Jon Acuff's Blog, page 31

A little is a lot

Right now, as I write a draft of this idea on an early September morning, I am training for a half marathon.

That means this morning I need to run.

I should be doing five miles. That is what’s on the schedule, but today I only have time for four. When faced with that dilemma, I am tempted to do what I usually do – run 0.

It’s a classic act of perfectionism. A perfectionist would rather get a 0 than a C-. We’d rather do none than some. But, I’ve learned something over the years when it comes to exercise. Want to know what it is?

“A little is a lot.”

Do I wish I had time today for five miles? I do. That would be awesome. But guess what happens if on 10 different days I run four miles instead? I will have run 40 miles. Guess what happens if I choose to run 0 because things aren’t perfect on 10 different days? I run 0.

Whether it’s ten days in a row or 1,000, when you don’t do anything, the result is always 0.

Perfectionism doesn’t scale.

Over time however, a little is a lot.

Over time, none is always none.

If you only have time to do 15 minutes in the gym today, that’s OK.

If you only have time to walk around the block once today, that’s OK.

If you only have time to run one mile, that’s OK.

A little is a lot.

This post was featured earlier this month on my Health List. If you’d like biweekly ideas on achieving your fitness goals via email, you can sign up here.

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5 ways to geek out with me

About a year ago, I decided to admit I’m a geek.

I don’t know how you define that word.

When I was a kid it wasn’t a compliment, but then all the geeks and nerds founded tech companies, became billionaires and hired the jocks that used to steal their lunch money as security guards to patrol their campuses.

When I think of the word geek or nerd, I think of someone who is willing to be a big, loud fan of something. I think of someone who is willing to deep dive in a subject that they love.

A year ago, I decided there are five things I like to geek out about:

1. Public Speaking

2. Writing

3. Entrepreneurship

4. Parenting

5. Health and Fitness

Instead of just occasionally writing about those subjects, I decided to really nerd out.

Every week, I share a public speaking idea to help you give awesome speeches and make more money doing it.

Every week, I share a writing tip to help you write and sell awesome books.

Every week, I share an idea about growing your business without blowing up your life.

Every two weeks I share an idea about the wild ride that is parenting.

Every two weeks I share an idea about staying in shape and eating OK-ish. (I won’t help you get swole or ever give you recipes that involve kale.)

If you want any of those ideas, you’ve got two options:

1. Sign up here for all of them.

2. Pick and choose which ones work for you.

The ideas are short, funny and helpful, which is actually a pretty good description of me as a person. Except the short part. A lot of people are intimidated by my physical presence.

If you’re a nerd about any of those five subjects, let me know.

It might be time for us to geek out together.

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The two best months to change your life.

You have the ability to change your life every day of the year. This is true, but two specific months are better than any others. What are they?

January and September.

We all know why January matters, but why is September so amazing?

1. Back to school momentum.

Tens of millions of people are getting geared up for the big change that school represents. There’s tremendous national momentum.

2. Most people are done with vacation.

Again, on a national level, people are “getting back to business” after summer vacations. There’s a tidal wave of possibility.

3. The season changes.

As an added bonus, the season switches from summer to fall officially further driving home the feeling of change. (Don’t tell Tennessee this which will remain hot until like February.)

This year, I don’t want you to miss the magic of September.

That’s why I’m doing a free challenge called “SeptemberJanuary.”

You, me and thousands of people from across the planet are going to spend 30 days working on things we care about.

It’s free, it’s fun and registration closes August 31st at midnight.

Sign up here!

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The number one productivity tool I’ve used in the last 8 years.

Every year I talk about how my big wall calendar is my #1 productivity tool and until that stops being the case, I’ll keep doing it. Nothing helps me finish projects and achieve goals in the short term AND the long term like this calendar does. It truly is a game-changer for me.

I just got word from the printer that the 2019 edition is shipping next week so before I started sharing about it with everyone, I wanted to give you first dibs since you have purchased one in the past. (We’re printing a limited amount.)

It’s still an enormous 25″ by 36″ that you can order in “dry-erase” or “paper”, it still has no gaps between months like a traditional calendar, and it still features portrait orientation on one side and landscape on the other.

What’s new this year is that in addition to the massive wall calendar with encouraging statements from me, you also get six months of help from me and my team. We’ll send you 12 check-in moments from January 1 – June 30th, which will include 6 different videos.

Why? Because a good calendar isn’t just a piece of paper, it’s a motivation machine and we want to make sure you get the most out of it.

Here’s the link to get your copy before they’re gone: The 2019 Finish Calendar

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A new way to look at July

The problem with New Year’s Resolutions is that no one really makes New Year’s Resolutions.

We all make January Resolutions, missives of hope and protein shakes and yoga and book writing when the year feels new and pristine.

By July, those goals feel a million miles away, cooked out of our memory by the hot summer days and long humid nights.

But what if this could be the better half of the year?

That’s a question that’s bothered me for the last few weeks. For all the books I’ve written about chasing goals, I’ve never had that thought before. I’ve never thought about the back end of the year that way. (Even after I met author Bob Buford who wrote a book called “Half Time” about the second half of your life, I didn’t break the year down that way.)

Runners talk about this concept. It’s called a “negative split,” and means that you ran the second half of your race faster than the first half. It means that despite being tired, despite being hot, you actually picked up your pace.

What if that’s how the year worked, too?

What if the second half, was the best half?

We’ve both got six months left in 2018.

Six, glorious, wide open months just waiting for a goal. (Starting today, it’s 183 days until the end of the year or 30 days until they start selling Christmas products at the mall.)

I wrote down 39 different goals in the last month. Some are events like, “Take McRae to New York for her 13th birthday,” others are daily like, “Write a to do list every day.” Will I complete all of them? I won’t. Will I finish more this second half than I ever have before? I will.

I think you should think about the second half too.

To get your started, here are 10 of the goals I’m working on:

1. Sell out a comedy night.

2. Write 184 pieces of content.

3. Finish my new book proposal.

4. Ride my bike 500 miles.

5. Encourage 184 people.

6. Take Jenny on 12 dates.

7. Grow my Instagram to 100,000 people.

8. Blog once a week.

9. Launch a course on public speaking.

10. Ski one time.

Those goals are all over the place, but so is life. It’s always messy and chaotic in all the best ways.

I’ve already made some progress on those goals, too. I’ve written a few pieces of content. I’ve taken steps to launching the ticket sales for my comedy night. And, you can follow me on Instagram right here. That would be awesome!

Here’s to a better second half.

Here’s to finishing the year in the best way you ever have.

Here’s to making the next six months, the best six months.

P.S. Seriously, this is my Instagram and it’s magical. You should follow me.

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I got fired twice.

Have you ever been fired? I have.

The first time, my boss told me I’d never be a writer.

The second time, my boss told me I’d never be able to build a business.

The writer comment hurt at the time. It took me years to work through that one. The second time I got fired though I was already in fuel mode and just used that to get even more motivated.

Both times though, the experts were wrong.

That’s the funny thing about “experts” like bosses.

They’re in a position of power, but here’s something you need to remember, they don’t have power over the future.

They’re bosses, not fortune tellers. They don’t know what tomorrow holds. They don’t know who you’re going to be or how you’re going to grow.

The problem though is that if you’re not careful, their words will shape your future.

A negative word is actually a fence. It’s a boundary put on what you’re capable of and if you let it stay there, guess what?

You won’t write a book.

You won’t build a business.

You won’t move to California.

You won’t run a marathon.

You won’t lose weight.

You won’t do any of those things because you’ll let a word from the past define your future.

Proving the experts wrong is fun. I recommend you do it at least once a day.
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I was reminded of this yesterday when the Celtics beat the Sixers 4-1 to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.

When 21 experts, people who have dedicated their entire lives to the study of basketball, were asked who would win, 18 out of 21 picked the Celtics. Almost 90% of the experts picked the Sixers to beat the Celtics.

They weren’t just a little wrong, they were incredibly wrong.

The Celtics didn’t just win, they almost swept.

The only thing bigger than the dreams you’ll have is the doubts you’ll receive.

That’s alright.

The experts don’t control the future.

If you’re ready to prove them wrong, read this today.

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Today is January 1.

It’s not.

It’s May 8.

That’s a pretty stupid day to start a new goal.

Nobody starts anything new on May 8. Even worse, it’s a Tuesday. What good can come of starting something on the day that has absolutely no vibe?

Monday is a starter day. Wednesday is hump day. Thursday is pre-Friday. Friday I’m in love. Saturday is the best and Sunday is when you cry if you hate your job.

Tuesday is just … Tuesday.

It’s the vanilla of days.

So then why do I think you should start something new today?

Because January 1 is just a day.

We tend to give it power. We think it’s special, as if the day itself holds some significance. Surely, if we are going to accomplish something, it will be that day.

By May, we’ve forgotten all about that thing that felt so fresh and new in January.

But what if you had the power to decide today was January 1? What if you realized the date is just arbitrary after all? What if the specific words didn’t matter so much as the actions you take?

Yesterday, I decided it was January 1. I made a fresh list of goals and committed to working on them for one solid month. I’m calling it #WickedAwesomeMonth because I am a dork like that.

What are my goals?

In the next 30 days, I’m going to:

1. Ride my bike 300 miles.

2. Read 8 books

3. Write 100,000 words

4. Encourage 100 different people

5. A bunch of secret goals I can’t tell you.

Does that sound silly? Of course it is. Who does new goals in May?

Turns out, I do. I’ve already ridden 31 miles in the last 36 hours. I’ve encouraged 5 people and written 1,000 words. So far, so good.

I’ll be posting progress on my Instagram account. You should follow it right here.

I’ll be using principles the PhD from Finish taught me. (You should read that book.)

I’ll be using the dopest calendar ever made to track them.

January 1 is a great date, but you know what? So is May 8.

I dare you to write down a new goal today. You’ve got so much year left. Don’t wait until next January to try something new.

Today is January 1.

Here’s to a #WickedAwesomeMonth.

Jon

 

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The reason I’m in Austria today and Greece on Saturday.

Why?

The short answer is, “Because I’m an entrepreneur.”

The long answer is because I’m going on an 8-day guided ski trip to the Austrian Alps.

That last sentence is bonkers to me.

Here’s the ski map of the 10 interconnected mountains I’ll be skiing.

Here’s the view from the hotel.

Insane.

That alone would be an amazing adventure, but then on Saturday I’m flying to Santorini, a small Greek island, to meet my wife.

I have a speaking engagement in Athens, Greece so we decided to add a few days before and after the event.

Here’s the place we’re staying. Not the village, the balcony of the place Jenny rented.

When I left for Austria, Jenny said “Make sure you drop your skis off in Munich. See you in Santorini!”

That’s maybe the most James Bond thing someone has ever said to me.

So how am I able to do this?

Because when you build a business, you also build a life.

If you want to go skiing in Europe or sell a thousand candles to support your favorite non-profit, Thistle Farms, or take a month off in the summer, you can do that.

We tend to over focus on the grind.

We listen to loudmouth gurus who tell us to work 90 hours a week.

We believe that being an entrepreneur means always going hard.

Sometimes it does mean that, but more than that, it means designing the kind of life you want.

This year, mine includes skiing the Alps. Next year? Who knows.

What shape do you want your life to have?

Is being home when your kid gets off the bus each afternoon the goal?

Is getting your voice heard as you sell your book the goal?

Is traveling with your spouse the goal?

I don’t know what the goal is, but I know that you’ll get a whole lot closer to it if you take the 90 Days of Business Hustle Course.

It’s helped hundreds of entrepreneurs just like you build smart, healthy businesses.

Today is the LAST DAY for registration, and then it’s closed for the rest of 2018. There’s also a 30-day money back guarantee.

Either you love it or I refund you the money.

No risk. Lots of possible reward.

I don’t know if you’ll build your own company or just have an amazing side hustle.

But I do know this. It’s time for you and me to go find your Alps.

Sign up here.

Jon

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9 things 5 years of running my own business taught me.

Five years ago, I started my business.

After 15 years of working in corporate America, I turned my side hustle into my full-time gig.

It hasn’t been easy, but it was without a doubt the best career decision I’ve ever made.

Over the years, I’ve learned a few things. Here are some of the most important:

1. The client who pays the least will demand the most.

If a client fights you during the price negotiation, they are probably going to fight you during the entire project. The initial negotiation is more than just a price decision, it’s an audition. It’s your chance to see who the client is and how they do things. If they’re a jerk upfront, don’t make the mistake of thinking the stress of the actual project will make them act better. It’s like assuming that marriage will fix a bad boyfriend. The other problem is that often, the cheap client has stretched their budget to get up to your level. It’s like saving up for a year to book a first class flight. The guy who always pays for that level won’t be as demanding. The person who can barely afford it will get frustrated if the snacks don’t show up on time. They will have crazy high expectations because in their mind they paid crazy high prices. I’m not opposed to doing discounted work with clients I know and love. I do that fairly regularly, but I will rarely expect a reduced rate to go well with a brand new client.

2. You have to reinvent your business every 6-12 months.

The secret to having a profitable business is actually pretty simple. You must have higher revenue than your expenses and you must have 7 faucets of revenue going at any given time. Why so many? Because that way when 3 get shut off outside of your control, you’ve still got 4 moving along. Public speaking is one of my 7 and it’s amazing, but if a client cancels an event, I don’t have any control over that. I better have something else going that month. On an even larger level, you have to be willing to constantly reinvent what you’re doing or you will get left behind. Just when you get comfortable, a new technology will hit the scene and completely shift what you are doing. You don’t need to change who you are or what your brand is all about or your mission. But if you get stuck, your company won’t last very long.

3. Your spouse probably doesn’t want to be your coworker.

My wife quit working with me two years into my business. I like to say she got fired but quitting is a lot closer to the truth. She essentially said, “I want to be your wife, not your coworker.” Essentially, the business was dominating every interaction we had. We were either working or talking about working. Every date night started off well but ended with a budget or marketing discussion. Can couples work together? Of course. I have friends in Denver who run a multi-million dollar company, but they’re rare. If you’re married, be very, very careful about working together.

4. It’s lonely running a business.

I love companies. I’m not one of these entrepreneurs who slams big businesses or corporate America. I think there are many benefits to working at someone else’s company. One of them is that you have casual community. When you work in an office, there are people to go to lunch with every day. When you work in an office, there are people to talk to over coffee. When you work in an office, there are coworkers who care about you. Do you know what you don’t have when you start your own business? Any of those things. If you’re not careful, you’ll get real lonely, real fast. When you run a business, you have to go out of your way to build community.

5. The sexy things are fun but not as productive as the boring things.

Snapchat is more fun than email. Twitter is more fun than writing a thank you note. Instagram is more fun than a follow up phone call. But over the last five years I’ve learned that the sexy things tend to be high on fun but low on value. Is social media important? It is, but if you had $100 to invest in your business I would beg you to put it into email marketing. All of those little, dumb things you might not like doing are actually the key to growing your business. Don’t get distracted by the shiny.

6. There’s a ton of money and opportunity out there.

People will often tell me, “I missed my opportunity with the Internet or social media.” Or they’ll say, “There are already too many entrepreneurs, photographers, authors, etc.” We tend to buy into the thought of “once in a lifetime moments” and assume that we’ve lost our shot at them. That’s just not true. I think there is more opportunity than there has ever been. There’s more money floating around, too. It might not be easy to get it. It might take time and hustle, but it’s there. I don’t care if there are 100 million entrepreneurs out there, there’s still a shot for you.

7. People will make you better.

Don’t buy the lie of the “solopreneur.” No one is a solopreneur. Everyone needs someone. My business runs because I work with Ashley and Bryan. My courses work because I work with Alejandro and Savvy. My public speaking gigs work because I work with Premiere Speaker’s Bureau. My book deals work because I work with Curtis and Mike. My books work because I work with Margot and Bria. That doesn’t mean I have a huge team. None of those people are my full-time employee. They’re experts I work with so that I can produce expert work. Do your best to surround yourself with the people who will make your business smarter, faster and more efficient.

8. You will have more bosses.

I love when people say, “I want to be an entrepreneur so I don’t have to answer to a boss!” That is adorable. The reality is that when you become an entrepreneur, you end up having more bosses than before. When I worked at Bose, I had one boss. Her name was Suzanne. Now that I run my own company, I have a dozen bosses. I work for Reggie Joiner, Portfolio books, brightpeak, Kristen Ivy, and every speaking client I have. Are they technically my boss? Maybe not, but I do report to them. I do fulfill their project requests. I do my best to make sure they have everything they need. When someone says they don’t want a boss, what they are saying is, “I don’t want to answer to anyone.” You might not end up with a boss, but if you build a company you will 100% answer to a lot of people.

9. You won’t take vacation unless you’re deliberate.

I always laugh when people say, “I want to run my own company because then I can take as many days off as I want!” Hilarious. The truth is that unless you’re hyper deliberate about vacation, you won’t take it. Part of the reason is that unless you figure out how to keep the business moving without you, the loss of revenue will always inspire you to be working. It’s taking me five years to learn this but I’m getting better. I tend to take at least 6 weeks off every year.

You should never end a list at 9 points, but the 10th point was fake. It was just me trying to fill out a list.

I’ve got a few more ideas about building a successful business so, for the first time in a year, I’m opening up registration for my 90 Days of Business Hustle Course.

I promise I’ll help you do two things:

1. Find something you love doing so much that you’d do it for free.

2. Get so good at it that people pay you a lot of money to do it.

That’s it.

Whether you’ve had a business for 10 years or just an idea for 10 minutes, that’s what I’m going to help you do.

Registration closes in 4 days (Monday night, 3/12/18) and I won’t open this class again in 2018. This is your chance.

You in?

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Creative Slide Ep. 01 – Brian Koppelman

I have a brand new podcast! It’s called “Creative Slide.”

It launches today.

The first guest is Brian Koppelman, co-creator of the show “Billions” and co-writer of the movie “Rounders.”

Listen right here and make sure you subscribe in iTunes or on your podcast app of choice!

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