Start Your Day with This One Question

Every day, there are a hundred things you could do. But let’s be honest—you can’t do them all. And trying to will only leave you overwhelmed, scattered, and burned out.

That’s why I’ve started asking myself one simple question at the start of each day: If I could only get one thing done today, what would it be?

This habit has been a game-changer for me—not just in business, but in life.

I own a service company with employees. I serve as VP of Operations at another. I have a large family, and I volunteer at my church and in my town. Life is full. But it’s not chaotic—because I’ve learned to focus.

This one question does two powerful things:

• It sets your priority. You know what matters most.

  
  

• It sets your pace. You start your day with clarity and finish with a sense of accomplishment.

  
  

Of course, not every day goes exactly as planned. Sometimes emergencies come up or your focus needs to shift. That’s normal. But starting with one clear priority gives you something to anchor to—so even if the day pulls you in other directions, you’re not drifting.

Once that key task is done, everything else becomes easier to manage—or easier to let go.

You can apply this across different areas of your life. Some days, I have a “one thing” for work, another for home, and one for personal growth. Other days, it’s just one clear focus overall. Either way, it helps me stay intentional—rather than reactive.

If you’re feeling pulled in every direction, start here.

Ask yourself: If I could only get one thing done today, what would it be?

Then go do it.