Topic: Managing my workday with confidence (stoic)
As a subject matter expert, write a report for this topic using the OBT (Opportunity, Big Picture, Tactics) framework. For the 'Opportunity' section - frame the problem in a positive light and retitle the section 'The Gist' and keep it brief (1-2 sentences max). For the 'Big Picture' section, title it 'Big Picture' and expand on 'The Gist' to explain how the idea relates to the big picture. In the ‘Tactics’ section, include specific actions that the reader can take in the form of related topics, resources, or checklists, and other key takeaways to help the reader implement the ideas. Use Heading 1 for each section title.
Consider that in every moment lies the opportunity to seize the One Big Thing that moment offers.
The OBT for the day is key, but you can also have an OBT for the hour. It's 5am. What's your OBT (for the next hour)? It's the best way to tackle an overgrowing list of tasks. Also - consider how to start expanding this OBT idea into a delegation - what's the OBT I need form ___ today? And why not send an email to that effect? "The OBT I need from you today is.... If there's anything I can do to help, let me know."
There's always more to do that time will give you.
So what's the OBT for the next hour?
The "ONE BIG THING" (OBT) approach stands in contrast to traditional to-do lists in its emphasis on prioritizing tasks based on their potential impact rather than simply listing them out. Traditional to-do lists often become long and overwhelming, leading to guilt and inaction. They obscure the most crucial task of the day, burying it under a pile of less important items.
Instead of creating a daunting list, the OBT method encourages individuals to identify the single most impactful task for the day and focus on completing it. This doesn't necessarily mean choosing the most difficult task; a 15-minute phone call could be the highest-impact action for a particular day.
The impact of adopting the OBT approach is significant. By focusing on the most important task, we can experience a sense of accomplishment and eliminate guilt, leading to increased productivity and reduced stress. Completing the OBT provides a sense of satisfaction, making the rest of the day's tasks seem less daunting.
While the OBT method prioritizes the most impactful task, it doesn't negate the need to manage other tasks. Find a system that allows you to capture tasks that you can go back and drop into the 8UP.
Looking into a system called the "Power Box," which categorizes tasks based on urgency and impact. This visual representation helps to triage and organize tasks effectively.
In it, he introduces a helpful concept that he calls ‘One Big Thing’ or ‘OBT’ for short, which is inspired by Gary Keller’s book “The ONE Thing.”
The concept is powerful and straightforward: identify the one highest impact thing you can do each day. And once you execute on that One Big Thing, everything else you do is icing on the cake.
Puri makes a valuable distinction, noting that ‘impact’ isn’t the same as ‘difficult.’
Some days your One Big Thing will be an all-day affair where you make as much progress on a project as possible; other days your One Big Thing might be as simple as reaching out to someone you’ve been meaning to connect with.
I like the spirit of picking One Big Thing because it’s very much akin to the idea of Working Smart. Unlike a conventional to-do list, it forces you to think more carefully about quality versus quantity, Busy versus Effective, and Return on Energy — the amount of progress you make per unit of energy that you commit to something.
Identifying One Big Thing at the beginning of each day is a quick way to help ensure that your efforts are fruitful instead of wasted — that what you do will create meaningful outcomes.