My "One Thing"

“I bring laptops and education to at-risk children.” Done. That’s what I do.

***

It’s nice to lose yourself in your work. As a matter of fact, there are few things as rewarding.

I’ve done it exactly twice before, and each time the effect was great. The first time was with Coiné Language School: all I did for four years was teach English and grow our business.

Then, with the language school humming along, I started work on my first book, Five-Star Customer Service. I had a winning team in place at the language school that didn’t miss me as I transitioned from their CEO to my new career, author and then – when Five-Star Customer Service was published – keynote speaker.

For the second time I focused myself entirely on one thing: being the most knowledgeable customer service expert, and the most inspirational speaker, that I could be. Honing my presentations – that was my new obsession, my new “one thing.”

My friends in Naples wouldn’t recognize me in either of these earlier incarnations. I have been told that I am too scattered, that I’m trying to accomplish too many things; others have told me that I juggle my many projects well, and they ask me how I do it.

The truth is probably somewhere in the middle, but for a while I was feeling that maybe it was closer to the stretched-too-thin side for my liking.

In reality, I was anything but scattered and unfocused, though. Rather, I was casting about for my next “one thing,” as in, “this is the one thing that I do, and I do it better than anyone else.” It worked for me with our language school, and it worked again with my speaking career. I knew I wanted to make an impact in the nonprofit realm, but just how took some exploring.

Our first six months in Naples, I was gone more than I was here, traveling the country giving talks and consulting: doing my “one thing” of helping companies to improve their competitive edge through better service.

Then, with Jane’s encouragement, I switched gears dramatically, and threw myself into serving the local nonprofit community in all manner of ways – through our online calendar at www.ImpactNaples.com; through the charity job bank we have there; on committees too numerous to name, as well as a few boards; through what for a time were weekly TV appearances; and through our monthly e-newsletter.

I did all of this as a volunteer, or close to it – I think we sold some advertising on the site for well under $8,000 total, and our charity, which we’ve renamed Impact, made a little money as co-beneficiaries of the CAN Ride the first two years I ran it (I remain ride chairman, but this year all proceeds go to CAN: www.cancerallianceofnaples.com).

As I write this, I’m still trimming down my involvement in various activities, but I’ve already eliminated at least 90% of my outside participation.

For two years, I haven’t had a ready answer to the question, “What do you do?” Now, I’m ready.

Go ahead, ask me: “Ted, what do you do?”

“I bring laptops and education to at-risk children.” Done. That’s what I do.

And the more I do it, the more happily obsessed I become. I have come full-circle on this issue, and now I can once again tell you with the certainty of one who walks his own talk that everyone should have their own “one thing:” the one thing that we each do that obsesses us, thrills us, delights us; validates us; makes us get up in the morning.

What is your “one thing?” Until you can answer that question quickly and clearly, chances are you won’t be happy in your work.