All It Takes Is One

Photo credit: © horizontal.integration

One is said to be the loneliest number. I would beg to differ. To me, the number one can be very powerful. In a society where size matters more than substance and bigger is thought of as being better, it is often times the little things which often go overlooked, and the number one is no different.

 

One moment can last a lifetime

You only get one chance to make a first impression

A (one) picture is worth a thousand words

It takes many good deeds to build a good reputation, and only one bad one to lose it.

 

So many people are focused on bigger or more that they often tend to overlook the power of simplicity. 

 

All it takes is one…

Person to make a difference/change the world

Kiss to fall in love

Spark to light a fire

Bullet to kill

Idea to start a movement

Person standing up to start a revolution

Moment to take your breath away

Act of kindness to make someone’s day

Mistake to lose everything

Second, yard, goal, or point to be the difference between winning and losing

Friend to make things better

Dollar to start a fortune

Rotten apple to sour the barrel

Negative comment to kill a dream

 

Above all, it only takes one person to change your life — you!

 

So remember, one may seem like a rather small and insignificant number in the grand scheme of things, but it can actually be a huge force for good or bad depending on the action.

 

About Eric J. Nisall

Former NY'er, accountant & business consultant, founder of GreenBridge Advisors. Blogging about personal financial, small business topics, and other fun topics at DollarVersity. Fan of the NHL and everything hockey! Follow me on Twitter, Facebook, and on Google+

  • http://www.modestmoney.com/ Modest Money

    Great point Eric. Each of us does certainly have the power to make a difference in the lives of others and in our own lives. Too many people take the easy route and just make excuses. You’ve gotta step up to the plate and make it happen though.

  • SB @FPR

    life to leave

  • SB @FPR

    oops that would be -> life to live

  • http://twitter.com/familymoneyblog John Preston

    You couldn’t have said it better. Each new path starts out with one step in a new direction.

  • Marie at FamilyMoneyValues

    I love this post! Put it in your next book..

  • http://www.moneylifeandmore.com/ Lance@MoneyLife&More

    Very cool post that brings things into perspective. It isn’t always the complicated things that make life what it is.

  • Jai Catalano

    I find it tough to make the first dollar. The rest is easy but the first is tough.

  • http://www.onesmartdollar.com/ Sean @ One Smart Dollar

    Great post Eric. Sometimes a little perspective on the little things can really help to build towards bigger goals in life.

  • http://www.narrowbridge.net Eric

    You make a good point Eric. All it takes to change your life is one person, you. People look outward far too often when “blaming” the outside world for their situation. You have to take ownership and live your own life.

  • http://twitter.com/squirrelers squirrelers

    Very true. On the one hand, think of how many dreams were derailed by taking one criticism to heart, or by one major failure. Or, on the other hand, think of how many successes were jumpstarted by just one move – such as having the guts to ask someone out, taking a chance on a business idea, one click to apply for a job, etc. Bottom line is it’s one person – you – who has the power to control your own life. Great to keep in mind for all of us!

  • http://twitter.com/MarriedWithDebt John | MarriedW/Debt

    It only takes one person to change YOUR world, yourself. Also, as you noted, one other person (like a significant other), can change everything you knew about life. Great post!

  • http://www.fromshoppingtosaving.com/ From Shopping to Saving

    I love this post. It takes just one thought and one idea to start a revolution..to change your life…to follow your dreams. But it takes many more afterthoughts, many nights of no sleep, many times you’ll want to give up — so one is a good number but not the only important number!

    • Marissa

      I don’t know if I should sad about this or happy.

  • http://www.mymoneydesign.com/ MyMoneyDesign

    I wish it only took ONE investment to take care of my ONE future, but you can’t have everything :) Great post – I like moments of financial zen to remember what is important.

  • Aloysa

    One person and one idea to start a change, a revolution. Look at the Soviet Union creation – one idea taken a little to far by one person. :)

  • addvodka

    This is a great post! Even if you don’t change the whole world, you can make a difference in somebody else’s.

    This book that I read called Half the Sky about women’s rights in third world countries (or lack thereof) had this little quote/story thing in it:

    “One day, a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean. Approaching the boy, he asked, ‘What are you doing?’The youth replied, ‘Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”Son,’ the man said, ‘don’t you realise there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can’t make a difference.’After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said…’I made a difference for that one.’”
    I love that, because it’s so true. Those little actions, even if they don’t cause something huge to happen, can change everything for some things.