The ONE Thing

Its graduation seasonand whether youve got a child, a niece or nephew, or just a young person in your life heading to or already in college, youre probably wondering how to best support them in this new chapter.

In this episode, Jay gets personal. He walks through the highs and lows of his own college yearsfrom social misfires and major indecision to joining the rugby team and becoming a double major in French and English. But more importantly, he shares what we wish college students learned and what they actually do.

Back in 2015, the ONE Thing team interviewed 15 students from across the country who had read the book and tried to apply its principles. With a little coaching and a few worksheets, they surfaced six core discoveries that can serve any young adult stepping into independence:

Lay a Future Foundation Even a vague purpose provides powerful direction.

Set Mid-Term Targets Clarity around where you want to be when college ends helps shape present-day decisions.

Make a Success List, Not a To-Do List Prioritize ruthlessly, especially when everything feels urgent.

Think Big Sometimes we create unnecessary limits. Big goals can make hard things feel smaller.

Time Block for Willpower Willpower isnt on will-call. Structure your calendar to match your energy.

Clarify Core Values Use your values as a compass for choices, especially when you're on your own.

Whether you're a parent, a mentor, or a recent grad yourself, this episode will inspire you to share the tools of focus, goal setting, and intention with someone who needs them most.

Challenge of the Week:

Identify a college-aged person in your life. Then go to the1thing.com/college to download the free college guide. Consider giving them a copy of The ONE Thing and the Core Values Deck as a graduation giftand dont just give it. Follow up. Ask if theyd like to go through it together. Help them put these tools into practice.

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To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit: the1thing.com/pods.

We talk about:

Why figuring out your ONE Thing matters even when youre young

The halo effect of getting clear on your goals

Why willpower should be scheduled, not summoned

Links & Tools from This Episode:

The ONE Thing College Guide

The ONE Thing Core Values Deck

Episode 483: Are You Using This Simple Tool to Make Better Decisions?

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

This milestone episode marks 500 episodes and over 6 million downloads of The ONE Thing Podcast—and we couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate than bringing Geoff Woods back to the mic.

Geoff helped launch this podcast and spent years leading The ONE Thing company. In this episode, we look at what’s happened since he moved on. From becoming Chief Growth Officer at a multinational conglomerate to founding a company and writing a book on AI leadership, Geoff shares the role that asking big questions played in every chapter of that journey.

At the heart of our conversation is one question: Who do I want to become?

Geoff talks candidly about moving from certainty to curiosity, detaching identity from outcomes, and using both The ONE Thing framework and emerging tools like AI to craft a future you’re proud of. He opens up about struggling with self-worth after stepping away from The ONE Thing, and how redefining success through values like fatherhood, friendship, and internal validation helped him build something even more meaningful.

Whether you’re in a transition or just ready for more, this episode will challenge you to dream bigger—and act bolder.

Challenge of the Week:

Sit down with pen and paper. Fast forward 30 years and imagine sitting with your future self. Ask: – Who have I become? – What does my life look like? – What would this version of me tell me to start, stop, or double down on today?

Give yourself time and space to journal. Don’t rush to the “right” answer. Just start searching. Trust the dominoes will fall.

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To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit: the1thing.com/pods.

We talk about:

Why asking the right question changes everything

How to build new habits that support your future identity

Using AI as a thought partner to clarify your purpose

Links & Tools from This Episode:

Learn more at aileadership.com

Connect with Geoff Woods on LinkedIn

Read The AI-Driven Leader by Geoff Woods

Free Resources

Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email [email protected] or send us an audio note at Speakpipe.com/the1thing.

Any text or materials generated by artificial intelligence (AI) should be reviewed for accuracy and reliability as there may be errors, omissions, or inaccuracies.

Produced by NOVA 

You’ve probably heard of the Four Thieves of Productivity: the inability to say no, fear of chaos, poor health habits, and an environment that doesn’t support your goals. But have you ever stopped to ask—which one is stealing the most from you right now?

This week, Jay Papasan is joined by his coach and the Head Coach of The ONE Thing, Jordan Freed, for a powerful reexamination of the Four Thieves—this time through the lens of coaching. Jordan brings a coach’s eye to these common productivity killers, helping you not only identify your thief, but also design simple, practical solutions to reclaim your focus.

We talk about how environment is often the real culprit behind people-pleasing, why building a digital and physical “bunker” is key to getting deep work done, and how to turn fear of chaos into clarity through better planning. You’ll also learn Jordan’s hierarchy of health and how to build better habits by starting with the basics: breath, water, and sleep.

Whether you're constantly saying yes to the wrong things or find yourself paralyzed by the unknown, this episode will help you take back control—and protect what matters most.

Challenge of the Week: Engineer your bunker. Physically and digitally, design a space that helps you focus on your ONE Thing. Turn off unnecessary notifications, block distractions, and create boundaries so your environment supports—not sabotages—your goals.

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To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit: the1thing.com/pods.

We talk about:

How people-pleasing is often rewarded and reinforced in our work and personal lives

Why your environment might be the hidden thief behind your inability to say no

How to use prompting and priming to build new, healthier habits

Links & Tools from This Episode:

The 66-Day Challenge

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 

Twelve years ago, The ONE Thing was published, and it’s been incredible to see its impact—over 3.75 million copies sold in 42 languages. To celebrate, we’re sharing a live session from our annual convention, where I walk through a powerful framework for reclaiming time and staying focused on what matters most.

Most of us set goals backward, reacting to what’s in front of us rather than working in reverse from a clear vision. I break down goal setting to the now, a method that aligns your daily actions with your long-term aspirations. Plus, I cover two common pitfalls—goal drift and unconscious quitting—and how a simple 20-minute weekly check-in with your 411 framework keeps you on track.

I also introduce the 7D Method, a system designed to help you reclaim at least four hours per week by downloading, delegating, and decreasing unnecessary commitments. Imagine what you could do with that extra time. Next week, I’m sitting down with my personal coach, Jordan Freed, to dive into the Four Thieves of Productivity—tune in to learn how to protect your time and energy.

Challenge of the Week:

Use the 7D Method to identify at least one hour you can reclaim this week. Fewer meetings, shorter commitments—whatever it takes to free up time for what truly matters.

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To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit: the1thing.com/pods.

We talk about:

Why most people set goals backward and how to fix it

The power of “goal setting to the now” and how to break down your big dreams

The 7D Method for reclaiming four or more hours every week

Links & Tools from This Episode:

The 411 Goal-Setting Framework

Read: The ONE Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan

The 10 Year Letter by Jordan Fried

Free Resources

Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email [email protected] or send us an audio note at Speakpipe.com/the1thing.

This podcast is for general informational purposes only. The views, thoughts, and opinions of the guest represent those of the guest and not Produktive or Keller Williams Realty, LLC and their affiliates, and should not be construed as financial, economic, legal, tax, or other advice. This podcast is provided without any warranty, or guarantee of its accuracy, completeness, timeliness, or results from using the information.

Produced by NOVA

We all want to build better habits, be more productive, and achieve our goals—but sometimes, the pressure to be perfect gets in the way. Enter Anne-Laure Le Cunff, a former neuroscience researcher and the brains behind Ness Labs, whose new book, Tiny Experiments, offers a simple yet powerful approach to personal growth.

Anne-Laure introduces us to the concept of pacts—small commitments designed to test behaviors with curiosity instead of pressure. Her PACT framework (Purposeful, Actionable, Continuous, Trackable) makes it easier to stick to new habits without fear of failure.

We also dive into why we procrastinate and how to diagnose its root cause using the head, heart, and hand method. Is it a rational issue (head), an emotional resistance (heart), or a practical obstacle (hand)? Understanding this can help you move forward with clarity.

Finally, we discuss the trap of perfectionism and why embracing intentional imperfection can be the key to long-term excellence. By shifting focus from immediate results to sustainable progress, you set yourself up for lasting success.

Challenge of the Week:

Look at your calendar from the past week and identify one small change you'd like to make. Create a tiny experiment—a simple, low-stakes PACT to test that change for the next seven days.

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To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit: the1thing.com/pods.

We talk about:

How tiny experiments lower the stakes and make change easier

The head, heart, and hand method for overcoming procrastination

Why perfectionism holds us back and how to practice intentional imperfection

Links & Tools from This Episode:

Learn more: Ness Labs

Read: Tiny Experiments by Anne-Laure Le Cunff

The ONE Thing 66-Day Challenge

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