Just One Thing

This article is a tribute to my fantastic son, Matthew. He recently landed his dream job at Oregon State University.

Matthew will be working at the OSU Center for Genome Research and Biocomputing. Their Core Laboratories is a computational service center for faculty researchers and students--who wish to perform DNA sequencing and other biocomputing analysis.

Matthew will develop computational algorithms & graphic displays, train researchers how to use these tools and provide personal support to end users.

One of my favorite movies is City Slickers. In it stars a crusty old cowpoke named, Curly, played by Jack Palance.


Curly asks: Do you know what the secret of life is? [He holds up one finger]

This.


Mitch: Your finger?

Curly: One thing. Just one thing.
You stick to that and the rest don't mean squat.

Mitch: But, what is the "one thing?"

Curly: That's what you have to find out.

I have used this as a teaching principle for years in my Financial Planning University courses. It's a principle that everyone can apply. I apply this is a very special way--to get things done.

I can teach and teach wonderful people about financial matters--and they learn. But it is all for naught if they can't get that finger moved regularly to their cell phone to call people for appointments.


This is how productive people get things done. They are persistent in their efforts to contact others--to take initiative--to keep on going, until they either achieve their goal, or perhaps the person on the other end says, "no."

My friend, Jim Perry, dean of the University of Wisconsin-Fox, noticed and appreciated this when I volunteered to help him with a project.

He told me he often finds that people on his committees have good intentions, but some of them never seem to get around to making the effort. Oh, they may try once, and then seem to give up on the task.

He quickly realized the difference in my approach--which reminded me to tell him--and to tell Y O U--of this important lesson, the lesson Curly taught us.

When it comes to success, one of the most important things one needs to do is persistently pursue your task or goal until completion.

Or using the real-life metaphor of a phone call--you MUST be able to consistently get your finger on to the phone to make that call--and make it again--and make it again--and make it again...for as long as it takes until you reach resolution on the issue.

That's how you become knows as a doer - a person who acts and gets things done. People recognize that when they want something done, they get a doer. He's the miracle worker.