The Joy in Business

44What’s Your “One Thing”?

Q. Have you ever come to the end of a business “how-to” book and wondered how you were going to apply it all?

A. There is an old Italian expression: Remember, you can’t boil the ocean (Ricorda, non puoi far bollire l’oceano!), but you can get a pot of water and boil that, meaning don’t try to do too much too soon. Pick your most preferred Golden Nuggets and practice, practice, practice. Then, as they become habits, add more, and more and more.

Now that Part 4 of this book has come to an end, it would be a good idea to reflect on what you have read. Take a moment and flip back through the pages and note below the Golden Nuggets you would like to use before moving on to your new work life habits to maintain beyond this book.

Is it taking action on applying the Corporate Culture Code, pursuing closure on dormant goals like The White House Story (Part 2), being aware of the Persistence of Perception, or applying the Three Magic Secrets to a Happy Life? Once your list is complete, rank the top three things you will do differently, and commit to doing your “one thing” today.

Favorite Golden Nuggets

Top three Golden Nuggets in order of importance:

The “one thing” I will commit to do first is:

Take Action!

1. Ask yourself each business day, “What’s the one thing I can do to further my success for tomorrow?”
2. Do it!
3. Leave your day feeling satisfied!

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Always Remember:

Those on the top of the mountain didn’t fall there!

Gil Atkinson, American ...