Jon Acuff's Blog

Mindset Reboot: The First Step to a Remarkable Life

What if the formula for a remarkable life was so simple you could write it on a sticky note? In this episode, I share the exact mindset shift that took me from stuck in Atlanta traffic to building a life I love. You’ll hear the story of how I stopped blaming my commute, my boss, and my circumstances, and discovered that the cavalry I’d been waiting for was actually myself.

The truth? Your thoughts create your actions, and your actions create your results. Remarkable or average… it’s your choice.

Plus, I invite you to the Mindset Reboot, a free two-day event where you’ll learn how to take control of your thoughts so you can finally create the life you want.

 

 

 

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Hope Hard, Work Hard: Why Hope Has Become Controversial (And Why You Need It Anyway)

Apparently, hope is controversial now. Who knew? I’ve been posting about hope lately, and people have been telling me I’m tone deaf because the supply chain is broken and the economy is terrible. One of my friends literally can’t be happy until the supply chain is fixed (even though he doesn’t work in supply chain). When did we start tying our personal lives to global numbers we don’t control?

I spent nearly 20 years as an excuse factory—blaming my parents, my boss, the economy, my background—and it got me nowhere. Then I discovered something radical called personal responsibility. In this episode, I’m sharing my simple philosophy: hope hard, work hard. Start where you are with what you have. Because here’s the truth—you can’t wait for the world to be perfect to change your own life. The only way to change the world is to change you first. I’ll share how getting up early to pay off a car loan eventually led to building two kindergartens in Vietnam. Small changes spread.

 

 

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Try Again: The Two Words That Stand Between You and Your Biggest Goals

There are only two words standing between you and the book you’ve always wanted to write, the business you want to start, and yes, even millions of dollars. Just two words. According to the University of Scranton, 92% of New Year’s resolutions fail—and it’s because nobody knows about these two powerful words.

Here’s the thing: nothing is successful on the first attempt. Nothing. Fear isn’t afraid of your first try (we’re a single-serve culture), but it’s terrified you’ll take that second step. In this episode, I’ll break down the four main reasons people don’t try again—from the hurt of the last attempt to mentally rehearsing failure until it becomes a tattoo instead of henna. Plus, I’ll share how trying again got me through writing my 11th book after throwing away three half-finished drafts. Because here’s what I need you to know: trying again isn’t failure or embarrassing—it’s the first gigantic leap toward mastery.

 

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Today Is An Adventure

I’m going old school today—70s and 80s motivational guru style. You know those thick plastic binders with cassette tapes that made you want to run through walls? That’s the energy I’m bringing. This episode is different. It’s a short, highly motivational boost designed to be replayed whenever you’re discouraged and need that little bit of juice. Because today isn’t just another average Monday—there’s no such thing as average days when we’re guaranteed none and given this one. Today is an adventure, an invitation to edge country where anything is possible. We can plan and predict, but the day speaks in dares, not formulas. So download this one, save it for a rainy day, and remember: killing your dreams because you’re afraid they might get bruised is a trade-off you should never make. Today is much like you—one of one.

 

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Summer Soundtracks Part 6: Throw Shorter Pity Parties

Let’s end this series with one of the most powerful mindset shifts I’ve learned:

Throw shorter pity parties.

In the final episode of my Summer Soundtracks Series, I’m sharing why it’s okay to feel the sting of failure—but not okay to camp out in it forever. I’ll unpack the difference between processing and pity, and challenge you to stop RSVPing to every pity party you throw for yourself. Let’s talk about what it looks like to feel it, process it, and then move forward.

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Summer Soundtracks Part 5: Growth Is the Goal, Not Comfort

This one hit me right between the eyes.

In Part 5 of my Summer Soundtracks Series, I’m talking about a mindset I’m still learning to believe: Growth is the goal, not comfort.

It’s easy to quit when things get awkward, inconvenient, or uncomfortable. I’ve done it with goals like YouTube, and I’ve pushed through it with goals like writing my first book. Today I’ll show you why discomfort isn’t a sign something’s going wrong—it’s a sign something’s going right.

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Summer Soundtracks Part 4: Win the Way You’ve Won Before

In Part 4 of my Summer Soundtracks Series, I’m unpacking a simple but powerful mindset shift: Win the way you’ve won before.
You’ve already succeeded at something in your life, and that win left clues. Today I’ll show you how to find them, repeat them, and bring that momentum into your next goal. Whether it’s a health goal, a career goal, or a personal one, you don’t need to reinvent the wheel. You just need to remember what worked—and do it again.

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Summer Soundtracks Part 3: Be Your Bodyguard, Not Your Bully

This is Part 2 of my Summer Soundtracks Series, and I’ve got another soundtrack for you:

“Surround yourself with friends who throw fuel, not water.”

We’re talking about the kind of people who help your dreams grow—and the kind who quietly shrink them. I’ll walk you through three questions that will change how you think about your friendships and your mindset. Let’s make this the best summer yet. Tune in today!

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Summer Soundtracks Part 2: Surround Yourself with Friends Who Throw Fuel, Not Water

This is Part 2 of my Summer Soundtracks Series, and I’ve got another soundtrack for you:

“Surround yourself with friends who throw fuel, not water.”

We’re talking about the kind of people who help your dreams grow—and the kind who quietly shrink them. I’ll walk you through three questions that will change how you think about your friendships and your mindset. Let’s make this the best summer yet. Tune in today!

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Summer Soundtracks Part 1: I Am the CEO of My Actions, Not My Outcomes

Have you ever felt frustrated trying to control things that are completely out of your hands? In this episode, I’m kicking off a new summer series where I randomly pick cards from my Soundtracks Conversation Deck and share the mindset shifts that can change everything. Today’s soundtrack: “I am the CEO of my actions, not the CEO of my outcomes.” We’ll talk about why remarkable people focus on what they can control while accepting what they can’t, plus I’ll share how this one shift helped me stop getting mad at Nashville weather (yes, we get more rain than Seattle—I looked it up like a complete dork). Ready to let go of outcomes and lean into action this summer? Listen to this episode now.

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