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One Question

One Question

Life-Changing Answers from Today's Leading Voices
by Ken Coleman 2013 224 pages
4
100+ ratings
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7 minutes

Key Takeaways

1. Find Your Unique Purpose Through Passion and Strengths

"You have within you a few strengths that, if honed, will empower you to impact your world."

Discovering Personal Potential. Finding your unique purpose requires understanding the intersection of your passions and innate strengths. This process isn't about becoming someone else, but uncovering and developing your natural talents.

Key Strategies for Purpose Discovery:

  • Identify activities that energize you
  • Seek feedback from mentors and peers
  • Experiment with different roles and opportunities
  • Reflect on moments of peak performance and satisfaction

Continuous Development. Purpose isn't a static destination but an evolving journey of self-discovery and growth. By remaining curious and open to learning, individuals can continually refine their understanding of their unique contributions.

2. Authenticity Is Your Greatest Professional Asset

"Though it might surprise you, a sure path to success is to be who you are."

Embracing Individual Uniqueness. Authenticity means presenting your genuine self rather than attempting to conform to external expectations. Your most significant competitive advantage is your distinctive perspective and approach.

Authenticity Principles:

  • Recognize your inherent value
  • Communicate transparently
  • Stay true to your core values
  • Resist the temptation to imitate others

Overcoming Fear. Many people fear vulnerability, but true connection and professional success emerge when you courageously showcase your authentic self, imperfections and all.

3. Pursue Opportunities with Courage and Decisiveness

"The only point at which redemption cannot be achieved is when we cease to exist."

Embracing Risk and Action. Successful individuals understand that opportunities require bold decision-making and a willingness to step outside comfort zones. Waiting for perfect conditions prevents meaningful progress.

Decisive Action Strategies:

  • Develop a bias toward action
  • Accept that not all decisions will be perfect
  • Learn from both successes and failures
  • Maintain flexibility and adaptability

Momentum Management. Decisiveness isn't about making reckless choices but about maintaining forward momentum, learning quickly, and adjusting strategies as needed.

4. Practice Gratitude and Reciprocity

"You can have everything in life you want if you will just help other people get what they want."

Generosity as a Lifestyle. True success involves creating value for others without expecting immediate personal gain. Gratitude and helping others create a positive cycle of connection and opportunity.

Reciprocity Principles:

  • Help others without expecting direct returns
  • Cultivate a genuine spirit of generosity
  • Build trust through consistent supportive actions
  • Celebrate others' successes

Relationship Building. By focusing on contribution rather than personal advancement, individuals create more meaningful and sustainable professional networks.

5. Lead with Love and Genuine Care

"Leadership is not about love—it is love. It's loving your mission, your customers, your people, and yourself enough to get out of the way so other people can be magnificent."

Compassionate Leadership. Effective leadership transcends transactional management, emphasizing genuine human connection, empathy, and personal investment in team members' growth.

Compassionate Leadership Strategies:

  • Practice active listening
  • Show genuine interest in team members' development
  • Create supportive, trust-based environments
  • Prioritize people over short-term results

Emotional Intelligence. Leaders who demonstrate authentic care inspire greater loyalty, creativity, and commitment from their teams.

6. Embrace Failure as a Learning Opportunity

"When you fail, you must seek forgiveness from everyone you've hurt. And you must forgive yourself."

Transformative Perspective on Failure. Failures are not endpoints but critical learning experiences that provide insights for future growth and resilience.

Failure Recovery Strategies:

  • Maintain a growth mindset
  • Analyze failures objectively
  • Extract meaningful lessons
  • Develop personal accountability
  • View setbacks as redirection, not defeat

Resilience Development. By reframing failure as a natural part of growth, individuals can maintain emotional balance and continue pursuing their goals.

7. Maintain Integrity and Accountability

"The higher up you go, the less of those people you'll find who will tell you when something is not right."

Ethical Leadership. Maintaining personal and professional integrity requires creating systems of accountability and remaining open to honest feedback.

Accountability Principles:

  • Establish clear personal values
  • Seek diverse perspectives
  • Create transparent communication channels
  • Accept constructive criticism
  • Take responsibility for actions

Character Building. Integrity is not a destination but a continuous practice of aligning actions with core values.

8. Build Meaningful Relationships

"Influence is directly related to the investments we make in others."

Relational Capital. Success is not solely individual achievement but the result of meaningful connections and mutual support.

Relationship Building Strategies:

  • Practice active empathy
  • Invest time in understanding others
  • Offer support without expecting immediate returns
  • Cultivate diverse networks
  • Maintain genuine curiosity about others' experiences

Network as Ecosystem. Relationships are living systems that require consistent nurturing and authentic engagement.

9. Invest in Personal Health and Well-Being

"You could have all the money in the world, but if you don't have good health, you have nothing."

Holistic Performance. Physical and mental health are fundamental to sustained personal and professional effectiveness.

Health Investment Approaches:

  • Prioritize consistent physical activity
  • Develop mindful nutrition habits
  • Practice stress management techniques
  • Ensure adequate rest and recovery
  • Regular health screenings

Energy Management. Health is not merely the absence of illness but active cultivation of peak physical and mental performance.

10. Create a Lasting Legacy Beyond Personal Success

"We believe that God has created every person on planet Earth with a purpose."

Purposeful Living. True significance emerges from contributing to something larger than personal achievements.

Legacy Creation Strategies:

  • Identify core life values
  • Develop a long-term vision
  • Mentor future generations
  • Contribute to community initiatives
  • Align personal goals with broader societal needs

Generational Impact. A meaningful legacy transcends individual accomplishments, creating ripple effects that inspire and support others.

Last updated:

Review Summary

4 out of 5
Average of 100+ ratings from Goodreads and Amazon.

One Question received mostly positive reviews, with readers praising its thought-provoking content and unique approach of asking experts a single, impactful question. Many found the book insightful, inspiring, and easy to read, appreciating the diverse range of topics covered. Some readers noted the book's practical wisdom and its ability to spark curiosity. However, a few reviewers felt the format was repetitive or lacked depth. Overall, the book was well-received for its valuable life lessons and encouragement to ask meaningful questions.

Your rating:

About the Author

Ken Coleman is a renowned career expert and author who hosts The Ken Coleman Show, a national radio program. Drawing from his personal experiences of career struggles and successes, Coleman aims to help individuals discover their true calling and achieve their dream jobs. His approach combines practical advice with motivational guidance, assisting listeners who feel stuck in unfulfilling careers or are seeking new opportunities. Coleman's expertise extends beyond his radio show, as he has authored books like The Proximity Principle, further establishing himself as a trusted voice in career development and personal growth.

Other books by Ken Coleman

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