I went all in on the one thing I do best

Hey everyone, this is Allan. I want to talk about a few ideas from The One Thing, the Portuguese edition I’m reading.

Focus on Strengths

I had a call today with Danilo, my friend and business partner. Our conversation made me realize that I’m more effective when I stay on the technical side of the work, while Danilo handles sales, customer interaction, and prospecting. The book teaches that you should concentrate on the one activity that moves the needle the most. When you focus on the area where you have the greatest leverage, you achieve far more than if you try to juggle five things at once.

Ultra‑Learning Project

I’ve also been thinking about my ultra‑learning project, which started as a study of case‑interview material from firms like McKinsey and Bain. Initially I wanted to use that skill to improve my sales calls and understand client projects faster. I’ve since shifted the objective: I’m now using the project to get better at breaking down problems and designing solutions. Four months ago, while reading the book, I recognized that my strongest skill right now is dissecting a problem into smaller parts and building systems to solve them. That’s how I work as a developer, first with no‑code tools and automations, then with code, and now with AI.

Leveraging AI

I began using AI in February of this year, and it lets me create things much faster and at a scale I couldn’t achieve as a solo freelancer. Working with Danilo, who has complementary skills, frees me to double‑down on what I do best. AI amplifies those strengths, so I can keep improving the problem‑solving skill that defines my work.

System Design Course

I recently bought a course on system design because, despite teaching myself, I wasn’t clear on how larger companies structure their systems and projects. The course is technical but focuses on the planning side of building a project, which aligns with my interest in designing robust solutions.

Call for Feedback

If you ever feel stuck or unsure about which direction to take, try identifying the skill where you have the most leverage and focus on that. I’d love to hear about the areas where you feel you’re most effective or where you’re struggling. Leave a comment, and I’ll use your input to create more videos that address these challenges. That’s it for today.