The ONE Thing

42:11

The Habit Lab: How to Build Consistency in Business &...

The ONE Thing ·

2026/05/18

High achievers aren’t held back because they don’t know what to do. The challenge is always consistency. Habits are so powerful because they are automatic - and in this episode, you’ll learn how to harness the power of habit to help you hit your most elusive goals.Today, Jay sits down with Kim Zuroff, Director of Growth and Executive Coach at The ONE Thing, to talk about the art and science of habits. Kim walks through the habit loop of cue, craving, response, and reward, and explains why habits

en

34:53

Brand Building 101: Content Strategy, Storytelling,...

The ONE Thing ·

2026/05/11

Entrepreneurs know they need to create content, build trust, and stay visible. The hard part is knowing what to say, how often to say it, and how to make sure your message actually leads people toward your business.In this episode, Jay Papasan sits down with Donald Miller, author of StoryBrand, for a practical masterclass on brand building for entrepreneurs. Donald breaks down how to use content to create curiosity, build familiarity, and guide customers toward commitment. He also explains why

en

31:02

The Making of The ONE Thing: What We Cut From the...

The ONE Thing ·

2026/05/04

Before The ONE Thing became the bestselling book readers know today, it was a much bigger manuscript, more than 400 pages long. In this episode, Jay Papasan goes back to the final stretch before publication to unpack the hard decisions that shaped the book and made it stronger. Jay shares the lessons behind what got cut, including the idea that low hanging fruit can be a distraction and how maintenance can quietly steal time from the work that matters most. Then he turns to what 13 years of

en

38:31

The Psychology of Hope: A Blueprint for a More...

The ONE Thing ·

2026/04/27

When the world feels heavy, hope can feel fragile, or even out of reach. In this episode, Jay sits down with award-winning behavioral psychologist Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe to unpack what hope really is and why it matters so much in difficult seasons. Dr. Robyne explains that hope is not the same as optimism. Optimism is often tied to a specific outcome, while hope is the steady belief that no matter what happens, we will find a way through. Together, they explore the psychology of hope, the role

en

38:54

Should Business Leaders Get Political? A Framework...

The ONE Thing ·

2026/04/20

When something bad happens in the world, every business leader has a difficult decision to make - the decision to speak up, or to stay silent. In the past, silence was the safest option - today, that’s no longer the case. In such a chaotic world full of conflict, inequality, and political polarization, it’s never been more important to get this question right.In this episode of The ONE Thing Podcast, Jay Papasan tackles the modern leader's biggest dilemma: The choice to speak up. Whether it's a

en

41:44

Why Talented People Go Unnoticed: Career Cheat Codes...

The ONE Thing ·

2026/04/13

A lot of talented people assume that if they work hard enough, they’ll eventually get noticed. Courtney Johnson says that’s simply not how careers work. In this episode, Jay sits down with Courtney, author of Career Cheat Codes, to unpack the unwritten rules that often separate people who get promoted, hired, and remembered from those who get overlooked. They explore how visibility, relationship-building, and personal branding shape career growth, whether you’re applying for a job, growing a

en

43:03

How Billionaires Set Goals: A Step-by-Step Guide to...

The ONE Thing ·

2026/04/06

If you want to achieve real and sustainable success, you don’t need another productivity system - try this instead.In this episode, Jay Papasan sits down with Director of Training Chris Dixon to unpack one of the most requested teachings in The ONE Thing community: the 411. They explain why to-do lists, project management tools, and reactive planning often leave people busy but not truly productive. Then they walk through how the 411 creates a simple, one-page view of your most important

en

45:57

The Science Behind Sustained Success with Nir Eyal

The ONE Thing ·

2026/03/30

What if the biggest thing holding you back isn’t your skills, your resources, or even your discipline—but your beliefs?In this conversation, Jay sits down with Nir Eyal to unpack the hidden force behind motivation and persistence. While most people think success comes from knowing what to do, Nir makes a compelling case that the real driver is belief. If you don’t believe the effort will pay off—or that you’re capable of sustaining it—you’ll quit long before results show up. They break down

en

33:23

Don’t Waste Your Hardest Lessons: Julia Lashay’s 5...

The ONE Thing ·

2026/03/23

Content Warning: This episode includes discussion of the loss of a child and experiences of grief. It may be distressing for some listeners. Please listen with care and take the space you need.Resilience isn’t something you’re born with. It’s something you build—often in the moments you’d never choose. In this episode, Jay sits down with Julia Lashay to explore how adversity shapes leadership. From losing everything financially during the Great Recession to the unimaginable loss of her son,

en

25:03

Giving Your Infinite Resources: A Shift In...

The ONE Thing ·

2026/03/16

When the world feels heavy, many of us fall into the same cycle: doom scrolling, numbing out, or waiting for things to improve In this episode, Jay shares a powerful perspective shift inspired by a lesson from Mr. Rogers: instead of just looking for the helpers, as Mr. Rogers suggests - become one. Rather than waiting for change, we must act. Jay breaks down the science behind action and emotions, including the surprising research of Brené Brown, and outlines his 11 "infinite resources" - 11

en

42:19

The Psychology of Sales: How to Close More Deals...

The ONE Thing ·

2026/03/09

Jay sits down with research scientist-turned-entrepreneur David Priemer to do a deep dive into the proven science and psychology of sales.In this conversation, David shares how curiosity - not charisma - became his competitive advantage, and the foundation of his newest business, Cerebral Selling. He breaks down the psychology behind buying decisions and explains why the best sales conversations don’t start with your product. They start with the problem. You’ll hear how David used The ONE

en

36:22

Closing the Loop: The Science Behind Feeling...

The ONE Thing ·

2026/03/02

If you feel like you have 30 browser tabs open in your brain, you’re not alone. Most business owners don’t have a capacity problem—they have a clarity problem.In this episode, Jay Papasan unpacks the science behind overwhelm, including the Zeigarnik effect and additive bias, and explains why unfinished tasks drain your mental bandwidth. When you try to multitask your way out, you only slow everything down and create more open loops. The solution isn’t better time management. It's a better

en

29:08

The ONE Thing Isn’t A Productivity Book

The ONE Thing ·

2026/02/23

Most high performers think they have a productivity problem. They don’t. They have a purpose problem.In this episode, Jay Papasan pulls back the curtain on what The ONE Thing has always been about. Yes, it lives in the productivity section of bookstores. Yes, it teaches focus. But at its core, it’s a purpose book. Using the iceberg metaphor from the original book, Jay walks through the real order of success: purpose drives priority, and priority drives productivity. When you start at the

en

47:15

Amy Purdy, Paralympic Medalist: How to Turn Your...

The ONE Thing ·

2026/02/16

At 19 years old, Amy Purdy went to work feeling a little run down. Within 24 hours, she was fighting for her life in the hospital. She beat the odds, and survived a life-threatening infection - but she would ultimately lose both legs below the knee as a result. What followed wasn’t a comeback story built on motivation posters. It was a masterclass in agency.In this conversation, Amy walks Jay through the moment she asked a life-altering question from her hospital bed: If your life were a book,

en

28:44

Stop Ghosting Your Goals: How to Stay Committed to...

The ONE Thing ·

2026/02/09

Are you ghosting your goals? By February, most people have already given up on the goals they set in January. But what if the reason you keep ignoring your goals isn’t a lack of discipline, but a lack of relationship? In this episode, Jay Papasan invites you to stop “proposing” to your goals every January and start dating them regularly instead.Jay breaks down why most goals fade by February and how to replace goal drift with steady progress. He walks through the full framework, from writing a

en

33:59

Scaling Your Side-Gig: How Alex Hopes Turned a...

The ONE Thing ·

2026/02/02

Most people don’t plan for a pivot that changes everything. For Alex Hopes, it started with a moment that stopped his life cold and rerouted it completely. What followed was a decade-long journey of saying yes to what was in front of him, even when it didn’t match the original plan.In this episode, Jay Papasan talks with Alex, founder of Zilker Bark, about how a simple dog photography project grew into massive dog events attracting thousands of people in the Austin area. They unpack the power of

en

31:53

Rituals of Recovery: What Elite Athletes Can Teach Us...

The ONE Thing ·

2026/01/26

Elite athletes don’t just train harder. They recover better. Between points, plays, and games, they use small, intentional rituals to reset their bodies and minds so they can perform again at a high level. In this episode, Jay Papasan makes the case that business owners and leaders need the same approach.Inspired by a classic Harvard Business Review article, Jay breaks down the difference between habits, systems, routines, and rituals—and why rituals stand apart. Habits and systems automate

en

39:50

Public Speaking 101: How Tristan de Montebello...

The ONE Thing ·

2026/01/19

Public speaking consistently ranks as one of our biggest fears, but what if the real issue isn’t technique at all? In this episode, Jay sits down with Tristan de Montebello, co-founder of Ultraspeaking, to explore why confidence breaks down when we communicate and how to rebuild it from the inside out. Tristan shares his rapid journey from beginner to finalist in the World Championship of Public Speaking and the lessons that reshaped how he thinks about mastery, coaching, and performance

en

47:22

Weathering The Storm: How to Stay Afloat when Life...

The ONE Thing ·

2026/01/12

How do you stay afloat when everything is falling apart? Life can - and will - hit you hard. And how can you lead others when you feel like you can’t lead yourself?This week, Jay sits down for an interview with Tiffany Fykes and Sarah Reynolds from Empire Building, to share some of the deeply personal hardships he has navigated in the past several years, and opens up about what it really looks like to lead when your systems, confidence, and energy are all under strain. Rather than pretending

en

44:09

We Studied 400 High Achievers for 4 Months - This is...

The ONE Thing ·

2026/01/05

Big goals have a way of starting strong and slowly falling apart. Motivation fades. Life intervenes. Momentum stalls. In this episode, Jay Papasan shares what actually separates the people who follow through from those who stay stuck in restart mode.After studying more than 400 entrepreneurs and business owners who went through The First Domino program, Jay distills their success into five repeatable commitments. This is not about working harder or piling on more habits. It’s about design

en

All Episodes

Similar Podcasts

TaxTalent.com The Golden Rule Podcast

Adam Golden

TaxTalent.com Podcast

Tony Santiago

Best of Business

Newstalk ZB

Ouribank

Ouribank

SoldiOnline

Mondadori Digital