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I’m currently reading The One Thing, a book by Gary Keller. It discusses the useful concept of prioritizing your one thing—the most important task that demands your attention—while letting other things fall to the wayside. It presents a helpful framework for discerning between glass balls (tasks that will shatter if dropped) and rubber balls (tasks that can bounce back if let go), borrowing the ball metaphor from James Patterson.
The logic is sound, and the advice practical: focus on what matters most, overall and within key spheres of your life.
But it feels like there’s a catch… what to do when you’re holding too many glass balls? As an out-of-the-house working mother I felt it. And as a working-at-home-homeschooling mother I feel it.
There is a finite amount of time and energy. We all have limits.
So something’s got to give, right?
If you’re struggling to get ahead at work, maybe it’s time to step back from volunteering at your kids’ school or taking on too many responsibilities caring for aging parents. Perhaps simplifying meals and chores, and outsourcing what you can, would allow you to focus on the most critical tasks at work and grow your earning power.
On the other hand, if you’re facing health challenges or extra demands at home, maybe it’s time to pull back at work. Perhaps now isn’t the time for that new promotion or extra project—at least not until you’re in a better place to handle it full force.
The hidden key here, however, is that it’s not one or the other, but rather there’s a season for everything.
It’s not just one thing, but one thing at a time.
And ‘time’ here means days, months, years, even decades, not minutes or hours (though that’s certainly a place to start if you’re a recovering multi-tasker).
Right now, your one thing might need to be earning more money—focusing on greater earnings through your work and professional growth and diversification. Then using and investing that money wisely to allow for more flexibility in the future. And there will come a time when the scales tip in the other direction, and your one thing might be caring for your family or nurturing your health more than work and earning.
Both prioritization schemes can and will exist in the same lifetime.
The key is recognizing what season you’re in, and leaning into that in a focused, intentional way, while also preparing for the next one.
Because life will always be changing on us. Our circumstances, energy, and needs will evolve, as will the needs of those around us. The ability to navigate these shifts is essential for both personal and financial well-being.
As you look at your responsibilities, both at home and in the workplace or business, ask yourself: What is my one thing in this season? What about this quarter? This decade? And how can I prepare for the next season with intentionality?
Recognizing the season you’re in is the first step toward finding a sustainable, fulfilling balance which is necessary for long-term financial security, even as that balance tilts differently throughout the years.
It’s not enough to be busy; so are the ants. The question is: what are we busy about?
Henry David Thoreau
I hope you enjoyed this edition of Under 2, an email series designed to share quick bites of wisdom to empower your financial journey (while keeping it short). Be sure to sign-up below to get these messages in your inbox.
All for now,
Lindsey