If someone asked you to name your core values, you might quickly list a few. But have you ever paused to deeply reflect on them? Are you honest with yourself about what truly matters—and how those values guide your life?

In this episode, Jay is joined by his wife, Wendy Papasan, for a thought-provoking conversation on identifying and living by core values. For nearly two decades, they’ve done the core values exercise together. Today, they share their insights about how to uncover your true values, why they might evolve over time, and the importance of understanding the values of those closest to you.

This discussion will leave you with a deeper understanding of how core values can shape your decisions, relationships, and overall sense of purpose.

Challenge of the Week:

Go to the1thing.com/free-resources, download the core values exercise, and complete it. In about 30 minutes, you can identify your top three core values and start applying them to your personal life, your relationships, and your team. Then report back to us! Let us know in the comments and reviews if you did it and what it did for you.

If you're a bold risk taker who wants to dream big and achieve a higher level of success in your life or business, visit the1thing.com.

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Boost your language skills fast.

Want to learn a new language but tired of the same old boring apps? Check out Lingoda. Lingoda provides real live classes with actual teachers, 24/7. Yes, 24/7. So whether you’re an early riser or a night owl, you can fit language learning into your busy schedule.

Here’s the best part: Lingoda is extending their biggest sale of the year! You can save up to 50%! Visit try.lingoda.com/onething and use the code 50ONETHING at checkout. This exclusive offer ends on December 21st, so don’t wait! 

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

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Produced by NOVA

The second Friday in January is “Quitters’ Day,” according to Strava, a company that helps people track their fitness goals. That’s because most people’s New Year’s resolutions grind to a halt around that time.

You can avoid this trap for all your goals. Jay explains how in this episode.

First, Jay outlines the common mistakes people make when goal setting and how to identify them in your own process. Then, Jay dives into the “first domino” concept, explaining how to pick your optimal keystone habit.

Don’t underestimate the power of small habits to do extraordinary things in your life.

Challenge of the Week: 

Look at your number one goal for 2025, Identify your first domino, and then try to make that a habit. If you have to get out your calendar like Jerry Seinfeld and put an X, we have it on the website. Go to the1thing.com/free-resources, download your calendar, and start building that habit around your first domino.

If you're a bold risk taker who wants to dream big and achieve a higher level of success in your life or business, visit the1thing.com.

***

Boost your language skills fast.

Want to learn a new language but tired of the same old boring apps? Check out Lingoda. Lingoda provides real live classes with actual teachers, 24/7. Yes, 24/7. So whether you’re an early riser or a night owl, you can fit language learning into your busy schedule.

Here’s the best part: Lingoda is extending their biggest sale of the year! You can save up to 50%! Visit try.lingoda.com/onething and use the code 50ONETHING at checkout. This exclusive offer ends on December 21st, so don’t wait! 

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

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Produced by NOVA 

December is chaotic. The kids are out of school. Family is visiting, or you're traveling. There are parties you should go to and gifts you should buy. Don't forget the holiday cards! If ever there was a season for The ONE Thing, 'tis the season.

Jay and his personal coach, Jordan Freed, spend this episode giving you the tools you need to have a meaningful, calm(ish) holiday season. They walk you through how to use your imagination to gain clarity, identify the things you can't control, and stay on track with at least one positive habit.

Our hope is you make this a holiday season that you'll look back on with joy. 

Challenge of the Week: Don't Pause the Positive

Identify one positive habit you already practice and commit to maintaining it throughout the holiday season. It could be taking 10,000 steps/day, drinking a set amount of water, or sticking to another simple, achievable habit.

If you're a bold risk taker who wants to dream big and achieve a higher level of success in your life or business, visit the1thing.com.

***

Boost your language skills fast.

Want to learn a new language but tired of the same old boring apps? Check out Lingoda. Lingoda provides real live classes with actual teachers, 24/7. Yes, 24/7. So whether you’re an early riser or a night owl, you can fit language learning into your busy schedule.

Start your 7-day free trial today! Use my promo code ONETHING50 to get up to 50% off. Visit try.lingoda.com/OnethingPod now and discover why Lingoda is your perfect language partner.

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

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Produced by NOVA 

Here at The ONE Thing, we’re all about helping people be successful. Most folks would assume we value serial high achievement, but we don’t. In this episode, we take a look at when achievement becomes an addiction and why it isn’t the same thing as success.

Kim Zuroff, our Director of Growth at The ONE Thing, is our guest. She dominated Ironman Triathlons, climbed Kilimanjaro, and raced up the career ladder until she realized she wasn’t living the life she wanted. We break down exactly how she pivoted to a more fulfilling and still successful life.

You aren’t your achievements. If that statement makes you uncomfortable, lean into this episode and hear us out.

Challenge of the Week: Pull out a pen and a piece of paper. Journal answers to a few questions. Think about your goals. Are your decisions moving you toward or away from where you want to be? Also, think about who else in your life is being impacted by the decisions that you’re making.

If you're a bold risk taker who wants to dream big and achieve a higher level of success in your life or business, visit the1thing.com.

***

Boost your language skills fast.

Want to learn a new language but tired of the same old boring apps? Check out Lingoda. Lingoda provides real live classes with actual teachers, 24/7. Yes, 24/7. So whether you’re an early riser or a night owl, you can fit language learning into your busy schedule.

Start your 7-day free trial today! Use my promo code ONETHING50 to get up to 50% off. Visit try.lingoda.com/OnethingPod now and discover why Lingoda is your perfect language partner.

***

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

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Produced by NOVA Media

Captain Daryle Cardone has 5,000 sailors entrusted to him, many of them in their 20s without much experience in life, much less in battle. He has two nuclear power plants to manage, plus a floating runway with multi-million dollar aircraft taking off 24 hours a day. Sufficient to say Captain Cardone knows a thing or two about leadership. We’re thrilled to have him on the show today.

Jay and Captain Cardone have a deep discussion about how to establish a relationship-based culture with a cadence of accountability and feedback. They also talk about the models and systems Captain Cardone has used, especially as he transitioned from leading a crew of 150 to leading a crew of thousands.

You can tell just how much Captain Cardone cares about his team. If you’ve been struggling with delegating tasks and developing your team members, this episode is for you.

Challenge of the Week: The next time someone asks you a question, instead of giving them the answer, take an extra second and ask a clarifying question. Take that extra step to get even clearer about what they're looking for and give them a chance to find the answer themselves. 

If you're a bold risk taker who wants to dream big and achieve a higher level of success in your life or business, visit the1thing.com.

***

Boost your language skills fast.

Want to learn a new language but tired of the same old boring apps? Check out Lingoda. Lingoda provides real live classes with actual teachers, 24/7. Yes, 24/7. So whether you’re an early riser or a night owl, you can fit language learning into your busy schedule.

Join Ligoda for a one-month sprint to boost your language skills. Go to try.lingoda.com/Onething to get an additional $25 off.

***

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

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Produced by NOVA Media

Do you have something you’ve been dreaming about doing for a while, but keep finding reasons to put it off? Take this episode as a sign to go do it today. 

Officially taking over as host, Jay Papasan outlines new changes to the podcast that will better serve listeners: More actionable content and more conversations driven by questions from people trying to implement The ONE Thing out in the real world.

Then Jay turns the challenge back to you. What changes do you need to make? What dream have you been deferring? He tells his own “just start” story, which involves Gary Keller and a toilet plunger—you don’t want to miss it!

If you're a bold risk taker who wants to dream big and achieve a higher level of success in your life or business, visit the1thing.com.

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

We talk about:

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Boost your language skills fast.

Want to learn a new language but tired of the same old boring apps? Check out Lingoda. Lingoda provides real live classes with actual teachers, 24/7. Yes, 24/7. So whether you’re an early riser or a night owl, you can fit language learning into your busy schedule.

Join Ligoda for a one-month sprint to boost your language skills. Go to try.lingoda.com/Onething to get an additional $25 off.

***

Produced by NOVA Media

It’s time for the host to sit in the hot seat. For over 70 episodes, Nikki Miller asked guests insightful questions, connecting their theories to practical implementation for The ONE Thing podcast listeners. Today, she’s the one being interviewed. Jay Papasan takes on his new role as host.

Nikki reflects on what it’s meant to be a public ambassador of The ONE Thing, all the preparation that has gone into each show, and how she has prioritized showing up authentically. She also shares what it’s been like to navigate selling her business and merging her team during this time.

Join us in thanking Nikki for all the incredible episodes and wishing her well on her maternity leave! Email us at [email protected] or send an audio note at Speakpipe.com/the1thing.

If you're a bold risk taker who wants to dream big and achieve a higher level of success in your life or business, visit the1thing.com.

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

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Produced by NOVA Media

Can you imagine freeing up 30% of executives’ time, while also increasing joy and resilience in the workplace? Keith Ferrazzi joins the show today to discuss his new book, “Never Lead Alone,” which promises to do exactly that.

Keith walks us through some of the diagnostic questions and high return practices (HRPs) outlined in “Never Lead Alone” that can create a new social contract and culture in teams. We talk about moving from conflict avoidance to candor; from feedback as a directive to feedback as data; and from energy-sucking meetings to modern-day collaboration tactics.

Keith has coached the best of the best in the business world. Now, he has reached a point in his journey where he wants to share what he has learned as widely as possible. Don’t miss this episode!

If you're a bold risk taker who wants to dream big and achieve a higher level of success in your life or business, visit the1thing.com.

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

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Produced by NOVA Media

Learning, innovation, and growth all rely on failure. The discomfort of failure bakes important lessons into our brains. The uncertainty that precedes the point of failure expands our minds. Dr. Manu Kapur joins the show today to explain why we should deliberately design for failure in our businesses and personal lives.

Dr. Manu Kapur heads the Future Learning Initiative at ETH University Zurich and recently wrote a book called, “Productive Failure: Unlocking Deeper Learning through the Science of Failing.” He marries scientific research and practical insights to help leaders find the optimal “failure signal.”

We get into details around “motivational hacking,” failure stories, performance appraisals, and how to build a psychologically safe work culture. 

Don’t worry, this episode isn’t a celebration of failure itself. It’s a clear-eyed discussion about the value of accepting struggle and growing from it. Take a listen.

If you're a bold risk taker who wants to dream big and achieve a higher level of success in your life or business, visit the1thing.com.

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

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Produced by NOVA Media

Fifteen years ago, when Jenn Lewis was first asked questions from The Goal Setting Retreat, she cried. To be fair, her partner JP hadn’t told her what they were for and he brought them up in the middle of a busy restaurant. Today, Jenn joins the show to share what couples can expect from The Goal Setting Retreat and how they may get emotional… in a good way.

Jay Papasan serves as the host for this episode. He and Jenn swap stories of attending The Goal Setting Retreat with their respective partners. They discuss how the retreat helps couples be vulnerable with each other and communicate well. They describe the components of the retreat and what attendees will come away with.

If you and your partner need some structured time to deeply communicate and concretely plan out how to reach your goals, check out The Goal Setting Retreat. To learn more, go to the1thing.com/goal-setting-retreat.

If you're a bold risk taker who wants to dream big and achieve a higher level of success in your life or business, visit the1thing.com.

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

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Produced by NOVA Media