One Thing

May 2, 2021 by Francisco Castillo

The majority of the population does not end up becoming professional athletes, famous artists, or high seat executives. Still, there is merit in asking the following question: “what is the one thing I can do that very few people can replicate that is extremely valuable?”. Unless you have stumbled upon this by accident or you are part of the aforementioned categories, this may not be a topic that comes up naturally. Also, this is an exceedingly difficult question to answer honestly. 

Why is it important to explore this question? Because it helps you define a better sense of direction in your professional endeavors. Moving more things from autopilot to deliberate practice, from ideas to actions. If the answer is not there yet, it is wise to ask yourself this question over and over again repeatedly. This will get you closer to an adequate answer. As Richard W. Hamming suggested -for creative processes- his method was to saturate the subconscious with the problem and focus all the attention on nothing else but that. Eventually, after mulling over the problem continually, there was a higher probability for the answer to take shape. 

It is perfectly fine to not have a clear-cut answer right away. It is also important to keep a wide funnel when exploring the question more deeply. The answer may not come from one skill you already possess, but from a combination of skills – current or new – that you can put together to find that niche. And remember, the question focuses on what you can do not what you can think.

Following Sophocles’ lessons, the moment you become conscious of the world -conscious of the fact that you do not have a favorable answer to the question- is the moment the tragedy begins. But in like manner, it could also be viewed not in tragedy but with hope that this is the first day you can start working on it. The first day to find more meaning as you go through the journey of reaching an adequate answer for yourself.

So, what is the one thing you can do that very few people can replicate that is extremely valuable?