One Big Thing Method

Shaan Puri's productivity philosophy centers on sustainable consistency over intense bursts of work. He advocates for identifying what truly matters and focusing deeply on it daily, rather than grinding unsustainably.

The evolution from "grinder" to focused worker

• Used to wear procrastination and all-nighters as a badge of honor in college
• Slept in the office 224 days out of 365 at age 24
• Realized this was actually a sign of weakness - lack of systems, leverage, and judgment
• Now views extreme work intensity as highlighting someone who doesn't know what to do
• Shifted philosophy completely: tortoises win in life, not hares

The One Big Thing Method

• Every morning, identify the single thing that matters most for that day
• Dedicate two hours of focused work first thing in the morning
• No distractions during this time - don't check stocks, email, Twitter, or anything else
• After completing the one thing, everything else is "gravy"
• Can spend rest of day with kids, working out, or doing more work if desired
• The key insight: doing this 365 days a year compounds massively

Why this approach wins

• Most people don't even identify what the one big thing is
• Proper identification + full focus for just 2-2.5 hours beats average person's entire day
• Consistency over 365 days creates "a hell of a year"
• Requires ability to "zoom out" and see what really matters
• Father Time rewards those who can maintain this for 4, 5, 6, 10, 20 years

The consistency principle

• Consistency is underrated compared to intense bursts
• Easy to get excited and jump all-in on something for 1-2 years
• Winners are "even keel" - maybe 50 hours/week every single week for entire career
• Applies to all areas of life, not just business
• People who are either "kicking ass" or "totally checked out" don't win long-term
• Staying focused on one business or approach without burnout is a superpower
• It's harder to stay excited long-term without burnout, but that's what separates winners

The danger of the "bonfire" approach

• Working unsustainably hard leads to burnout
• Creates a cycle of intense work followed by crashes
• People don't understand how to maintain a "sustainable burden"
• The bonfire goes out - you can't maintain it