It began with “Hello”
We’re getting acquainted.
Out on dates
We’re head over heels.
One year, six years
“It’s not you, it’s me”
We’re done.
Another marriage bites the dust…
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Book cover of The one thing The book is divided into three major sections viz:
1. The lies.
2. The truth.
3. Extraordinary results.
Each section is further divided into chapters which deal with various aspects that ultimately leads one into the ‘one thing’ idea.
The book is a breath of fresh air which breaks the widely held myth that multi-tasking is a wonderful skill to have. It exposes the fallacy in that statement by showing how singleness of purpose helps achieve greater results than having to complete multiple tasks at once. It encourages one to have big goals but start small by breaking these goals into small actionable steps, one step at a time. This in turn shows the cumulative result —domino effect— of doing seemingly small tasks that invariably pave the way to achieving the desired big result as it is clearly stated in the book that “Extraordinary success is sequential, not simultaneous. The key is over time. Success is built sequentially. It’s one thing at a time.”
The six lies between you and success as stated in the book are:
1. Everything matters equally.
2. Multitasking.
3. A disciplined life.
4. Willpower is always on will-call.
5. A balanced life.
6. Big is bad.
Each of these are further explained with their implications on ones outlook on life and success.
The figures embedded throughout the book gives one better grasp of the ideas passed in an easy form. The big ideas at the end of each chapter captures the major ideas of the chapter and also serves as an easy go-to place for a refresher whenever it’s needed. Splashed throughout the book are also experiences and examples of various people who have utilized the one thing idea in diverse forms.
In the last chapter of the book, the authors presented practical aspects where one can put the one thing to work immediately. One thing which is very clear at the end of the day is captured in the book as, “activity is often unrelated to productivity, and busyness rarely takes care of business.” -
She’s the woman of the people
Leading by example
No kickbacks accepted
Prompt and efficient
Leading by example
She set an uncommon trail, being
Prompt and efficient
A new culture emerged
She set an uncommon trail, being
At the forefront for others to follow
A new culture emerged
Transparency became the new normal
At the forefront for others to follow
She’s the woman of the people
Transparency became the new normal
No kickbacks accepted. -
Why fidget over what you can’t solve?
Why worry over what you can’t change?
Surely, fast palpitations and tears are no good
Temperature rising, head banging
Mind and body left in a wreck
Be calm my soul
Be still my body
Hand it over to Jesus. -
The pounding on the door woke her up, confused, she tried to understand what was going on. There had been tales, of kidnappers coming into people’s home to abduct them.
There came the pounding again.
“Who is there?”
Silence. The person didn’t answer. Heart pounding, she wonders how they got through the estate security and then through her living room door which had an automatic alarm system. She looks around for a weapon but there’s none. She settled for her ballpoint pen, that will have to do.
The person pounds on the door again, this time much louder than before. Irritated she screamed,
“Who. Is. There?”
And waited for a few seconds, there’s pin drop silence. She’s uncertain if it’s all in her head or maybe she was dreaming. She tiptoes to the door, as she turns the lock, she hears footsteps. She opens the door slowly, just in time to she a figure retreating to her living room.
She holds the pen firmly as she tiptoes to the living room to check who it was. The lights came on as they all chorused
“Happy birthday.” -
I’m stuck in lalaland
Enjoying the mirage
Sucked by the euphoria
Of living in utopia -
Horns blaring
Looking through the rear view mirror
I smile, I’ve escaped
Back to my home
The land my ancestors tilled
Calm, serenity
Waking up to exotic aromas
Green view out my window
The cock, my new alarm clock. -
He looked around with sweat dripping down his face with a bag slung over his shoulders. He noticed her sitting on one of the airport benches as she flipped through a magazine, he walked briskly to her summoning his best smile.
“Hi, please can you watch my bag for a minute? I’d like to use the restroom.”
She looked up but before she could respond, he had dropped the bag at her feet like a hot bag of coals and walked hurriedly towards the restrooms. She almost laughed out loud remembering her own terrible runny stomach episode just yesterday.
He didn’t return from the restroom, instead, the men in uniform came and took her away for possession of hard drugs. -
We lived in whispers
Walking among the shadows
Sheltered, uncertain, clueless
The He came
Shining His light on us
Dissipating the whispers and shadows
Confident, free, bold
We’ve become
Reflectors of His marvelous light. -
In ‘lessons from 10,’ Stephen begins his introduction with a hypothetical scenerio involving a character named Amaka who like most aspiring writers has a wonderful idea of where/what she has achieved, in her mind, but fail in reality to take the necessary steps towards achieving these.
In subsequent chapters, he discusses issues upcoming writers face —from treating writing as a hobby to seeing yourself as a writer, imposter syndrome, writing myths, needing a mentor and a whole lot more— and steps to overcoming them. He goes further to share some writing hacks and sites which will aid one become a better writer. In all of these, there’s one central message that echos all through the book, you become a better writer by writing consistently and honing your craft.
The book is an absolute delight to the eyes and mind as it is well formatted, shares useful information and uses simple diction too such that everyone can easily understand it. It is available for free download at the link below
https://relentless-pioneer-5164.ck.page/2ec196e711
Feel free to share with others who are looking for a valuable resource at no extra cost, aside data 😉
