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 

There’s a reason rest feels like stress when you’re hooked on hustle. Jay unpacks why so many high achievers get trapped in a cycle of motion over progress—how the Zeigarnik effect and our dopamine bias for fast wins pull us toward low-value tasks—and what it costs us in value, time, and morale. He then gets tactical: how to own the problem, say “no” more often, and swap performative work for priorities you can point to at day’s end.

Jay shares practical moves that break the cycle: “clear the decks” before deep work, use the focusing question as a sobriety check (“Is this my ONE Thing?”), and start your day with goals before phones so you can say “not now” with confidence. He also highlights the power of building buffer time, translating big goals into weekly milestones, and adding accountability so priorities stick. For the long game, Jay emphasizes weekly 4-1-1 planning, end-of-day reflection, a standing hour of “thinking time,” and quarterly reviews. Even small pauses—a half-Friday off each month—can retrain your system away from busyness and back toward meaningful results.

Challenge of the Week:

Do a 48‑hour busyness fast. For two consecutive workdays, keep a visible note open and check in a few times a day: “Am I in the busyness trap or on my ONE Thing?” Don’t judge—just observe. Do a short reflection each evening on where you drifted and what helped you refocus.

***

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

We talk about:

How the Zeigarnik effect and dopamine loops fuel shallow work

Why “goals before phones” makes it easier to say no and protect deep work

The weekly 4‑1‑1, thinking time, and simple buffers that sustain focus

Links & Tools from This Episode:

Read Deep Work by Cal Newport

Harvard Business Review: Beware a Culture of Busyness

Read The Progress Principle by Teresa Amabile

Read The Road Less Stupid by Keith Cunningham

Read The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer

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 biggest thing standing between you and your goals isn’t the economy, the competition, or even your circumstances—it’s you? In this solo episode, Jay Papasan shares six common patterns of self-sabotage uncovered from hundreds of coaching participants and offers simple, actionable ways to break them.

From procrastination and avoidance to people-pleasing, poor boundaries, and constant distractions, Jay reveals how these habits show up and how to replace them with strategies that move you forward. You’ll learn to stop over-planning, quiet self-doubt, design an environment that supports focus, and protect your time so you can do your most important work.

Self-sabotage isn’t a character flaw—it’s a habit you can change. Small, intentional adjustments can set you up for greater focus, productivity, and progress toward your goals.

Challenge of the Week:

Pick one area of your environment—your workspace, your phone settings, or your daily routine—and make one change to help you be more successful and prevent self-sabotage.

***

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

We talk about:

The six main ways people get in their own way

Why perfectionism is just disguised procrastination

How to design your environment to reduce distractions and protect your focus

Links & Tools from This Episode:

Read The 5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins

Read Give and Take by Adam Grant

Listen to Episode 509. The ADHD Advantage: How Neurodivergent Entrepreneurs Outperform with Tyler Elstrom - 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 

Most people think the market is too crowded to stand out, but Sam Vander Wielen proves otherwise. After leaving a legal career she hated, Sam faced enormous personal and professional challenges, yet built an eight-figure business selling legal templates online. Her secret? Embracing authenticity—sharing her real story, letting her brand reflect her true self, and doing the unglamorous work of listening deeply to her customers.

In this episode, Sam reveals how 1,200 sales calls became the foundation for her flagship product, and why building a loyal email audience matters more than chasing social media likes. She shares how to collect meaningful feedback, spot patterns, and deliver what your audience wants, while still giving them what they truly need.

Challenge of the Week:

Start a “sizzle file:” a note on your phone or a document where you collect every question, comment, or bit of feedback you get from clients, friends, or anyone who asks about your business or expertise. Don’t overthink it—just start dropping them in and look for the patterns. If you have time, go back over your texts, emails, and DMs from the past week and add any other relevant questions.

***

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

We talk about:

How Sam’s authenticity became her superpower in business

The process of turning 1,200 sales calls into an eight-figure product

Building a business on your own platform (email!) instead of rented social media land

Links & Tools from This Episode:

Learn more at samvanderwielen.com

Order Sam’s book, When I Start My Business, I'll Be Happy

Check out Sam’s signature product, The Ultimate Bundle®

Follow Sam on Instagram: @samvanderwielen

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 

Before discovering The ONE Thing, Mauricio and Christine were stuck in survival mode—juggling kids, work, and the chaos of daily life. Everything changed when a copy of The ONE Thing landed on Mauricio’s desk. What started as reluctant curiosity grew into a shared commitment: they embraced the 411 and time-blocking, turning scattered days into intentional progress.

By having weekly conversations and getting clear on each other’s goals, they found real alignment and deeper intimacy in their marriage. The impact didn’t stop at home—they began applying these tools to their business and community, helping others lead with intention. Today, their ordinary days look extraordinary, simply because they made space to dream and do the work together.

Challenge of the Week:

Make space for silence this week. Pick a routine task—whether it’s walking, driving, or doing the dishes—and turn off the noise. No radio, no podcast, no distractions. Just give yourself a little space to think (or not think), and see what comes up. Sometimes, the best ideas and clarity come in those quiet moments.

***

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

We talk about:

How chaos becomes the “new normal” for so many couples with young kids

Using the 411 and time-blocking to align goals and schedules as a family

The power of intentional conversations for building intimacy and dreaming bigger

Links & Tools from This Episode:

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