change. You’ll learn how to **Take notes** that stick, **Identify key takeaways**, **Prioritize** what really matters, **Put it on your calendar** within 24 hours, and **Seek accountability** so your ideas turn into real-world results. Along the way, Jay explains why handwritten notes dramatically improve retention, how to use Pareto’s Principle to cut through information overload, and the data behind why accountability multiplies your odds of success. Whether you’re fresh from a conference or finishing a great book, this episode shows you how to make learning pay off. Challenge of the Week: Pick one idea from this episode and put it on your calendar within the next 24 hours. Then, share it with an accountability partner who can check in with you. *** To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit: the1thing.com/pods. We talk about: Why most learning doesn’t lead to action   The five-step T.I.P.P.S. framework for implementation   How accountability drives extraordinary results Links & Tools from This Episode: The ONE Thing by Gary Keller & Jay Papasan Ebbinghaus Forgetting Curve (memory research) Dr. Gail Matthews Goal Achievement Study Free Resources Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email [email protected] or send us an audio note at Speakpipe.com/the1thing. Produced by NOVA

When Gary and Jay wrote The ONE Thing, they defined success as “getting what you want.” But most of us chase goals we didn’t truly choose. In this episode, author and creator Sahil Bloom shares how he reset his scorecard, left a lucrative path, and built a life aligned with his values—starting with time. Sahil explains why the worst distractions often look like great opportunities, and how to run cheap, fast experiments to discover your highest point of leverage. He breaks down the “no unforced errors” mindset, distinguishes planning from preparation, and explains how batching management tasks (thanks to Parkinson’s Law) protects time for deep thinking and creative work. You’ll also hear how to build a high-agency team so you spend more of your week in your zone of genius. If you’ve been pulled in too many directions, this conversation will help you get clear on what matters—and defend it. Challenge of the Week: Ask: “If a third party watched my week, what would they say my priorities are?” Identify one mismatch between your calendar and your stated priorities, then take one tiny action to close the gap this week. *** To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit: the1thing.com/pods. We talk about: How to use low-cost experiments to find your highest-leverage work Why “no unforced errors” beats flashy wins over the long term Protecting thinking time with Parkinson’s Law and better batching Links & Tools from This Episode: The Five Pillars of Wealth by Sahil Bloom The Inner Game of Tennis by W. Timothy Gallwey Moneyball by Michael Lewis Naval Ravikant (quote referenced) Anne-Laure Le Cunff (on tiny experiments) David Galenson’s research on conceptual vs. experimental innovators Free Resources Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email [email protected] or send us an audio note at Speakpipe.com/the1thing. Produced by NOVA

Are you constantly trying to please everyone—and still ending up exhausted and unfulfilled? This week, Jay shares the five permission slips every high achiever needs to hear. From setting healthy boundaries to redefining what success looks like, Jay walks you through how to release perfectionism, protect your energy, and rebuild self-trust. You’ll learn how to give yourself permission to disappoint others, be bad at the 80%, protect your attention, sleep on it, and most importantly—believe in yourself. These five shifts can help you step out of burnout and into balance. You’ll walk away with practical habits like creating a daily “evidence journal” that reminds you how capable you truly are. Challenge of the Week:Open a note on your phone titled “My Wins.” Each day for the next seven days, write down one thing you did well—big or small. Build your confidence by giving yourself permission to believe in yourself. Head to the1thing.com to find your ONE Thing and start living it today. To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit:the1thing.com/pods We talk about: The 5 permission slips every high achiever needs How to protect your attention and focus Building self-confidence through small daily wins Links & Tools from This Episode: The ONE Thing Follow Jay Papasan on Instagram: @jaypapasan Free Resources Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email or send us an audio note at Speakpipe.com/the1thing. Produced by NOVA

Are you overwhelmed by the sheer number of business and self-help books out there? With more than 40,000 titles published every year, it's impossible to read them all — and most of us don't have the time to waste on the wrong ones. The real challenge is knowing which books will actually help you grow, both personally and professionally. That's why Jay Papasan sits down with Todd Sattersten, publisher of The ONE Thing and author of The 100 Best Books for Work and Life. Over the past 20 years, Todd has read more than 3,000 books, reviewed over 1,000 of them, and curated the top 100 that deliver the greatest insights for work, leadership, growth, and purpose. In this conversation, he shares the lessons he's learned from a lifetime of reading---why self-awareness is the most consistent takeaway across categories, how to choose books that truly add value, and why organizing your reading around the problems you're facing is the fastest path to results. You'll come away with a clearer framework for deciding what to read, how to apply it, and when to let go of books that don't serve you. If you've ever struggled with too many choices and not enough time, this episode will help you build a smarter, more intentional reading habit that compounds over time. Challenge of the Week:Be honest with yourself about the ONE problem you need to be working on right now. Then, choose a book---or a short list of books---that speaks directly to that problem. Don't try to read everything. Read for what you need. Want more tools to help you simplify your choices, focus on what matters, and get extraordinary results? Visit the1thing.com *** To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit: the1thing.com/pods. We talk about: What reading 3,000+ business and self-help books reveals about personal growth How to choose the right book for the problem you're facing right now The surprising lessons from curating The 100 Best Books for Work and Life Links & Tools from This Episode: The 100 Best Books for Work and Life by Todd Sattersten Jay Papasan on Instagram Follow Todd Sattersten on Instagram: @toddsattersten Free Resources Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email [email protected] or send us an audio note at Speakpipe.com/the1thing Produced by NOVA

Success expands everything—opportunities, decisions, people, and complexity. Jay calls this the High Achiever’s Paradox: as the pie gets bigger, chronic problems compound. Drawing on coaching transcripts and discovery calls, he spotlights three patterns that get harder with success: (1) honoring time blocks amid constant interruptions, (2) delegating instead of clinging to your competency, and (3) carving out strategic “thinking time” when busyness feels like a drug. The unlock is going from E → P: swapping willpower and heroics for proven models, systems, and—often—a coach. Jay shares how he rebuilt his own leadership workflows when his team scaled 7x, adopting project management tools and executive-level time protection. Start with the smallest domino to rebuild confidence: a 30-minute strategy block, delegating one recurring task, or upgrading a spreadsheet to a true CRM. Small wins stack, ceilings break, and growth resumes. Challenge of the Week: Pick one important time block on your calendar this week and protect it at all costs—treat it like a meeting with your future self. *** To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit: the1thing.com/pods. We talk about: Why time-blocking fails without protection How the “competency trap” blocks delegation Designing thinking time to become strategic Links & Tools from This Episode: The ONE Thing (book) E to P Framework Brandon Turner Trello Top CRM Tools Executive Assistants & Chiefs of Staff Resources Coaching with The ONE Thing Free Resources Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email [email protected] or send us an audio note at Speakpipe.com/the1thing. Produced by NOVA

Morgan Housel is back on the show to talk about his newest book, The Art of Spending Money. You know him from The Psychology of Money and Same As Ever. This time, we dive into what happens after you’ve earned the money—how to actually use it well. Morgan makes the case that money can buy comfort and independence, but not love, health, or meaning. Because it’s easy to measure, many of us fall into chasing money as a proxy for progress and end up stuck in comparison games. His antidote: spend for utility, not status. Think high-end Toyota over entry-level BMW—the value you feel, not the logo others see. We also explore parenting and money. Kids pick up on our financial habits more than our lectures. Modeling empathy, consistency, and healthy values goes further than rules or restrictions. And we connect this back to The ONE Thing: clarity. When you’re clear on what really matters, you can spend money to buy back time, deepen relationships, and build freedom—like Morgan’s “reverse obituary” exercise that helps align spending with what you want your life to stand for. Challenge of the Week: Ask yourself (and your partner): What are we spending money on that doesn’t bring us joy—but we think we’re supposed to enjoy? Pick one and experiment with reducing or replacing it. *** To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit: the1thing.com/pods. We talk about: How to swap status spending for utility spending Why kids learn money values from what we model, not what we say A simple “reverse obituary” exercise to align money with what matters Links & Tools from This Episode: Read The Art of Spending Money by Morgan Housel Read The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel Read Same As Ever by Morgan Housel Read Die With Zero by Bill Perkins Read 30 Lessons for Living by Karl Pillemer Free Resources Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email [email protected] or send us an audio note at Speakpipe.com/the1thing. Produced by NOVA

In this solo episode, Jay revisits a formative moment from middle school that turned “never quit” into his lifelong badge of honor—and how that same belief later became an Achilles heel. Perseverance helped him finish books, build businesses, and do hard things. But persistence misapplied can steal time from our future selves. Jay unpacks why winners actually quit—on purpose—and how sunk costs, loss aversion, and commitment bias (hello, Concorde fallacy) keep us stuck doing what no longer serves us. He explains why not quitting isn’t automatically about integrity, how to avoid giving up too soon, and how to distinguish “throwing in the towel” from informed, strategic quitting. Jay draws on stories—from Seth Godin’s “winners quit” insight to Stuart Butterfield shutting down a game to create Slack, to Steve Jobs cutting Apple’s 350 products down to four—that illustrate how saying no to good (and average) frees you to say yes to great. Jay also shares a simple, repeatable framework: 1) set “pre-mortem” rules before you start (clear criteria for when you’ll continue or quit—think Everest’s 1 p.m. turnaround), 2) run regular Stop/Stay/Start reviews to reclaim calendar space, and 3) bring in outside perspective (data, your team, or a coach) to neutralize bias. Start small—quit one thing, even a 30-minute weekly time drain—and use the energy you regain to invest in your ONE Thing. Challenge of the Week: Quit one thing today. Choose a commitment you’re keeping for the wrong reasons—habit, expectation, or sunk costs—and bow out gracefully. Send the email, make the call, or hit “unsubscribe.” Use the reclaimed time for your ONE Thing this week. *** To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit: the1thing.com/pods. We talk about: The difference between giving up and strategic quitting A three-step framework to decide what to stop, what to keep, and what to start Real-world examples—from Slack to Apple—of quitting your way to better results Links & Tools from This Episode: Read Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away by Annie Duke Read The Dip by Seth Godin Listen to Episode 521. Build a Business That Won’t Burn You Out with Chris Ducker Read the Twentypercenter newsletter story on sunk costs and bad movies Free Resources Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email [email protected] or send us an audio note at Speakpipe.com/the1thing. Produced by NOVA

If you’ve ever chased big goals and felt oddly alone while doing it, this one’s for you. Liz Bohannon—founder of Sseko Designs (now part of Noonday Collection) and author of Beginner’s Pluck—makes a compelling case that the connection we crave lives on the far side of our fear of rejection. She shares her RICH framework for social health: Initiative, Rhythms, Communication and Conflict, and Help. It’s simple, not always easy—and it works. From putting one recurring gathering on the calendar to operationalizing connection at work with small rituals and tools, Liz shows how consistent habits compound into real belonging. We also dig into why belonging can’t stop at the nuclear family, how conflict handled well strengthens relationships, and why letting others help you may be the biggest gift you can give. If you’re ready to stop waiting for the “cool table” and start your own, this episode gives you the mindset and moves to build your village right where you are. Challenge of the Week: Pick one rhythm and protect it for 30 days. Choose a weekly walk, a standing coffee, or a monthly mastermind, and make it a recurring event on your calendar today. *** To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit: the1thing.com/pods. We talk about: How small, consistent rhythms create real belonging Why conflict and repair deepen trust instead of destroying it How asking for help builds stronger communities Links & Tools from This Episode: Learn more at lizbohannon.co Read Beginner’s Pluck by Liz Bohannon Follow Liz on Instagram: @lizbohannon Free Resources Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email [email protected] or send us an audio note at Speakpipe.com/the1thing. Produced by NOVA

What if the path out of overwhelm starts with a glass of water? In this conversation, Sarah Reynolds—co-founder of Empower Home—shares how building one small keystone habit led her to lose 110 pounds and rebuild her energy. She explains how focusing on hydration, then adding practices like intermittent fasting, helped her replace perfectionism with progress and even shift the culture of health on her team. We also explore how she and her husband used The ONE Thing’s goal-setting framework to stay unified in a two-entrepreneur household with three kids. Simple rhythms like a Sunday family huddle and nightly couple time kept them aligned while honoring each other’s core values. Finally, Sarah describes how stepping out of the executive “ivory tower” and back into agent leadership reignited both company growth and her own joy. Her message for leaders: your mission needs you in your joy zone—replacing yourself in the wrong jobs is not abdication, it’s alignment. Challenge of the Week: Have the courage to run after your ONE Thing—especially if it’s your joy zone. Pick one habit or role change that moves you toward it and take the first concrete step this week. *** To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit: the1thing.com/pods. We talk about: How a single keystone habit can catalyze lasting health change Simple family rhythms that keep two entrepreneurs aligned at home Replacing yourself so you can lead from strengths and reclaim joy Links & Tools from This Episode: Listen to the Empire Building Podcast Her Best Life Empire Circle CliftonStrengths The ONE Thing Goal-Setting Retreat Free Resources Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email [email protected] or send us an audio note at Speakpipe.com/the1thing. Produced by NOVA

Hustle can help you finish a launch, but it can’t be your lifestyle. In this episode, Jay and Chris dig into what it really means to lead for the long haul: trading glorified exhaustion for intentional sustainability. Chris shares his 2021 brush with burnout—and the hard reset that followed—making the case that energy, not time, is a leader’s most valuable asset. Together, they explore where to start: sleep as a keystone habit, self-care as a leadership strategy, and putting constraints on work (think four-day weeks and planned sabbaticals) so impact—not busyness—wins your calendar. Chris walks Jay through his three-column Stop–Stay–Start audit to eliminate what isn’t working, amplify what is via 1% “micro moves,” and finally add in what’s missing. They also talk about making “hustle” a season with a clear end, why hobbies supercharge productivity and creativity, and how designing a business around your life creates better results at work and at home. If you’ve felt the warning signs of burnout—or you’re simply ready to work smarter for longer—this conversation will help you realign fast. Challenge of the Week: Do the Stop–Stay–Start audit—but only complete the STOP column. Write down everything in your work and life that isn’t working or bringing value right now. Circle three items you’ll stop this week and remove them from your calendar. *** To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit: the1thing.com/pods. We talk about: Why hustle should be a season, not a lifestyle How to run a Stop–Stay–Start audit to make space for what matters Shifting from managing time to managing energy Links & Tools from This Episode: Read The Long-Haul Leader by Chris Ducker Read Virtual Freedom by Chris Ducker Read Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi Watch: Why Smart People Stay Stuck in ‘Getting Ready’ Mode with Pat Flynn (Ep. 514) Free Resources Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email [email protected] or send us an audio note at Speakpipe.com/the1thing. Produced by NOVA