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Начни. Врежь страху по лицу, перестань быть "нормальным" и займись чем-то стоящим
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Nonfiction (2013)От производителя
О чем эта книга
Эта книга о том, что никогда не поздно отказаться от размеренной и привычной, но достаточно пресной и ничем не выдающейся жизни. Быть как все не составляет труда, ведь при этом не надо делать ничего особенного. Неординарный, яркий путь гораздо сложнее, потому что приходится рисковать, выходить из зоны комфорта и бросать вызов себе и окружающим.
Автор, популярный блогер и мотивационный спикер, противопоставляет свой опыт обычного человека, который однажды начинает целенаправленно стремиться к чему-то, учениям различных гуру в сфере личного развития. Прочитав эту книгу, вы получите мощный позитивный заряд и захотите изменить свою жизнь прямо сейчас, а приведенные практические советы непременно помогут вам в этом.
Для кого эта книга
Для тех, кто хочет изменить свою жизнь, уйти от повседневности и начать все заново.
Фишка книга
Книга написана очень простым языком, ЛЕГКОЕ ЧТИВО.
О чем эта книга
Эта книга о том, что никогда не поздно отказаться от размеренной и привычной, но достаточно пресной и ничем не выдающейся жизни. Быть как все не составляет труда, ведь при этом не надо делать ничего особенного. Неординарный, яркий путь гораздо сложнее, потому что приходится рисковать, выходить из зоны комфорта и бросать вызов себе и окружающим.
Автор, популярный блогер и мотивационный спикер, противопоставляет свой опыт обычного человека, который однажды начинает целенаправленно стремиться к чему-то, учениям различных гуру в сфере личного развития. Прочитав эту книгу, вы получите мощный позитивный заряд и захотите изменить свою жизнь прямо сейчас, а приведенные практические советы непременно помогут вам в этом.
Для кого эта книга
Для тех, кто хочет изменить свою жизнь, уйти от повседневности и начать все заново.
Фишка книга
Книга написана очень простым языком, ЛЕГКОЕ ЧТИВО.
256 pages, ebook
First published April 18, 2013
589 people are currently reading
12314 people want to read
About the author
Jon Acuff
53 books3,343 followersJon Acuff is the New York Times Bestselling author of eight books, including Soundtracks, Your New Playlist, and the Wall Street Journal #1 bestseller Finish: Give Yourself the Gift of Done.
When he’s not writing or recording his popular podcast, All It Takes Is a Goal, Acuff can be found on a stage, as one of INC's Top 100 Leadership Speakers. He's spoken to hundreds of thousands of people at conferences, colleges and companies around the world including FedEx, Nissan, Microsoft, Lockheed Martin, Chick-fil-A, Nokia and Comedy Central.
For over 20 years he's also helped some of the biggest brands tell their story, including The Home Depot, Bose, Staples, and the Dave Ramsey Team.
Jon lives outside of Nashville, TN with his wife Jenny and two teenage daughters.
When he’s not writing or recording his popular podcast, All It Takes Is a Goal, Acuff can be found on a stage, as one of INC's Top 100 Leadership Speakers. He's spoken to hundreds of thousands of people at conferences, colleges and companies around the world including FedEx, Nissan, Microsoft, Lockheed Martin, Chick-fil-A, Nokia and Comedy Central.
For over 20 years he's also helped some of the biggest brands tell their story, including The Home Depot, Bose, Staples, and the Dave Ramsey Team.
Jon lives outside of Nashville, TN with his wife Jenny and two teenage daughters.
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October 25, 2015Why 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!
February 11, 2015
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.
July 23, 2016
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 examples centered around being an entrepreneur -- something I have no desire doing. I'm a mom and my own version of "awesome" is a much more anonymous work.
Also: can I even ask this? Is there such a thing as *too* much awesome? I can't get on the Internet without coming across reminders like "don't forget to be awesome" or "when I'm sad, I stop being sad and start being awesome instead." I used to smile at these, but I think this book put me on "awesome" overload! I get that it's trendy, but my ninth-grade English teacher would tell me to pick another adjective! (This is directed more to the Internet as a whole, not the author.)
Okay. All that said, there are a few things that stuck with me:
~ It takes 10,000 hours to master a skill ... so keep working and practicing. It's okay to not be perfect right away!
~ After the stage of "learning" comes the stage of "editing" -- you don't have time to do everything, so choose the best things.
~ Claim thirty minutes a day to work on your dream. (Acuff advocates for 5am. I have a five-month-old that I nurse in the night, so it's not practical for me to go write at 5am, but I do get what he's saying. I thought the study about willpower in the morning was interesting, and now I understand why I find it infinitely easier to tidy the kitchen in the morning rather than at night!)
~ It's okay if you don't feel like you know exactly what your "purpose" is. Move forward toward good things and you'll discover it as you go.
If you're looking for a kick in the pants to get going on a project (or on life in general), this is a good book to help you get motivated!
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 examples centered around being an entrepreneur -- something I have no desire doing. I'm a mom and my own version of "awesome" is a much more anonymous work.
Also: can I even ask this? Is there such a thing as *too* much awesome? I can't get on the Internet without coming across reminders like "don't forget to be awesome" or "when I'm sad, I stop being sad and start being awesome instead." I used to smile at these, but I think this book put me on "awesome" overload! I get that it's trendy, but my ninth-grade English teacher would tell me to pick another adjective! (This is directed more to the Internet as a whole, not the author.)
Okay. All that said, there are a few things that stuck with me:
~ It takes 10,000 hours to master a skill ... so keep working and practicing. It's okay to not be perfect right away!
~ After the stage of "learning" comes the stage of "editing" -- you don't have time to do everything, so choose the best things.
~ Claim thirty minutes a day to work on your dream. (Acuff advocates for 5am. I have a five-month-old that I nurse in the night, so it's not practical for me to go write at 5am, but I do get what he's saying. I thought the study about willpower in the morning was interesting, and now I understand why I find it infinitely easier to tidy the kitchen in the morning rather than at night!)
~ It's okay if you don't feel like you know exactly what your "purpose" is. Move forward toward good things and you'll discover it as you go.
If you're looking for a kick in the pants to get going on a project (or on life in general), this is a good book to help you get motivated!
April 30, 2013
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, where to start.
In our desire to do something we either do everything or nothing. Then, we end up wiped out in the same spot where we began.
Jon wants to help.
Think of him as the cheerleader you always wanted, minus the skirt. In this case, he's a tough cheerleader who pulls back the curtain of "HOW" and exposes the wizard of fear. Then, our favorite cheerleader punches him in the face. Fear. Gone.
That's how we get on the road to awesome.
Our cheerleader becomes the busdriver of our own roadtrip to awesome helping us address the hurdles we'll face. Our new cheerleading busdriver takes us through various lands like a tourguide. We travel from the land of learning to the land of editing, and no we aren't in Disneyland.
From learning, we move to editing and harvesting. Finally, our bus takes us to the land of guiding. These are the places we will need to travel on our own trip if we want to move from average to awesome.
Many writers have done similar trips without the wit and wisdom of Jon Acuff. What makes this book truly special is the next step.
Our busdriver, after having let us view these lands returns us to where we started because technically we haven't started yet. And that is the point of this book. To START.
The next leg of this trip is when we take the driver's seat. Jon give us the tools to cruise through and face each land. As he says, "action always beast intention." The action is on us, but the tools have been given.
Jon returns to each land and gives us questions designed to not only get us starting, like every average citizen. He want to enable us to be awesome. And if we take the time, we will.
He even helps us to stand on his own shoulders and save some time by coaching us through social media and facing unemployment.
As a previously serial quitter, Jon's been through those experiences and want to lift us up to help us succeed. I know many people who have taken his words and applied them. From what I can tell, they are awesome. And so are you.
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, where to start.
In our desire to do something we either do everything or nothing. Then, we end up wiped out in the same spot where we began.
Jon wants to help.
Think of him as the cheerleader you always wanted, minus the skirt. In this case, he's a tough cheerleader who pulls back the curtain of "HOW" and exposes the wizard of fear. Then, our favorite cheerleader punches him in the face. Fear. Gone.
That's how we get on the road to awesome.
Our cheerleader becomes the busdriver of our own roadtrip to awesome helping us address the hurdles we'll face. Our new cheerleading busdriver takes us through various lands like a tourguide. We travel from the land of learning to the land of editing, and no we aren't in Disneyland.
From learning, we move to editing and harvesting. Finally, our bus takes us to the land of guiding. These are the places we will need to travel on our own trip if we want to move from average to awesome.
Many writers have done similar trips without the wit and wisdom of Jon Acuff. What makes this book truly special is the next step.
Our busdriver, after having let us view these lands returns us to where we started because technically we haven't started yet. And that is the point of this book. To START.
The next leg of this trip is when we take the driver's seat. Jon give us the tools to cruise through and face each land. As he says, "action always beast intention." The action is on us, but the tools have been given.
Jon returns to each land and gives us questions designed to not only get us starting, like every average citizen. He want to enable us to be awesome. And if we take the time, we will.
He even helps us to stand on his own shoulders and save some time by coaching us through social media and facing unemployment.
As a previously serial quitter, Jon's been through those experiences and want to lift us up to help us succeed. I know many people who have taken his words and applied them. From what I can tell, they are awesome. And so are you.
April 18, 2013
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 realized that this writing/speaking thing was my dream. It helped shape how I spent the next year.
Now his newest book "Start: Punch Fear in the Face, Escape Average and Do Work that Matters " is here. The official description:
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, and they have started second and third careers.
Technology has given access to an unprecedented number of people who are building online empires and changing their lives in ways that would have been impossible years ago.
The days of “success first, significance later,” have ended.
While none of the stages can be skipped, they can be shortened and accelerated. There are only two paths in life: average and awesome. The average path is easy because all you have to do is nothing. The awesome path is more challenging, because things like fear only bother you when you do work that matters. The good news is Start gives readers practical, actionable insights to be more awesome, more often.
I was excited to get an early copy and I devoured it and highlighted the heck out of it. Now that I'm done I'm going to turn back around and read it again. There is so much wisdom and PRACTICAL application to put in motion.
The "Road to Awesome" that Jon describes involves 5 stages - Learning, Editing, Mastering, Harvesting and Guiding. These steps are the same no matter what dream you're working on and want to be awesome at - writing, starting your own business, being a mom, saving the world.
Of course his biggest point is that we all need to do one thing - START! As Jon says "The starting line is the only line you completely control." Don't worry about the finish - it's impossible to predict and may change half a dozen times by the time you get there. If you had told me 15 years ago that I'd get to travel around and speak, I would have checked your forehead for a fever. I never could have predicted this.
The book also includes a whole section at the end titled "What Now? Action Always Beats Intention" that gives very practical, tactical steps you can take. It's so great and I've started working through them already.
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 realized that this writing/speaking thing was my dream. It helped shape how I spent the next year.
Now his newest book "Start: Punch Fear in the Face, Escape Average and Do Work that Matters " is here. The official description:
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, and they have started second and third careers.
Technology has given access to an unprecedented number of people who are building online empires and changing their lives in ways that would have been impossible years ago.
The days of “success first, significance later,” have ended.
While none of the stages can be skipped, they can be shortened and accelerated. There are only two paths in life: average and awesome. The average path is easy because all you have to do is nothing. The awesome path is more challenging, because things like fear only bother you when you do work that matters. The good news is Start gives readers practical, actionable insights to be more awesome, more often.
I was excited to get an early copy and I devoured it and highlighted the heck out of it. Now that I'm done I'm going to turn back around and read it again. There is so much wisdom and PRACTICAL application to put in motion.
The "Road to Awesome" that Jon describes involves 5 stages - Learning, Editing, Mastering, Harvesting and Guiding. These steps are the same no matter what dream you're working on and want to be awesome at - writing, starting your own business, being a mom, saving the world.
Of course his biggest point is that we all need to do one thing - START! As Jon says "The starting line is the only line you completely control." Don't worry about the finish - it's impossible to predict and may change half a dozen times by the time you get there. If you had told me 15 years ago that I'd get to travel around and speak, I would have checked your forehead for a fever. I never could have predicted this.
The book also includes a whole section at the end titled "What Now? Action Always Beats Intention" that gives very practical, tactical steps you can take. It's so great and I've started working through them already.
April 18, 2022
Can I just share the dozens of quotes I copied and say, “It was good, read the rest?” I did appreciate the balance presented by Acuff, and his humor is on target.
In short, this book gives you a lot to think about in regards to dreams and moving forward. I love the concept of continually starting—which doesn’t mean never finishing something, but rather, never stalling when you have reached a certain point.
Certain concepts are very easy to grasp—like “do a rep” (basically, small progress in your goal) and “create your own Central Park” (not burning out, but finding a place to relieve stress.
I also really appreciated the cautions for pitfalls when one does reach certain points of life.
I found it motivational, inspiring, and thought-provoking.
In short, this book gives you a lot to think about in regards to dreams and moving forward. I love the concept of continually starting—which doesn’t mean never finishing something, but rather, never stalling when you have reached a certain point.
Certain concepts are very easy to grasp—like “do a rep” (basically, small progress in your goal) and “create your own Central Park” (not burning out, but finding a place to relieve stress.
I also really appreciated the cautions for pitfalls when one does reach certain points of life.
I found it motivational, inspiring, and thought-provoking.
May 28, 2013
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!
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October 11, 2013Jon 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 fruition), and it is golden.
I had a lot of challenges with the rest of the book. The casual writing voice, combined with sparse and not always relevant anecdotes, and no research makes for an extended rah-rah speech. It is monotony on the higher end of the energy scale. The proposed structure of the book feels difficult for Acuff himself to stick to. In a couple of the later chapters -- on Mastering, Harvesting and Guiding, for instance -- it just feels like he is rambling. Maybe that's fun for a speech or keynote presentation, but it was difficult for me to stay with as a reader. In the chapter on Mastery, he doesn't talk at all about the importance of tiny (seemingly inconsequential) incremental progress, or that the investment of time and effort will seem completely out of proportion to the small improvements we will earn at this level, or that it can feel like a slog to be committed to mastery. He talks in the Mastering chapter about how to get to mastery, and then immediately talks about harvesting. I clearly missed something in between, or he did.
I couldn't help shaking the feeling that he is not at these stages of Mastering, Harvesting, and Guiding yet, although he claims to be. And because he is not yet mastering, harvesting, and guiding, he doesn't have the depth of personal experience to draw from.
I had a lot of challenges with the rest of the book. The casual writing voice, combined with sparse and not always relevant anecdotes, and no research makes for an extended rah-rah speech. It is monotony on the higher end of the energy scale. The proposed structure of the book feels difficult for Acuff himself to stick to. In a couple of the later chapters -- on Mastering, Harvesting and Guiding, for instance -- it just feels like he is rambling. Maybe that's fun for a speech or keynote presentation, but it was difficult for me to stay with as a reader. In the chapter on Mastery, he doesn't talk at all about the importance of tiny (seemingly inconsequential) incremental progress, or that the investment of time and effort will seem completely out of proportion to the small improvements we will earn at this level, or that it can feel like a slog to be committed to mastery. He talks in the Mastering chapter about how to get to mastery, and then immediately talks about harvesting. I clearly missed something in between, or he did.
I couldn't help shaking the feeling that he is not at these stages of Mastering, Harvesting, and Guiding yet, although he claims to be. And because he is not yet mastering, harvesting, and guiding, he doesn't have the depth of personal experience to draw from.
November 30, 2019
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 would have appealed to a 58 year old business owner who is having to close up shop. If the rest of the book could have been written like pages 221-57 it would have been great. These pages were serious, concise, and to the point. The rest of the book could have been much better off written like that. Overall, however, I found good advice within the covers of this book. It's effect could have been multiplied had the author been more serious and appealed to all age groups and not youth.
June 5, 2013
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 help launch our dreams. I will still follow Acuff and enjoy his humor and insight to Christian cultures. Easy read with lots of good humor.
dnf
August 29, 2017dnf @ p. 103
October 5, 2013
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 expected. Not everyone will get it. I appreciated his point that I shouldn't be living this life – my life – for anyone by me. And, well, God. But Acuff doesn't preach the faith element, which, really, is OK because it doesn't aim to be that kind of book.
Throughout the book, there is advice on what to do through each phase: Things can change. Have purpose. Rest. Realize you can't do it all. Try the things you think you want to do. Be brave. Have fun. It's about your heart, not the size of your audience. Find a mentor. Practice. Work hard. Volunteer. Take a break. Guide people. Start again. {Obviously he elaborates on all of these throughout the pages.}
You may succeed after some glitches. You may finish ahead of the pack. You may come in last. Either way, you'll have to start again and again in life.
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 expected. Not everyone will get it. I appreciated his point that I shouldn't be living this life – my life – for anyone by me. And, well, God. But Acuff doesn't preach the faith element, which, really, is OK because it doesn't aim to be that kind of book.
Throughout the book, there is advice on what to do through each phase: Things can change. Have purpose. Rest. Realize you can't do it all. Try the things you think you want to do. Be brave. Have fun. It's about your heart, not the size of your audience. Find a mentor. Practice. Work hard. Volunteer. Take a break. Guide people. Start again. {Obviously he elaborates on all of these throughout the pages.}
You may succeed after some glitches. You may finish ahead of the pack. You may come in last. Either way, you'll have to start again and again in life.
April 22, 2013
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.
May 6, 2013
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 multiple lands at once, and often (and should) travel between these lands. (Jon explains this better in the book, I promise.)
Every step along the way, fear and doubt threaten to scare us back to living an “average” life, but we can always fight back. No matter where we are in our journey toward awesome, as Jon says, action always beats intention. We keep moving, we keep dreaming, we keep working hard.
Somehow Jon manages to logically explain the road to awesome while also telling you that you might have to ignore instances of logic in favor of unrelenting hustle to pursue awesome. This book is sure to clarify that not everyone will work his or her “one dream job.” In fact, we may have multiple dreams and our finish on each of those dreams might (will!) look differently than we could ever have imagined.
“The starting line is the only line you completely control. The start is the only moment you’re the boss of. The finish? Don’t kid yourself. That’s months, if not years, away.” – p. 28, Start
The section in Chapter 3 on ignoring those lying internal voices of fear and doubt really, well… spoke to me. If you’re not looking for a dream job, these chapters will still inspire you in other areas of your life. Much of what Jon writes is motivational, but he also includes very practical, applicable tips to start using today.
Jon is not just a humorous writer, but a good one, too. (Any “Serious Wednesday” post on Stuff Christians Life can support that statement.) I seriously laughed out loud on page 1, and I uttered many an introspective “huh” throughout the chapters. He’s open about his own failures, and he includes a variety of stories from others to help readers envision what their own awesome start might look like. Jon writes from a foundation of faith, and you can tell his intention and action stem from knowing God as Creator.
After reading about “doing the reps” and “action payments” in the “Harvesting” chapter, I see again how my parenting choices can be choices of “awesome” or “average,” too.
-Awesome is doing the “reps” of reading the same book five times in a row because it shows my son how much I care and his value to me.
-Awesome is taking the harder, more time-consuming route of teaching my children specific skills (rather than me doing it myself) because it prepares my children to serve and bless others.
-Awesome is not just making great lesson plans for homeschool, but acting and completing them because it guides my children’s development and supports my son’s therapies.
-Awesome is getting as outwardly excited as my kids do (even when I’m exhausted) when my husband comes home because it’s another way to show my husband he matters.
Simple actions, but with exponential results. Plus, there’s so many ways to be awesome in being intentional in my faith, with my time, in my writing, and more. Reading Start reaffirms I’m on my road to awesome. I just need to keep walking and not just sidetracked by “ladders of entitlement” or lures of fear.
We can apply Start’s advice to many areas of life. Want to gain fitness? You gotta start. Want to control overflowing dishes? Action always beats intention.
I love what’s written in this book so much, I actually wrote in it. (I usually cringe at writing in books.) Check out Start, read it, and then… start.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book free from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
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 multiple lands at once, and often (and should) travel between these lands. (Jon explains this better in the book, I promise.)
Every step along the way, fear and doubt threaten to scare us back to living an “average” life, but we can always fight back. No matter where we are in our journey toward awesome, as Jon says, action always beats intention. We keep moving, we keep dreaming, we keep working hard.
Somehow Jon manages to logically explain the road to awesome while also telling you that you might have to ignore instances of logic in favor of unrelenting hustle to pursue awesome. This book is sure to clarify that not everyone will work his or her “one dream job.” In fact, we may have multiple dreams and our finish on each of those dreams might (will!) look differently than we could ever have imagined.
“The starting line is the only line you completely control. The start is the only moment you’re the boss of. The finish? Don’t kid yourself. That’s months, if not years, away.” – p. 28, Start
The section in Chapter 3 on ignoring those lying internal voices of fear and doubt really, well… spoke to me. If you’re not looking for a dream job, these chapters will still inspire you in other areas of your life. Much of what Jon writes is motivational, but he also includes very practical, applicable tips to start using today.
Jon is not just a humorous writer, but a good one, too. (Any “Serious Wednesday” post on Stuff Christians Life can support that statement.) I seriously laughed out loud on page 1, and I uttered many an introspective “huh” throughout the chapters. He’s open about his own failures, and he includes a variety of stories from others to help readers envision what their own awesome start might look like. Jon writes from a foundation of faith, and you can tell his intention and action stem from knowing God as Creator.
After reading about “doing the reps” and “action payments” in the “Harvesting” chapter, I see again how my parenting choices can be choices of “awesome” or “average,” too.
-Awesome is doing the “reps” of reading the same book five times in a row because it shows my son how much I care and his value to me.
-Awesome is taking the harder, more time-consuming route of teaching my children specific skills (rather than me doing it myself) because it prepares my children to serve and bless others.
-Awesome is not just making great lesson plans for homeschool, but acting and completing them because it guides my children’s development and supports my son’s therapies.
-Awesome is getting as outwardly excited as my kids do (even when I’m exhausted) when my husband comes home because it’s another way to show my husband he matters.
Simple actions, but with exponential results. Plus, there’s so many ways to be awesome in being intentional in my faith, with my time, in my writing, and more. Reading Start reaffirms I’m on my road to awesome. I just need to keep walking and not just sidetracked by “ladders of entitlement” or lures of fear.
We can apply Start’s advice to many areas of life. Want to gain fitness? You gotta start. Want to control overflowing dishes? Action always beats intention.
I love what’s written in this book so much, I actually wrote in it. (I usually cringe at writing in books.) Check out Start, read it, and then… start.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book free from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
May 9, 2013
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 current reality, whatever they may be.
* Avoid the temptation to believe that being honest about your current reality is somehow not the way to dream big.
* Live with purpose and enjoy a thousand different passions as you continually walk the road to awesome.
* Everyone who succeeds learns through experimentation.
* The voices of fear and doubt only get louder when you do work that matters.
* The truth is that real-life change and the joy of being who you are designed to be always results in selflessness, not selfishness.
* Don't chase accomplishments instead of awesome.
* Helping other people better their lives is way more fun than obsessing about bettering your own.
* Some work beats no work. Some beats none.
* 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 current reality, whatever they may be.
* Avoid the temptation to believe that being honest about your current reality is somehow not the way to dream big.
* Live with purpose and enjoy a thousand different passions as you continually walk the road to awesome.
* Everyone who succeeds learns through experimentation.
* The voices of fear and doubt only get louder when you do work that matters.
* The truth is that real-life change and the joy of being who you are designed to be always results in selflessness, not selfishness.
* Don't chase accomplishments instead of awesome.
* Helping other people better their lives is way more fun than obsessing about bettering your own.
* Some work beats no work. Some beats none.
May 14, 2013
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 recapturing of a spirit that seems on the decline in the modern era, that moves this book, itself, from average to awesome.
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 recapturing of a spirit that seems on the decline in the modern era, that moves this book, itself, from average to awesome.
April 22, 2017
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 Dave Ramsey. I don't, so the many references to that speaker's example and inspiration left me feeling like the one acquaintance among close friends at a cocktail party.
April 19, 2013
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 new clean copies to share with others so they can do the same.
My copy is seriously dog-earred and highlighted, and I plan to buy a handful of new clean copies to share with others so they can do the same.
May 1, 2023
Short, simple, actionable. I found the author to be funny so reading for me was an enjoyable experience. Loved the bonus content and his advice on how to start when unemployed.
May 8, 2013
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 only is he on Dave Ramsey’s team, but he also has a pair of blogs that are on my must-read list. Stuff Christians Like is a great satire website dedicated to poking fun at Christians. His main blog helps people focus on living a better story by starting on their dreams now.
Why should you START now? Because starting is the only thing you can control. You don’t know when you’ll hit the finish line, heck, you don’t know when you’ll turn from amateur to pro. All you can do now is START. Why not do it today? Be brave and try it, even if you feel like you might fail. START today, live with purpose today. After all, now is all you are guaranteed to have.
Acuff breaks down the journey of average to awesome in several steps:
Learning
Editing
Mastering
Harvesting
Guiding
These areas all flow together and are all connected. Once you start, you must learn as much as you can, begin to edit that learning down until you begin to master it. Once you have planted the seeds though, it is time to reap the harvest of hardwork you put into your dream. Harvesting then leads into guiding, where you help others through the cycle.
START is about going after your dreams. It’s about not settling for less than average. It’s about starting out small, and working your tail off on your big dream. It’s about not wasting the gift of life, so START today on your dreams.
Make no mistake about it though; going after your dreams will be tough. Let’s not get delusional and think that all will be well. But take heart, for stories without dragons are boring and every great hero needs a villain. START is about confronting that tough road and overcoming it.
Perhaps the villain in your story is the endless rejection letters you have received from editors. Know that fear will always be a chief villain in your story. Your archenemy though can be conquered. As Acuff would remind me in his book, “a dream that you don’t fight for isn’t a dream- it’s a nap.”
Pick up the book and give awesome a chance. START today and be awesome!
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 only is he on Dave Ramsey’s team, but he also has a pair of blogs that are on my must-read list. Stuff Christians Like is a great satire website dedicated to poking fun at Christians. His main blog helps people focus on living a better story by starting on their dreams now.
Why should you START now? Because starting is the only thing you can control. You don’t know when you’ll hit the finish line, heck, you don’t know when you’ll turn from amateur to pro. All you can do now is START. Why not do it today? Be brave and try it, even if you feel like you might fail. START today, live with purpose today. After all, now is all you are guaranteed to have.
Acuff breaks down the journey of average to awesome in several steps:
Learning
Editing
Mastering
Harvesting
Guiding
These areas all flow together and are all connected. Once you start, you must learn as much as you can, begin to edit that learning down until you begin to master it. Once you have planted the seeds though, it is time to reap the harvest of hardwork you put into your dream. Harvesting then leads into guiding, where you help others through the cycle.
START is about going after your dreams. It’s about not settling for less than average. It’s about starting out small, and working your tail off on your big dream. It’s about not wasting the gift of life, so START today on your dreams.
Make no mistake about it though; going after your dreams will be tough. Let’s not get delusional and think that all will be well. But take heart, for stories without dragons are boring and every great hero needs a villain. START is about confronting that tough road and overcoming it.
Perhaps the villain in your story is the endless rejection letters you have received from editors. Know that fear will always be a chief villain in your story. Your archenemy though can be conquered. As Acuff would remind me in his book, “a dream that you don’t fight for isn’t a dream- it’s a nap.”
Pick up the book and give awesome a chance. START today and be awesome!
June 13, 2016
I received this book as a birthday gift from my brother. I am a 38-year-old journalist/newspaper-type that has been laid off twice in the past five years (as a copy editor for a large former daily and editor of a small bi-weekly paper, both for financial reasons), so seeking another career has definitely crossed my mind.
Wow. If you need a kick in the pants, this is the book to do it. Other reviewers have commented that only a couple main points have stuck with them from the book, and I would agree. I would offer, however, that these points have had a tremendous impact on the way I perceive myself in relationship to the world.
To be a master of something, you need to invest 10,000 hours. Check, check, and check. I've spent 10,000 hours playing guitar and singing. I've spent 10,000 hours writing (easily), and I've spent close to 10,000 hours painting, drawing and doing graphic design.
I ended up taking another journalism job for safety's sake (and health insurance), but in the meantime I have started two open mics that substantially augment my income, I have started four or five writing projects that I continue to work on and -- I even STARTED and finished my first painting since about 1998.
My brother is a very religious person, and he told me that God doesn't give us our gifts by accident ... there is a reason I can paint, there is a reason I can sing and write ... God wants me to use my talents to make the world a better place. You can only do that by "starting" ...
I tend to agree with reviewers who say it was a bit distracting that the book tends to focus more on entrepreneurs, but it was a nice little pep talk. I like the indices that feature lists of questions. Take the time to try to answer them. This book does a great job of helping establish your priorities and prioritize your skills.
I like the author's relaxed and goofy-at-times writing style, while also appreciating that his enthusiasm and passion comes through in his writing. Would recommend for people like me who are thinking about starting over again.
Wow. If you need a kick in the pants, this is the book to do it. Other reviewers have commented that only a couple main points have stuck with them from the book, and I would agree. I would offer, however, that these points have had a tremendous impact on the way I perceive myself in relationship to the world.
To be a master of something, you need to invest 10,000 hours. Check, check, and check. I've spent 10,000 hours playing guitar and singing. I've spent 10,000 hours writing (easily), and I've spent close to 10,000 hours painting, drawing and doing graphic design.
I ended up taking another journalism job for safety's sake (and health insurance), but in the meantime I have started two open mics that substantially augment my income, I have started four or five writing projects that I continue to work on and -- I even STARTED and finished my first painting since about 1998.
My brother is a very religious person, and he told me that God doesn't give us our gifts by accident ... there is a reason I can paint, there is a reason I can sing and write ... God wants me to use my talents to make the world a better place. You can only do that by "starting" ...
I tend to agree with reviewers who say it was a bit distracting that the book tends to focus more on entrepreneurs, but it was a nice little pep talk. I like the indices that feature lists of questions. Take the time to try to answer them. This book does a great job of helping establish your priorities and prioritize your skills.
I like the author's relaxed and goofy-at-times writing style, while also appreciating that his enthusiasm and passion comes through in his writing. Would recommend for people like me who are thinking about starting over again.
March 18, 2016
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 and passions. Doing it all in a way to not alienate your family and friends.
If you’re ready to take the plunge into your next venture but feeling a bit stuck because a few details just don’t line up or are not as perfect as you’d like… then you need to read this book. “Start” the book and I’m sure you will find ways to get past your fears and frustrations and “Start” living your dream.
A must read for all upcoming college grads! Skip right to Appendix B.
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 and passions. Doing it all in a way to not alienate your family and friends.
If you’re ready to take the plunge into your next venture but feeling a bit stuck because a few details just don’t line up or are not as perfect as you’d like… then you need to read this book. “Start” the book and I’m sure you will find ways to get past your fears and frustrations and “Start” living your dream.
A must read for all upcoming college grads! Skip right to Appendix B.
December 20, 2017
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 choosing to live WITH purpose instead, regardless of what you're doing. Acuff has some great humor, and the book is completely clean and free of cursing (which is really, really refreshing). This is a short simple read, but has some great ideas. It's definitely one that I plan to continue working with and referencing.
November 4, 2013
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.
May 3, 2013
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.
May 4, 2013
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.
November 17, 2015
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!
May 22, 2020
This an amazing book. I felt like instead of reading a book I was actually talking to the author during lunch time. Extremely easy to read with very strong information that you can apply right away. The most important part and the message front the book is in the title, punch fear in the face and START!
May 4, 2013
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.
May 11, 2013
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!
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