All It Takes Is A Goal - podcast cover

All It Takes Is A Goal

Jon Acuff acuff.me
Jon Acuff is the New York Times bestselling author of ten books, including his most recent, All it Takes is a Goal.


Published in dozens of languages, his work is both critically acclaimed and adored by readers. When he's not writing, 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, Range Rover, Microsoft, Chick-fil-A, and Comedy Central. Known for his insights wrapped in humor, Acuff shared the stage with an American Icon when he opened up for Dolly Parton at the Ryman Auditorium.


Jon lives outside of Nashville, TN with his wife Jenny and two daughters.


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Episodes

ATG 57: Get a grip on your calendar: The last time management tool you’ll ever need

When I ask people what the hardest part of finishing their goals is, the #1 answer is always time management. We’re all too busy, and we all have a finite amount of hours in the day to work with. But would you believe me if I told you that you can create more time? Because you can. In this episode, I’ll teach you the power of a Time Audit, show you to use it to get a grip on your calendar and create more time to spend doing what matters most. If you’re constantly wishing for more hours in your d...

Jan 24, 202225 minSeason 1Ep. 57

ATG 56: The 5-minute tool that will help you make 30 days of progress

Big goals are accomplished through small actions. That’s why a crucial part of successfully finishing a goal is tracking the little things that keep you moving toward the finish line. In this episode, I’ll teach you how to make an Action Tracker AKA the tool I use to accomplish all my goals. I’ll also share the question I ask myself when I’m tempted to give up on a goal, prompts to help you zero in on exactly what steps you need to take to reach your goal, and so much more! From This Episode: Ca...

Jan 17, 202225 minSeason 1Ep. 56

ATG 55: Does your New Year’s Resolution have these 3 words yet? It better!

Every successful goal has 4 things in common: results, action, time, and motivation. Results are first on the list for a reason. If you don’t determine where you want to end up, you’ll never know when you’ve crossed the finish line. Listen to this episode for the three simple words that will help you define the results that will measure your success. From This Episode: Here's my conversation with Alone producer Ryan Pender I talked with Brendan Leonard about having fun goals Follow me on Goodrea...

Jan 10, 202222 minSeason 1Ep. 55

ATG 54: 10 micro goals for massive results

Are you working on a goal that has you feeling stuck? Or maybe it feels really overwhelming or frustrating? If you can relate, chances are, your goal is too big. That’s why this episode is all about the power of a micro-goal, AKA a small goal that generates big results. It’s sort of like having a Roth IRA. You invest small actions over time, and eventually, you’ve got massive dividends. Listen in to learn how to set a micro-goal that can slingshot you over the finish line of 2022. From This Epis...

Jan 03, 202229 minSeason 1Ep. 54

ATG 53: How to create fail-proof New Year’s Resolutions

92% of New Years Resolutions fail according to an University of Scranton study. (Did you just think of The Office?) Those are pretty grim odds, but there's a secret I'm sharing in this episode that will help you beat them. I'll walk you through how to set a fail-proof goal, share how I did on my goals this year (spoiler: I didn't finish them all and that's okay), and tell you about my goals for 2022 so you can see how to set yourself up for success in the new year. From This Episode: Grab a 2022...

Dec 27, 202137 minSeason 1Ep. 53

ATG 52: From “accidental entrepreneur” to the 40 under 40, the side hustlers guide to success with Courtney Hale

When Courtney Hale hosted his first financial literacy program, he had 5 kids in the program. Now, he’s helped thousands of parents and children all over the country understand saving, spending, and finances. Courtney is the Chief Hope Dealer of Super Money Kids, a social-enterprise that designs experiences to improve the financial literacy of youth. Among numerous awards and recognitions, Courtney has been recognized on the 40 under 40 list and featured on the Ellen DeGeneres Show (yes, THE Ell...

Dec 20, 202151 minSeason 1Ep. 52

ATG 51: Don't be a jerk to the person you spend the most time with - how to be kind to Future You

Have you ever stayed up late scrolling Instagram or YouTube and woken up exhausted? When that happens to me, I always think, "Night Jon screwed Morning Jon." Have you ever decided to change your sheets after you get home from work, only to come home to a completely unmade bed you forgot all about? Morning You screwed Night You. How can you prepare future you for success? In this episode, I'll answer that question and wrap up our special three-part series with the last gift I want you to give you...

Dec 13, 202124 minSeason 1Ep. 51

ATG 50: Postponing joy, losing your edge and why it's easy to repeat negative thoughts

I told my counselor a few weeks ago that I was afraid of "Losing my edge." His answer surprised me and I bet it will surprise you too. In Part 2 of this special three-part series, I’m sharing the second of three very specific gifts you need to give yourself this holiday season. Just like the first gift, it’s free, fits all, and you can't find it for sale online, in stores, or in catalogs. I’ll tell you what it is in this episode! Missed Part 1? That’s okay, this isn’t the show, "Lost." You won't...

Dec 06, 202123 minSeason 1Ep. 50

ATG 49: The gift you need to give YOURSELF this holiday season (Part 1)

In this episode, I’m kicking off a special three-part series with three very specific gifts you need to give yourself at the end of the year. All three gifts are 100% free, they fit everyone and you can't find them for sale online, in stores, or in catalogs. What are they? Find out in this episode! Stay tuned for Part 2 & 3! In this episode: Finish more goals with the Finish Calendar ! Inner Game of Tennis by W. Timothy Gallwey Follow Jon on Instagram , Twitter , YouTube , and Facebook . Ord...

Nov 29, 202122 minSeason 1Ep. 49

ATG 48: Finish more goals by asking 1 surprising question!

Want to have a big year? Ask big questions. In this episode, I’ll teach you one of the most powerful questions you can ask when it comes to finishing goals. Heads up, it's going to step on your toes a little bit. It’s probably a question you’ve never asked yourself before, but as soon as you do, you’re going to be surprised it took you this long. In this episode: Catch up on the Grading on a Curve episode Finish more goals with the Finish Calendar Text me at 615-398-6873 Book me to speak at your...

Nov 22, 202120 minSeason 1Ep. 48

ATG 47: 4 Soundtracks to Survive the Holidays

Do you love the holidays? I know that can be a loaded question, that’s why I’ve got a special holiday episode of All it Takes is a Goal for you. We’re on the edge of Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and so many other celebrations, and maybe it doesn’t feel like a Hallmark movie for you. Maybe you’re dreading it just a little bit. Don’t stress. In this episode, I’ve got 4 soundtracks that will help you survive the holidays so you can enjoy the most wonderful time of the year! In this e...

Nov 15, 202126 minSeason 1Ep. 47

ATG 46: 5 reasons you should ignore the sleep mafia

Have you ever felt guilty for not waking up hours before the sun comes up? Have you ever felt like you shouldn't take a nap or should get up at 3AM to do burpees? That's probably the result of the "Sleep Mafia," AKA a group of influencers trying to convince you that you need to wake up when they wake up. In this episode, I've got 5 reasons you should ignore them and stick to the sleep schedule that's best for you. In this episode: Book Jon to speak at your event or to your team! Follow Jon on In...

Nov 08, 202128 minSeason 1Ep. 46

ATG 45: When is the last time you felt 13?

"Well that was...awkward." I don’t care if you're 25, 35, 45, 55, or 85, at some point, something is going to happen that makes you feel like a 13-year-old all over again. You'll be in a meeting, a presentation, or a dinner party where something awkward will happen and you'll stand there feeling like the teenage version of yourself. What do you do in that moment? I've got three questions to ask yourself when you face any of life's awkward moments. In this episode: Book Jon to speak at your event...

Nov 01, 202120 minSeason 1Ep. 45

ATG 44: It's YOUR life, so live it on purpose. My inspiring conversation with Tanya Dalton

Tanya Dalton is a best-selling author, speaker, and nationally recognized productivity expert. Her first book, The Joy of Missing Out, was named one of the Top 10 Business Books of the year by Fortune Magazine, and her podcast, The Intentional Advantage, has received millions of downloads. She knows that it's easy to get caught up pursuing other people's goals or only setting the goals you think others expect you to. She joins me for a conversation about how to set goals even when you don't know...

Oct 25, 202146 minSeason 1Ep. 44

ATG 43: It’s great to be average: Accomplishing goals just because you love them with Brendan Leonard

Brendan Leonard is a writer, illustrator, speaker, and ultrarunner. In 2019, he completed 52 marathon-distance runs in 52 weeks, and survived, while having fun part of the time. Leonard is a columnist at Outside, and his writing has appeared in Runner's World, National Geographic Adventure, Climbing, and Alpinist and on CNN.com and in dozens of other publications, including his website, Semi-Rad.com . He also lived in a van for several years, loves pizza, and is easily one of the coolest people ...

Oct 18, 202153 minSeason 1Ep. 43

ATG 42: How to Embrace the Unknown and Express Your Hidden Genius with Victoria Labalme

Do you ever feel like you’re the only person that didn’t get the manual on how to be an adult? Or like you still have no idea what you really want to spend your life doing? Let me introduce you to my guest, Victoria Labalme. Victoria is a Performing Artist and Performance Coach, so it probably goes without saying she’s a creative genius. She’s the founder of Rock the Room, and recently released a brand new book called Risk Forward. Victoria’s on a mission to help you embrace the unknown, express...

Oct 11, 202140 minSeason 1Ep. 42

ATG 41: How to make $10 million when your dream falls apart. My bonkers conversation with Cathy Heller.

I don’t video record my podcasts because I’m so new at this that I’m pretty sure I’m making weird faces while I read the questions I’ve written before hand for these interviews. Plus, I apparently have a furious focus face, the old “triple F” as they say in Latin. I look so mad when I’m really listening. But if you could see the video of this conversation, in this episode you’d see me start leaning in, start clapping and start taking notes. Cathy Heller’s story of losing her record deal, reinven...

Oct 04, 202146 minSeason 1Ep. 41

ATG 40: Becoming a Micro Innovator with Josh Linkner

Creativity is all about revision. Not many of us are capable of launching ideas already formed and perfectly successful, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t creative. I had my friend, Josh Linkner, join me for a conversation about creativity and innovation. Josh is the number one most booked innovation keynote speaker. And he also loves Legos. We discussed Josh’s recent book, Big Little Breakthroughs , which is all about how small creative acts can unlock massive creative rewards over time. Whether ...

Sep 27, 202146 minSeason 1Ep. 40

ATG 39: How to unlock the power of self-awareness and the Enneagram with Ian Morgan Cron

What you do says a lot about you, but why you do what you do says a lot more. That’s why I asked Ian Morgan Cron to join me for a conversation all about the Enneagram. Ian Morgan Cron is a bestselling author, psychotherapist, Enneagram teacher, and host of the popular podcast, Typology. He uses the Enneagram personality-typing system as a tool to help leaders cultivate self-awareness and emotional wisdom. Whether you’ve never heard of the Enneagram or you have some experience with it already, th...

Sep 20, 202145 minSeason 1Ep. 39

ATG 38: The secret month that makes accomplishing your goals a lot easier!

Everybody knows that January is a big month for goals, but there’s another secret month hidden in the calendar that’s a powerful time to start a new goal. I call these months “slingshot months” because they fall during times of the year where there’s already momentum building so they can launch your goals toward success. It took me 25 years to discover the hidden power of the second, less famous slingshot month, but you’re about to learn all about it and how to make the most of it in 25 minutes....

Sep 13, 202126 minSeason 1Ep. 38

ATG 37: At your best: How to get time, energy, and priorities working in your favor with Carey Nieuwhof

Life always moves fast, but what happens when the pace of life becomes totally unsustainable? My friend and mentor, Carey Nieuwhof, rebuilt his entire life after a whirlwind career left him burned out and exhausted for years. A former lawyer, Carey is now a bestselling leadership author, speaker, and podcaster. He speaks to leaders around the world about leadership, change and personal growth. He joins me in this episode to tell you how to make time work for you so you can live more of the life ...

Sep 06, 202149 minSeason 1Ep. 37

ATG 36: Stop Performing and Start Serving: How to Build a Brand That Matters with Rory Vaden

74% of Americans agree that they're more likely to trust someone who has an established personal brand, so what does your personal brand say about you? Do you have a personal brand? Have you ever thought about building one? New York Times best-selling author, professional speaker Hall of Famer, eight-figure company entrepreneur, and my long-time friend, Rory Vaden, knows that personal brands are the future no matter what industry you're in. He joins me in this episode to tell you how to develop ...

Aug 30, 202147 minSeason 1Ep. 36

ATG 35: 4 ways to master the art of Strategic Boredom

When’s the last time you were really bored? If you’re like me, it’s probably the last time you were in the shower. That seems to be the only time when I’m not trying to maximize productivity by multi-tasking or listening to an audiobook or podcast. Most of us have packed our lives so full of activities that we don’t have a lot of room left for the quiet, often necessary groundswell of creativity. Creativity needs boredom, but there’s a way to be strategic about it. Listen to the episode for four...

Aug 23, 202130 minSeason 1Ep. 35

ATG 34: Grizzly Bears and Gill Nets: Discovering what matters most in life with "Alone" Producer Ryan Pender

You’re completely alone in the wilderness. You only have 10 pieces of gear. If you can tough it out longer than nine other people, you win $500,000. Also, there are bears. And maybe a wolverine here and there. How long do you think you would last? This is the actual premise of one of my all-time favorite TV shows, Alone. One of the show’s producers, Ryan Pender, joins me this week to tell me the surprising lessons people learn about life and themselves when they’re completely isolated and solely...

Aug 16, 202141 minSeason 1Ep. 34

ATG 33: 5 simple ways to escape the comparison trap

Who’s that person you always compare yourself to? Maybe it’s some perfect mom you follow online? Or maybe it’s the coworker who actually got in better shape during the pandemic? The one that got the 8-pack of abs then had the audacity to also learn Italian, start a community garden for elderly orphans, and rescue five Corgi-German Shepherd mixes? You know who I’m talking about. Social media has made it easier than ever to get caught in the trap of comparison, but there are a few actionable steps...

Aug 09, 202123 minSeason 1Ep. 33

ATG 32: Enough About Me: The Unexpected Power of Selflessness with Richard Lui

Can selfless acts help you achieve your goals? It may sound counterintuitive that investing time into others can help you achieve your goals, but Richard Lui has the data that proves selflessness pays major dividends for the giver and the receiver. Veteran journalist Richard Lui has more than 30 years in television, film, technology, and business. He's the first Asian American man to anchor a daily national cable news program, and a team Emmy and Peabody winner. He joins me for a conversation to...

Aug 02, 202145 minSeason 1Ep. 32

ATG 31: The 4 best steps to take before you start a new goal

Have you ever felt like no matter how hard you’re working on a goal, you’re just not making any progress? When the scale doesn’t budge, the income doesn’t increase, or the pages don’t get written, it can be discouraging. Not seeing progress come quickly enough is one of the biggest reasons people give up on their goals. Here’s the issue though - progress is found not received, and the only way to see it is to know exactly where you started. The best map in the world is useless if you don’t know ...

Jul 26, 202121 minSeason 1Ep. 31

ATG 30: Lose 100lbs, build a multi-million dollar business, laugh a lot - the Corinne Crabtree story

What does it really take to be successful? A platform? The right connections? A giant start-up fund? Corinne Crabtree didn’t have any of those things but that didn’t stop her from building a massive business. Corinne is a weight loss coach, multi-million dollar business owner, and productivity genius, but her success wasn’t the result of some big break. Corinne was raised by a single mom without any money. She didn't finish college. She started her business without a platform. And now she's got ...

Jul 19, 202147 minSeason 1Ep. 30

ATG 29: 7 Ways to Deal with Rejection

How do you handle rejection? If you're like me, you'd respond with "poorly and personally, " but there's a better way. Rejection sucks, but it's a part of life, and you should be prepared for it. That's why in this episode, I'm giving you 7 ways you can deal with rejection that will help you take the sting out of it, learn from it, and get over it. Follow Jon on Instagram , Twitter , YouTube , and Facebook . Order Soundtracks , Jon's newest book available wherever you find quality books!...

Jul 12, 202123 minSeason 1Ep. 29

ATG 28: How to take the awkward out of networking with Jordan Harbinger

If you've ever heard the word “networking” and were instantly flooded with images of uncomfortable cocktail parties, awkward business card exchanges, and cheesy Zoom calls, it’s probably because that’s how most of the world is still running networking events. Luckily there are people like Jordan Harbinger that are making the world of networking much more enjoyable and much more worth your time. Jordan is a lawyer that left the corporate world to, in his words, “read books and talk to smart peopl...

Jul 05, 202151 minSeason 1Ep. 28
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