The ONE Thing

• 512. Stuck Building Your Personal Brand? Here's How to Break Through with Rory Vaden

  What happens when everything you’ve built suddenly disappears? In this episode, Jay Papasan sits down with Rory Vaden—someone who knows what it’s like to lose everything and rebuild from scratch. After Rory and his wife, AJ, were forced out of the business they’d spent 12 years building, they had to start over with nothing but a non-compete, their expertise, and a lot of hard-won lessons. That painful reset led to the creation of Brand Builders Group, a business built around the exact process Rory and AJ used to reinvent themselves—one that now serves some of the world’s top personal brands. But at its core, their conversation with Jay isn’t just about strategy. It’s about identity, focus, and service. Rory explains why most people get stuck on the wrong side of what he calls “Sheehan’s Wall”—trying to emulate big names by doing too much, too soon, with scattered focus. True breakthrough comes from relentless focus on one thing: the unique problem you solve, in one word, for a specific “who.” Together, Jay and Rory break down the six key questions that define your brand DNA, explore how your past pain and setbacks can prepare you for your greatest impact, and discuss why the person you’re best positioned to serve is who you once were. Challenge of the Week: Get out your notebook and journal your answers to these questions: What challenges have I conquered? What setbacks have I survived? Who is the person I once was—and how could I serve that version of myself? Use this reflection as your first step toward clarity and breakthrough. *** To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit: the1thing.com/pods. We talk about: How to find your “one word” problem and the audience you’re meant to serve Why focus beats diversification—especially when building a personal brand The six questions behind Brand Builders Group’s brand DNA process Links & Tools from This Episode: Read Wealthy and Well-Known by Rory & AJ Vaden Brand Builders Group: freebrandtraining.com/TOT Read Take the Stairs by Rory Vaden Listen to The School of Greatness podcast with Lewis Howes Free Resources Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email [email protected] or send us an audio note at Speakpipe.com/the1thing. Produced by NOVA

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• 511. How to 6X Your Goals Using The ONE Thing with Brandon Turner

  When The ONE Thing first came out, Brandon Turner didn’t just read it—he made it his only book for an entire year, reading it cover to cover more than 20 times. The result? He didn’t just hit his audacious goal of acquiring $50 million in real estate in three years—he soared past it, buying $300 million worth. In this episode, Brandon pulls back the curtain on exactly how he did it. We talk about how to audit your time, create a “not to do” list, and get ruthless about delegating anything that isn’t your highest-value work. Brandon shares the keystone habits that unlock everything else, the difference between setting a vision and just dreaming, and why tracking your personal life is just as important as any business KPI. We also dive into practical strategies for goal setting with your spouse, the importance of supporting each other’s dreams (even if they’re wildly different), and how habit tracking can turn your goals into a game you actually want to play. Challenge of the Week: Pick one habit you want to build. Make yourself a simple tracker—just a piece of paper and a pen will do. Track it every day this week. At the end of the week, look at your score. Did you hit your target? If not, what got in the way? Gamify it, and see how much progress you can make, one small step at a time. *** To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit: the1thing.com/pods. We talk about: How to reverse engineer your vision down to a single next step Why your “not to do” list is just as important as your to-do list How gamifying your habits can make growth inevitable Links & Tools from This Episode: Learn more: BiggerPockets Listen: The Better Life Podcast Read: Vivid Vision by Cameron Herold Follow Brandon on Instagram: @beardybrandon Connect with Brandon on LinkedIn Free Resources Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email [email protected] or send us an audio note at Speakpipe.com/the1thing. Produced by NOVA

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• 510. 7 Recession-Proof Strategies for Building Wealth in a Down Market

  We spend a lot of time worrying about uncertainty—tariffs, market volatility, the looming threat of a recession. But what if these aren’t just obstacles, but some of the greatest opportunities for your business or career? History shows that recessions often create more millionaires than any other time and open the door for companies to leap ahead. In this episode, I break down the seven strategies you can use to become recession-proof. These are the same ideas that helped Keller Williams not just survive the Great Recession, but emerge as the #1 company in our industry. We talk about how to develop a resilient mindset, get lean and cut unnecessary expenses, and focus ruthlessly on what actually moves the needle. I walk you through practical exercises—like the ABCs of expenses—and challenge you to find your margin so you can weather any market. We’ll cover how to stay agile and adapt your business model for the market ahead, not the one you’re leaving behind. You’ll hear why being connected—to your team, your network, your vendors, and even your competitors—is more important than ever. And we dig into the importance of becoming irreplaceable to your clients, plus how to become a beacon of leadership when everyone else is running for cover. The truth is, change is coming whether we like it or not. The only question is: will you be ready to seize the opportunity? Challenge of the Week: Set aside an hour to do the ABCs of expenses. Grab three months of statements and label every expense as an A (absolutely essential), B (optional), or C (stuff you can cut right now). Take action to reduce or eliminate your Bs and Cs—your business and your bank account will thank you. *** To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit: the1thing.com/pods. We talk about: Why uncertainty and recessions can be your biggest opportunity Seven strategies to thrive and gain market share in tough times How to cut costs, get focused, and become irreplaceable Links & Tools from This Episode: Read Shift: How Top Real Estate Agents Tackle Tough Times by Gary Keller, Jay Papasan, and Dave Jenks Read Grit by Angela Duckworth Read Antifragile by Nassim Taleb Free Resources Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email [email protected] or send us an audio note at Speakpipe.com/the1thing. Produced by NOVA

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• 509. The ADHD Advantage: How Neurodivergent Entrepreneurs Outperform with Tyler Elstrom

  If you’ve ever struggled to get started, finish what you begin, or felt like your brain just doesn’t operate like everyone else’s—you’re not alone. Jay sits down with ADHD coach and entrepreneur Tyler Elstrom to unpack what’s really going on in the ADHD brain, from dopamine regulation to executive function to emotional overwhelm. Tyler introduces the “INCUP” framework—five triggers that can help neurodivergent people enter flow, stay productive, and feel fulfilled: Interesting, New, Challenging, Urgent, and Passionate. When these five levers are present, the ADHD brain actually produces more dopamine than a neurotypical brain—and that’s where the superpower lies. This episode is packed with practical strategies for tapping into motivation without relying on shame or stress. Tyler and Jay talk about everything from time blindness to body doubling to why a $7 coffee might just be the best investment you can make in your focus. Whether you have ADHD or love someone who does, this episode is a compassionate, empowering deep dive into a better way of working. Challenge of the Week: When you fall short—miss a deadline, forget something, or show up late—say “Oops” and move on. Practice offering yourself grace instead of shame. This one small habit can completely change your relationship with productivity and self-worth. *** To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit: the1thing.com/pods. We talk about: Why ADHD brains don’t respond to rewards the same way—and how to work around it The five productivity triggers that flood the ADHD brain with dopamine Why harshness and shame are counterproductive (and what to do instead) Links & Tools from This Episode: Tyler Elstrom’s website: ADHDTyler.com Follow Tyler on Instagram: @tylerelstrom_ Read Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi Free Resources Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email [email protected] or send us an audio note at Speakpipe.com/the1thing. Produced by NOVA

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• 508. 5 Strategies to Beat Quality Inflation and Stay Ahead

  Are you succeeding so slowly you think you're failing—or failing so slowly you think you're succeeding?” In this solo episode, Jay Papasan introduces the concept of quality inflation: the idea that the standards for average—and especially extraordinary—performance keep rising every year. Drawing inspiration from the Red Queen Hypothesis and his experience coaching high achievers, Jay breaks down what it takes to stay competitive in a world where standing still means falling behind. We walk through five powerful strategies to help you not just survive but thrive in a high-growth environment: from “reading for what you need,” to modeling excellence, to building accountability into your life. Whether you’re early in your journey or already well into your career, these practical tools can help you identify your biggest opportunity for growth and take the first step toward it. Challenge of the Week: What’s your biggest opportunity for growth—the one you’ve been avoiding because it’s painful, uncomfortable, or ego-bruising? Choose one strategy from the episode (books, courses, mentor, group, coach) and take the first step toward improving it this week. *** To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit: the1thing.com/pods. We talk about: Why “change is a strategy, not a threat” What the Red Queen Hypothesis can teach us about professional growth Five ways to beat quality inflation in your industry Links & Tools from This Episode: Free Resources Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email [email protected] or send us an audio note at Speakpipe.com/the1thing. Produced by NOVA

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