If you write one page a day, you can have a 365-page novel by the end of 2012. But consider this: you can write one crappy page each day, or you can write one great page each day. I leave it to you to guess what kind of novel you’ll get with each approach.

In martial arts, golf, or any other physical pursuit, figuring out how to correctly do a single component of a technique and mastering it is the “one thing” you ought to focus on. Of course, if you’ve done any important physical activity, you know that it often takes longer than one day to master even a single component of your sport. But even if it takes a week, you still end up with 52 solid aspects of your chosen activity in the bank, which means your overall execution can be greatly improved in one year.

In business, choosing one aspect of your marketing, client relations, efficiency, or cash flow to focus on at a time, and making sure you not only understand it, but have put into place a system for carrying it out, will ensure your continued success. You can maintain a business or limp along during good economic times without this approach, but when the economy struggles, those competitors who are getting one thing right each day will quickly put you out of business.

One caveat: most single aspects of any activity require maintenance even after you’ve “mastered” them. So you might want to build in to your plans not only some time to focus on your “one thing,” but also some time to review the last “thing” each day. Eventually you’ll create some kind of routine that lets you review, refine, and master the essential aspects of your chosen mission, and you’ll rocket towards success!

But hold on, Bucky! Did you know that there’s almost a fall after a big leap in understanding or ability? If you get time, check out George Leonard’s book entitled Mastery: The Keys to Success and Long-Term Fulfillment. Leonard talks about the inevitable backslide after every personal success. He explains that the very course of mastery is one of plateaus followed by sudden insights or improvements, followed by slight regressions, plateaus, etc.

So when my golf swing felt so great as a result of paying attention to one seemingly minor aspect (by the way, it was the shoulder turn … just making sure my shoulders turned on the same plane on the way down as on the way up), I knew the following days weren’t going to be quite as much fun.

But knowing that would happen helped me relax and enjoy the new found feel of my swing, and to pay attention to other subtle aspects that fell into place because the one thing was right. If you’re forewarned, you’re forearmed, and when you experience a great day of success, be ready for the minor let down the next day. If you recognize it for what it is – another step in the direction of mastery – then you’ll be able to appreciate it and keep the feeling of forward momentum!