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Start: Punch Fear in the Face, Escape Average and Do Work that Matters
by
Wall Street Journal best-selling author Jon Acuff reveals the steps to getting unstuck and back onto the path of being awesome.
Over the last 100 years, the road to success for most everyone has been divided into predictable stages. But three things have changed the path to success:
Boomers are realizing that a lot of the things they were promised aren't going to materialize ...more
Over the last 100 years, the road to success for most everyone has been divided into predictable stages. But three things have changed the path to success:
Boomers are realizing that a lot of the things they were promised aren't going to materialize ...more
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Hardcover, 288 pages
Published
April 22nd 2013
by Ramsey Press
(first published April 18th 2013)
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Alexandra Fimbres
This is a behavior-based book... I think you'd get a lot out of it!
Community Reviews
Showing 1-30
Start your review of Start: Punch Fear in the Face, Escape Average and Do Work that Matters
Why did you recommend this book to me Goodreads? What are you trying to tell me by "Escape average"? "Do Work that Matters"... Huh?! I work for you, Goodreads!
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Just ok. I am kind of over the whole idea that everyone needs to be AWESOME. What about humble servanthood? Doing the unseen?
Yeah, just ok for me.
Yeah, just ok for me.
The author was a guest on the podcast I listen to, and I loved his exuberant and upbeat attitude. That is something that definitely comes through in this book -- his energy just leaps off the page! Acuff is a great writer with lots of great stories that kept me engaged through the whole book.
The mediocre rating, then, is more of a reflection of me as a reader -- I just had a hard time applying a lot of what he said to my own life. While Acuff claims this advice applies to everyone, most of the e ...more
The mediocre rating, then, is more of a reflection of me as a reader -- I just had a hard time applying a lot of what he said to my own life. While Acuff claims this advice applies to everyone, most of the e ...more
Wow,wow,wow.
Have you ever read something and felt the author's enthusiasm jump off the page? That's what I got from Jon Acuff.
He wants to help people not just start, but succeed. He wants to help them go from average to awesome. I think he does it really well.
When I read the title, I thought, "Oh, oh (hand raised in the air) I want to START." But how?
That's the big question. How?
I think we all know we need to start if we want to get where we want to go. We just don't know how. Or for that matter ...more
Have you ever read something and felt the author's enthusiasm jump off the page? That's what I got from Jon Acuff.
He wants to help people not just start, but succeed. He wants to help them go from average to awesome. I think he does it really well.
When I read the title, I thought, "Oh, oh (hand raised in the air) I want to START." But how?
That's the big question. How?
I think we all know we need to start if we want to get where we want to go. We just don't know how. Or for that matter ...more
I find myself going around saying "Jon Acuff says..." He started out as the funny guy who writes the satirical blog "Stuff Christians Like," but now he's a dream-encouraging, hope-making, fear-busting author and speaker. Of course he's still funny too :-)
Outside of close friends, family and God, Acuff has probably been the biggest influence in my life the last two-years. I read "Quitter: Closing the Gap Between Your Dream Job and Your Day Job" two summers ago right after my book came out and I r ...more
Outside of close friends, family and God, Acuff has probably been the biggest influence in my life the last two-years. I read "Quitter: Closing the Gap Between Your Dream Job and Your Day Job" two summers ago right after my book came out and I r ...more
Oct 11, 2013
Antoinette Perez
added it
Jon Acuff has a super-casual writing style, which implies that he has a super-casual speaking style. It worked for me, generally. You can feel energy coming off the page at times, which is fun and unexpected. From a content perspective, he makes a reasonable argument for 5 stages of life: Learning, Editing, Mastering, Harvesting, and Guiding. At the end of the book, there is a section on how to earn your spouse's support amidst an abundance of enthusiastic ideas (many of which may never come to
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Let me start by saying Jon Acuff is very well qualified to write this book per his success and accumulated knowledge in the process. Having been said, this book was good. I feel like it could have been a whole lot better. How so? First off, I am a 21 year old undergraduate and while reading this, I felt that his youthful writing style betrays his true talent. I felt like it could have been written more seriously, and this is coming from a 21 year old! I fail to see how this style of writing woul
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I would put this book into the hands of anyone who is wanting to be more and do more. If their day job isn’t their dream, or if they have a bigger dream with more people to connect to, more awesome to put on canvas.
Far from just being about positive affirmations or pie in the sky thinking, Jon will make you appreciate your stumbles and setbacks, and let you know you are not alone on the road to awesome. It isn’t easy, but if you are game, Jon is inviting you to walk the path with him.
Far from just being about positive affirmations or pie in the sky thinking, Jon will make you appreciate your stumbles and setbacks, and let you know you are not alone on the road to awesome. It isn’t easy, but if you are game, Jon is inviting you to walk the path with him.
I really didn't like this book. I feel like he took Dave Ramsey's work and just put it into his own words and experiences. I felt like he talked a lot about himself….(i did this, and I did that) there were a lot of "I's" IT DROVE ME CRAZY, I don't know why I kept going and finished it! WAY OVER RATED! IMO!
Through his witty but wise words, Acuff challenges readers to make their life awesome. Starting is our choice. We have dreams and ideas. This book will make you want to get them from your head, onto paper, and into your life. At least it did me. It's a practical approach to a topic that is hard to wrap words around.
Jon Acuff tells some his own failures that led to successes and the people who helped him along the way. Of course, not everybody you meet will want to help you, but that's to be exp ...more
Jon Acuff tells some his own failures that led to successes and the people who helped him along the way. Of course, not everybody you meet will want to help you, but that's to be exp ...more
Really enjoyed this book.
* In 2011, 20% of new entrepreneurs were between the ages of 55 and 64.
* You have to be: a realist and a dreamer; practical and impractical; logical and illogical.
You have to be brutally realistic about your present circumstances and wildly unrealistic about your future circumstances.
* General Stockdale: You must never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end -- which you can never afford to lose - with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your ...more
* In 2011, 20% of new entrepreneurs were between the ages of 55 and 64.
* You have to be: a realist and a dreamer; practical and impractical; logical and illogical.
You have to be brutally realistic about your present circumstances and wildly unrealistic about your future circumstances.
* General Stockdale: You must never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end -- which you can never afford to lose - with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your ...more
Jon Acuff has an amazing book in Start. Not just a self-help book for those who feel 'stuck' and want to start a new chapter in their lives, this book offers both practical advice and an honest discussion of the barriers that everyone faces when trying to become greater than what they are now.
More than that, however, Jon clearly wants to impart a new vision for the lives of everyone- that of escaping the average and embarking on a journey to awesome. It is his passion for this goal, for the reca ...more
More than that, however, Jon clearly wants to impart a new vision for the lives of everyone- that of escaping the average and embarking on a journey to awesome. It is his passion for this goal, for the reca ...more
I like Acuff. He's hecka funny and a great speaker. This book, however, felt like a light snack and not a serious meal. Too many cliches or hallmarky-type phrases that would be more at home on a coffee cup than in a life changing book. I would have preferred more reference to facts and proven trends than Acuff's personal experience. He's lived a remarkable upswing and uses his fortune as the foundational approach we should all follow. Not all of us can be selected by a national radio host to hel
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I won an advance copy of Start from author Robin O'Bryant's blog, and I'm so glad I did. This is a motivational book packed with great insights, presented with a light, easy-to-read writing style. Acuff shares his ideas in an upbeat, modern, often funny way that breathes new life into all the old truths we know to be true and tend to forget in the day-to-day grind (or, maybe, even truths you never knew to be true).
My copy is seriously dog-earred and highlighted, and I plan to buy a handful of ne ...more
My copy is seriously dog-earred and highlighted, and I plan to buy a handful of ne ...more
Even if you’ve never read any of Jon’s writings before, if you have—or ever had—a dream or purpose (and if you’re reading this, you’re alive and you have a purpose), you’ll be interested in reading Start.
Start is a bit like a travel guide on the best adventure you’ve ever taken (you know, life) through the lands of learning, editing, mastering, harvesting, and guiding. Everyone travels through these lands, though each of our journeys looks different than the next person’s. We also can be in mult ...more
Start is a bit like a travel guide on the best adventure you’ve ever taken (you know, life) through the lands of learning, editing, mastering, harvesting, and guiding. Everyone travels through these lands, though each of our journeys looks different than the next person’s. We also can be in mult ...more
What do you fear?
Do you fear commitment? How about spiders? Perhaps it’s failure? I can tell you what I fear, I fear starting.
If you have ever had a dream, some unfulfilled vision, then my friends, Jon Acuff’s book START might be up your alley. If you have ever wanted to do something exceptional, but find that sometimes life is either too demanding or your dream scares the heck out of you, then you should consider picking this book up.
START is written by the incredibly funny Jon Acuff. Not onl ...more
Do you fear commitment? How about spiders? Perhaps it’s failure? I can tell you what I fear, I fear starting.
If you have ever had a dream, some unfulfilled vision, then my friends, Jon Acuff’s book START might be up your alley. If you have ever wanted to do something exceptional, but find that sometimes life is either too demanding or your dream scares the heck out of you, then you should consider picking this book up.
START is written by the incredibly funny Jon Acuff. Not onl ...more
What can I say; this book is “Awesome”! It made me think, gave me a sense of encouragement and most of all pointed me to those areas in my own journey that may need a few more hours of attention. Maybe even another 10,000 hours!
Jon does a great job of bringing home real examples of how to escape “average” and become “awesome” and the stages each must go through on this journey. No shortcuts, no magic bullets, just a lot of hard work, sacrifice and paying your dues to achieve your life purpose an ...more
Jon does a great job of bringing home real examples of how to escape “average” and become “awesome” and the stages each must go through on this journey. No shortcuts, no magic bullets, just a lot of hard work, sacrifice and paying your dues to achieve your life purpose an ...more
This was really hard to get through. It reads like a great public speaker wrote down their address to a very specific audience, as delivered. To be fair, there is some inspiration and good advice. The gem I valued most was the value of silencing the inner critic. All of the gems could have been delivered much more succinctly. There are many attempts at humorous asides that probably work well on stage but just take space on paper. It would also help if the reader already knows about and admires D
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My friend got this book for me and normally I do not care to read motivational writing but I gave it a try. Acuff is a good writer and I have no complaints with that part. A bit of it did seem to run on in parts and couple times it felt like it was nagging at me. However it did give me some valuable ideas on how to find direction in my life.
I got the most out of the very end of the book with the 10 steps you should be doing. I feel I could have read just that part and been content.
I got the most out of the very end of the book with the 10 steps you should be doing. I feel I could have read just that part and been content.
This book is awesome! Jon gives tons of practical insights and encouragement to get you started pursuing whatever your dream is. By far my favorite part is how much deals with the fears that we all face and how to combat those. His writing is witty, straightforward and easy to understand. I can't say enough good things about it. Get this book and read it over and over. You will won't reget it.
This is one of those books where I wanted to highlight everything and hand the book to everybody I know. I had to restrain myself from endlessly posting quotes on Twitter & Facebook, though my family was not spared my randomly reading bits to them - to me, that's a sign of an especially good book. There was a lot of stuff I needed to hear in here.
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Awesome book! It was very inspiring and yet very practical while still allowing a lot of stretch for personal application. And it's a book you can refer to for every stage your life and business might be in. I borrowed the book from the library but I'm definitely going to have to get my own copy. Lots to think about now, but great motivation to actually start and do it!
I loved this book! Jon outlines the steps or "lands" you need to pass through to become awesome at something -anything- that your heart desires. It's applicable to marriage, jobs, hobbies, or anything you are passionate about.
He is also hilarious, so it was easily a non-fiction page turner.
He is also hilarious, so it was easily a non-fiction page turner.
Great book. Explains the stages in life on the road to being awesome. Makes you realize/remember you can Start anywhere in life, it's never too late, to work on your dream and escape average. Also has action steps for each stage that I am going to Start on. Another great book by Jon Acuff!
Jon Acuff shares wisdom beyond his years with an honest voice and simple no-nonsense action plans. I was able to read this book quickly and will reference it frequently.
I found this book to be inspiring, funny and applicable to my life. I am on my way to find my own awesome! (I also have some fear to punch in the face, LOL)
I'm all about self-help books like this. I'm a big fan of this one because it breaks out of the mold of, "Drop everything and pursue your dreams," and instead takes a more practical approach to setting goals and becoming the kind of person you hope to be. Of the "follow your dreams" quotes, Acuff says, "Those kinds of ideas make for amazing mugs but have a pretty horrible success rate." Ha! One of my favorite concepts in this book is about letting go of your quest for your one purpose, and choos
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Great book! Another winner from the insightful, entertaining, and inspirational mind of Jon Acuff. A great book for those wanting to overcome their fears of following their heart and passions into a entrepreneurial job. Great insight into the unseen reasons we are fearful in the first place and how to overcome these fears with common sense.
Thiis is absolutely one of my favorite reads in leadership books. He tells some great stories and give great insight on escaping the average. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking to get better in what their doing now or to help get you where you want to go.
Not my kind of book. All hype and no substance.
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Jon Acuff is the New York Times Bestselling author of six books, including his most recent Wall Street Journal #1 Bestseller, "Finish: Give yourself the gift of done."
Published in more than a dozen languages, his work is both critically acclaimed and adored by readers. After reading "Do Over," marketing legend Seth Godin wrote in his endorsement, "This is the best career book ever written. I'm not ...more
Published in more than a dozen languages, his work is both critically acclaimed and adored by readers. After reading "Do Over," marketing legend Seth Godin wrote in his endorsement, "This is the best career book ever written. I'm not ...more
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“You don't need to go back in time to be awesome; you just have to start right now. Regretting that you didn't start earlier is a great distraction from moving on your dream today, and the reality is that today is earlier than tomorrow.”
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27 likes
“Regardless of what you want to do or who you are, fear will always see you as wholly unqualified for anything you ever dream or attempt.”
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17 likes
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