Is it just me or do you also find it odd when people on socials say things like, “Sorry I haven’t posted in so long.” I’m sure their diehard fans appreciate the apology but typically – because of all the social noise out there – I didn’t realize they hadn’t ‘posted in so long’ because I wasn’t paying too much attention anyway.
So it’s even more odd that I’m gonna start this conversation by stating that it’s been a really long time since my last post. However, I promise you, my mentioning that will be of great importance later in this writing.
If you’re new here allow me to introduce myself so you can decide if you want to stay here. I’m Nikki, also known as Mommy Seed. As a long-time entrepreneur, I like to consider myself in the group of successful digital creator moms. My overall business is called Loose Seeds and is a family media brand that sows seeds of entertainment and education through vibrant online content in various niches. We’re your go-to digital destination for stories, tips, and insights that spark growth and joy in family life.
Under the Loose Seeds umbrella is me, Mommy Seed, named that because, well, I’m the mom of the brand (duh).
My “Mommy Seed” platform helps moms, black moms especially, navigate the online business world, and the tech side of things, while also juggling motherhood. Here it’s understood that motherhood isn’t about waiting for your turn to dream. It’s about nurturing your goals while you nurture your family.
I post mom life, wife life, business life, and self-care content on the blog, on Instagram, TikTok, and most socials. I also craft content for the “Loose Seeds” platform, co-produce for my hubby’s “Daddy Seed” platform, do voice-over work, write books, create and sell physical and digital products, etc.
Now…what’s wrong with that picture?
If you said dis tew much you’d be correct.
There were perfectly good reasons for starting each one of those activities, and I’m a big advocate of multiple sources of income. However, this is also the reason it’s been so long since my last post. The more things get added, the less impact I’m able to make in any one of the areas. And impact is my life’s purpose.
So, remembering my purpose, my priorities had to change.
When the Student is Ready the Teacher Will Appear
I’ve had the book, The One Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan, sitting in my Audible for about a decade. It was one of those books that every expert recommends so I had to add it to the library. I never really read it because I figured the title basically gave away the whole book…
Pick one thing, hunker down, and work on that one thing to be successful. Got it.
Focus (follow one course until success). Yup, understood.
No need to read a whole book about it…I thought.
That is, until that whole “priorities” piece set in and I realized just “one thing” could actually be a good thing.
But how do you propose I do one thing when…excuse me, this is now my mind fighting with the Audible book before reading it… when I have a mom’s list of tasks to do, a wife’s list of tasks, and have to take care of myself, in addition to the millions of things that need to get done for the business. “One thing” isn’t possible!
My rant ended with the book…subliminally…telling me to “just read it.” And so I did.
Why do Mom Creators Need to Read The One Thing?
One thing mompreneurs should really leverage is boosting impactful productivity. Yes, we are getting lots done, but how many of those things are moving the needle on our dreams? Trying to handle all the things on our plate without a game plan is a recipe for failure.
There are tons of productivity apps out there, many I use myself, but nothing is more productive than focusing on just ONE thing, for large chunks of time, uninterrupted. I know. This sounds like dreaming the impossible pie-in-the-sky dream for a mom. But the book gives us great strategies to actually grab a slice.
What is the Main Idea of The One Thing?
Needless to say, the book was way more than my preconceived notion of it. I had a general idea of the “what” but the book majorly breaks down the “how,” especially for someone like me – the overextended, digital creator mom. Let’s get into it…
Your One Macro Thing
What is your one thing, mama? What’s that thing you keep saying you’re gonna focus on when the kids are older, or when they go to college, or when you get more sleep, or after you finish your to-do list, or some other future day that just keeps getting further away? Your one big, macro, life goal determines your daily, micro “one-thing” action.
Your One Micro Thing
What’s that one thing in your business that you know, deep down, if you did it consistently your success would sky-rocket?
Your one thing is basically the answer to what the author says should be your daily focusing question: what’s the one thing I can do every day such that by doing it everything else becomes easier or unnecessary?
Think of it as the mother of all tasks or goals. Like you, mama, it’s the big boss.
THE ONE THING is …
- Your Most Important Task: Out of everything you’ve got on your plate, it’s the task that will have the biggest impact. A trick here is to do it first. The book says to tell ourselves, “Until my one thing is done everything else is a distraction.”
For example, let’s say my one thing is blog writing. Instead of trying to determine if I should write a blog post or make social posts I know for sure that the starting point is the blog and everything else comes from the blog post.
That is, after I write the blog post, the topic of it will also be the topic for my social posts, the affiliate products from it will be the products mentioned in my newsletter, etc - It’s Focused and Specific: “The ONE Thing” isn’t vague. It’s not just “grow my business” but something more specific like “launch a successful online course in the next 3 months” or “grow my email list to 10,000 subscribers by the end of the year.” It’s about honing in on what really moves the needle.
Let’s, for example, say mine is to write five blog posts by the end of the week.
- It Aligns with Your Goals: This task is directly tied to your bigger life and business purpose. It’s not just busy work; it’s something that gets you closer to where you ultimately want to be.
My bigger life purpose is to guide moms, black moms especially, towards living their greatest lives and building their dream online businesses, using the insights and tools I provide through my teaching, writing, and products. The blog posts then become the foundation for this.
- Requires Regular Attention: It’s not a one-and-done kind of thing. Your ONE Thing might require daily focus. It’s about making it a priority, consistently.
My blog posts would be worked on daily.
So, in a nutshell, the ONE thing is that pivotal task or goal that, if you nail it, a lot of other puzzles in your life and business start falling into place. It’s about finding it, focusing on it, and letting it drive a lot of your decision-making and time management.
How Can I Be a Successful Digital Creator Mom with The One Thing?
Listen mama, you’re probably thinking, “I’m already overextended and there’s no way around it! I can’t add another thing!” Well, you didn’t have to scream at me like that. I’m just trying to help us all out. 😜
I know you long to be a more productive content creator so, hear me out. In fact, consider me your digital productivity coach for the day. Implement these…
- Reevaluate Priorities: Take a step back and really ask yourself what truly matters. You know how it is, we’re often caught up in the hustle and don’t stop to think if we’re hustling in the right direction. The book would encourage you to figure out your main goal or priority and shift your focus there.
- Saying No: This is huge. The book emphasizes the power of saying no to things that don’t align with your ONE Thing. It’s not easy, especially when you’re trying to grow a business and manage a family, but it’s about quality, not quantity.
- Declutter Your Life: Whether it’s your schedule, your commitments, or even physical clutter, getting rid of the excess can free up so much mental and physical space. It’s about focusing on what’s essential and letting go of the rest.
- Self-Care and Rest: Overextension often leads to burnout. The book would definitely advise taking care of your health, getting enough rest, and making sure you’re not running on empty. After all, you can’t pour from an empty cup, mama.
- Time Blocking for Rest and Recovery: Just as you’d block out time for your most important work, block out time for rest and recovery. It’s just as important.
- Reassess and Adjust Regularly: Sometimes, your ONE Thing might change, or you might find that you’ve drifted off course. Regular check-ins with yourself are key.
- Nix Imposter Syndrome: We sometimes feel we need more education or feel someone is more qualified. However, as mentioned in the book, “Time on a task…over time…eventually beats talent … every time.”
Main Concepts from The One Thing
- The Domino Effect: You have a lot to do, yes. But just like how one domino can knock over another one much larger, focusing on your “ONE Thing” can make everything else easier or unnecessary. It’s about finding that one crucial task that’ll make a huge difference.
- Success Is Sequential, Not Simultaneous: Girl, you can’t do everything at once! Success comes from doing one thing really well, not juggling a bunch of things poorly.
- The Focusing Question: Ask yourself the authors’ question, “What’s the ONE Thing I can do such that by doing it, everything else will be easier or unnecessary?” This question helps you zero in on what really matters.
- Time Blocking: This is about carving out time for your ONE Thing. Like, literally blocking out time in your day or week for it and treating that time as sacred. No distractions, just focus.
- The Four Thieves of Productivity: These are the things that steal your time and focus – inability to say “no,” fear of chaos, poor health habits, and an environment that doesn’t support your goals. Keeping these in check is crucial.
- The Six Lies Between You and Success: They talk about six misconceptions like “Everything Matters Equally” and “Multitasking is Efficient.” These are myths that can derail you from focusing on your ONE Thing.
- Goal Setting to the Now: This is about setting long-term goals and then working backward to figure out what you should be doing right now to reach them. It’s like setting up a roadmap.
This book is perfect for online entrepreneurs, especially moms who are trying to balance their business with everything else. It’s all about getting clear on your priorities and not getting swayed by the million other things demanding your attention.
Are you gonna read The One Thing? More importantly, are you gonna APPLY it? Let me know.
