My One Thing Manifesto

For the past four months, I have sabotaged my diet and have run my blood sugar up to dangerous levels. I keep ignoring the one thing I should be doing: controlling and even reversing my diabetes by eating a keto or carnivore diet. Controlling or reversing diabetes will also involve exercise to a lesser degree.

In “The ONE Thing,” Keller argues that multitasking and trying to do too many things simultaneously can dilute our focus and diminish our results.

Instead, he promotes the idea that extraordinary results are achieved by narrowing one’s focus to the most essential task at a time.

My One Thing is controlling my diabetes without medication. My health has declined for several months, and I believe diabetes is the central culprit.

Type 2 diabetes, if not managed effectively, can lead to various complications.

Some diseases and conditions associated with or exacerbated by type 2 diabetes include:

• Heart Disease: Diabetes increases the risk of various cardiovascular problems. [2, 4, 5]
• Stroke: Diabetics have an elevated risk of experiencing a stroke. [2, 5]
• High Blood Pressure: Type 2 diabetes can increase the likelihood of high blood pressure. [2]
• Narrowing of Blood Vessels: This condition is also known as atherosclerosis. [2]
• Thyroid Disease: Diabetes is linked to an increased occurrence of thyroid issues. [3]
• Coeliac Disease: This is an immune reaction to gluten. [3]
• Chronic Kidney Disease: Diabetes can damage the kidneys, leading to chronic kidney disease. [4, 5]
• Nerve Damage: Known as neuropathy, this damage can lead to a series of complications. [4, 5]
• Eye Disease: Including conditions such as retinopathy. [5]
• Foot Problems: Due to nerve damage and poor blood circulation. [5]
• Gum Disease: Oral health issues are more common among diabetics. [5]

I have experienced a stroke, nerve damage, retinopathy, foot problems, and gum disease. I don’t know if diabetes is the cause, but it has certainly made things worse.

You can add to this a lack of energy when blood sugar spikes.

Major Ideas In the One Thing:

• The ONE Thing Principle: At any moment, there’s always one thing you can do that will significantly impact your personal or professional life. By focusing on that single task, you can achieve the best results.
• The Domino Effect: Like knocking down a line of dominos with a single push, focusing on the most crucial task can create a chain reaction of success in other areas.
• Success is Sequential, Not Simultaneous: Trying to achieve everything simultaneously is a recipe for mediocrity. Instead, success is about doing the right thing, only some things right. The difficult task is determining what the right thing is.
• Multitasking Myth: Multitasking could be more efficient and effective. It can dilute focus, leading to mistakes and less-than-stellar results.
• The Focusing Question: Ask yourself, “What’s the ONE Thing I can do such that by doing it, everything else will be easier or unnecessary?”
• This question helps pinpoint the most valuable task at any given time but may not be enough to determine your one thing.
• Big Goals and Clear Priorities Lead to Big Productivity: By setting significant goals, you put a direction. With a clear priority, you can take actionable steps toward that goal.
• The Four Thieves of Productivity: These obstacles can hinder focusing on your ONE Thing. They include an inability to say “no,” fear of chaos, poor health habits, and an environment that doesn’t support your goals.
• Time Blocking: Allocate specific blocks of time for your most important work. Protect these blocks from distractions and lesser priorities. At my age, I don’t want to get too strict on time blocks. It tends to make me my own worst boss.
• Life is a Balancing Act: While you should give intense focus to your ONE Thing, it’s also essential to maintain and balance other vital areas of your life. These are more or less weasel words for those who don’t focus.
• The Three Commitments: To achieve extraordinary results, you must:
• (a) Follow the path of mastery,
• (b) Move from “E” (Entrepreneurial) to “P” (Purposeful), and
• (c) Live the accountability cycle.

The key takeaway from the book is the importance of identifying and focusing on the single most impactful task in any endeavor. By doing so, individuals can achieve more meaningful results in less time and with less effort.

I’m not against medication. I will not drop any meds until things are under control.

I have to start now by fasting for 36 hours to get things back to baseline.

Dr. Lucy Burns of Australia said it best. When it comes to carbs, one is too many, and 1,000 is never enough. This is a definition of addiction.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmLfiNohTdA

My one thing begins immediately. If I have to, I will throw out processed carbs.

I will continue building the blogs, but nothing should interfere with fighting diabetes with a keto diet.

Even though I have several tasks to do this week, like packing up, moving, and going through surgery, all of it is made easier by controlling my diet and blood sugar.

I still have to build out the blogs and email lists, but not at the expense of fighting diabetes.

Exercise is a part of this. I have to go back to walking 3 to 5 miles a day.

But missing an exercise day or writing goal can be tolerated. Having a carb meltdown is unacceptable.

I’m starting with fasting to get my blood sugar under 100. With my personality, I can’t start on processed carbs without eating them all day.

Doing the one thing will allow me to advance in every area of my life.

Determining your “ONE Thing” requires a combination of introspection, clarity about your goals, and an understanding of where you currently stand about those goals.

Here are some steps to help you identify your ONE Thing:

• Self-Reflection: Begin with understanding what you truly want in life. Think about where you want to be in 5, 10, or 20 years. At age 70, it’s hard to think about more than 5 years out, but acting as if you will live forever may be necessary.
• Set Clear Goals: Identify what you hope to accomplish in the short term (this month or this year) and the long time. Write them down. Being clear about your goals will make determining the most critical steps easier.

• My goal is to live diabetes free and make a full-time living online before AI takes over completely. Fighting diabetes comes first.

• The Focusing Question: Using the concept from “The ONE Thing,” ask yourself: “What’s the ONE Thing I can do such that by doing it, everything else will be easier or unnecessary?” This question can be applied to any area of life, whether personal, professional, health, relationships, or other domains.
• Prioritize Tasks: List down all tasks or projects you’re considering. Which one will have the most significant impact on reaching your goals? Which one aligns most closely with your primary goal or purpose?
• Avoid Distractions: Understand that many tasks and demands will pull you in different directions. Often, what’s urgent is different from what’s most important. Be sure to differentiate between the two.
• Seek Feedback: Talk to mentors, peers, or those who’ve walked the path before you. They can provide insight into what might be the most crucial step for you to take at this time.
• Evaluate Past Efforts: Look back at past projects or tasks. Which ones brought you closer to your goals? Which ones felt more like they were keeping you busy but not productive? This can give you clarity on what to focus on.
• Think About What Energizes You: Your “ONE Thing” shouldn’t just be about efficiency. It should also be something you’re passionate about, bringing you joy or satisfaction.
• Re-evaluate Periodically: As you make progress, circumstances and priorities can change. Regularly check in with yourself to ensure you’re still focused on the most important of your evolving goals.
• Take Action and Assess: Once you’ve identified what you think is your ONE Thing, start working on it. As you progress, regularly assess if your chosen focus brings you closer to your broader goals. If it’s not, don’t be afraid to pivot. But don’t pivot too quickly if your one thing has not been played out.

Remember, the idea isn’t to only do one thing and neglect everything else. It’s about prioritizing the most impactful task or project to make everything else easier or unnecessary.