All It Takes Is A Goal
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.
Episodes
279 episodes
ATG 278 | Permission: The One Word Solution to Procrastination
What if I told you there's one word that can solve procrastination instantly? A word you haven't thought about in years, but one that used to mean everything to you. In this episode, I'm sharing insights from my new book, Procrastination Proof,...
ATG 277 | The Napkin That Changed My Life: Why You're Living Inside a Postage Stamp
A creative director once drew something on a napkin that completely changed how I saw my own limitations. His name was Ted, and he showed me why I was so unhappy at 26, stuck in my fifth job in six years, and dangerously close to needing a sixt...
ATG 276 | The Real Reason You Procrastinate (It's Not What You Think)
Ask 100,000 people why they procrastinate and you'll get five common answers: task, time, history, fear, and ego. Maybe the project feels overwhelming. Maybe you don't have enough time. Maybe procrastination paid off in college when you still g...
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ATG 275 | What Are You Waiting For? The Question That Changed My Life at 37
I spent two years preparing to write my first book. You know what finally got it done? Writing one terrible page on a Tuesday afternoon in a Burger King. For years, I sang Colin Hay's "Waiting for My Real Life to Begin" hundreds of times while ...
ATG 274 | From $250 Tuesday Nights to The Tonight Show: What John Crist Learned in 13 Years of Comedy
What happens when two guys who've known each other for 13 years sit down to talk about the weird journey of chasing dreams? In this conversation with comedian John Crist, we get into the stuff nobody talks about: the Excel spreadsheet he keeps ...
ATG 273 | Starting is Fun, But the Future Belongs to Finishers: 3 Soundtracks That Will Change Your Life
This is the grand finale of our five episode arc about soundtracks, and today I'm pulling three random cards from my original Soundtracks deck to break down what they mean and how they can help you. We're talking about why starting is exciting ...
ATG 272 | 3 Soundtracks Every Parent with Teens Needs to Hear (Conversation Starters That Actually Work)
Trying to have a conversation with your teenager? You ask how their day was and get "fine." You ask who was at the party and get "no one." You ask what they're doing and get "nothing." Sound familiar? In this episode, I'm sharing three powerful...
ATG 271 | You Don't Have to Be the Smartest Person in the Room, Just the Bravest: 3 Soundtracks for Entrepreneurs
Being an entrepreneur is challenging, which is why you need the right mindset soundtracks. In this episode, I'm sharing three powerful soundtracks from my entrepreneur card deck that will help you build and scale your business. You'll discover ...
ATG 270 | Family Shows Up: 3 Soundtracks Every Parent Needs for Raising Kids
Welcome to part two of our five part series on soundtracks! This episode is specifically for parents with kids. I'm pulling three random soundtracks from our Parents with Kids card deck and breaking down why they matter. You'll discover why you...
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ATG 269 | Crisis Magnifies Kindness: 3 Soundtracks Every Couple Needs to Hear
What if three simple phrases could transform your relationship? In this episode, I'm kicking off a brand new five part series on soundtracks by diving into the couples deck. I'm pulling three cards at random and breaking down why these soundtra...
ATG 268 | From Scrap to Steel: How to Turn Wasted Work Into High Value Time
81% of people work after dinner, drowning in back to back Zoom meetings where they doodle under the table, only to do real work at night. Sound familiar? In this episode, I sit down with Juliet Funt, author and consultant who helps companies tu...
ATG 267 | We Wanted to Love Coming to Work Every Day: Building a Business Without Burnout with Patrick Lencioni
Patrick Lencioni built a multimillion-dollar business, sold 10 million books, and became one of the most influential leadership voices in the world. But here's what you might not know: he never had a five-year plan, turned down opportunities to...
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ATG 266 | The Algorithm Is Retraining Your Mind (And Why You Can't Win as a Leader)
Why can't leaders win anymore? No matter what you say, someone's upset. In this conversation with Carey Nieuwhof, host of one of today's most influential leadership podcasts, we unpack why 49 hours a week on our phones has created 100 different...
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ATG 265 | The Algorithm Doesn't Care If They Love You or Hate You: Building a Coffee Empire with Caitlin Campbell
What happens when you set a goal for 20,000 followers in six months and hit half a million instead? Caitlin Campbell built a seven-figure coffee business in the public eye, navigating viral videos, negative comments, and sudden fame along the w...
ATG 264 | Hope Is an Act of Open Rebellion: Why Optimism Is the Secret Weapon of World-Class Performers
What if everything you thought about optimism was wrong? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Michael Gervais, high-performance psychologist who's worked with the Seattle Seahawks, Felix Baumgartner, and world-class performers across every fiel...
ATG 263 | The Hyper-Optimizer's Trap with Dr. James Hewitt
Dr. James Hewitt spent years teaching Fortune 500 companies and Formula One teams how to optimize performance—while ignoring his own advice. Then he found a lump in the shower. In this fascinating conversation, James shares how a late-30s cance...
ATG 262: 50 by 50: The Final 27 Lessons I Learned by Age 50
This is it—the final installment of my 50 by 50 series. I've spent four episodes breaking down 50 lessons I learned in my first half-century on this planet (yes, I said half-century). In this episode, I'm covering the final 27 lessons, from "dr...
ATG 261: 50 Things That Took Me 50 Years to Learn: Part 3
I just turned 50, and milestone birthdays make me reflective. Here's what I realized: I liked my 40s way more than my 30s. I'm happier, in better shape, more connected relationally, accomplishing more goals, but taking more vacation. Why? What ...
ATG 260: 4 (more) Lessons It Took Me 50 Years to Learn (That Will Change Your Life)
I just turned 50, and I've learned some things the hard way. In this episode, I'm sharing four more life lessons that took me half a century to figure out—lessons I wish I could tell my 30-year-old self. You'll discover why successful people ar...
ATG 259: 5 Lessons It Took Me 50 Years to Learn (And You Can Steal Right Now)
I'm turning 50 on December 19 (presents welcome), and as I approach the half-century mark, I've been reflecting on the lessons that have meant the most to me. When you're in your 20s, you don't have hard-fought wisdom, but at 50, there's no den...
ATG 258: Gift Guide 2025: 11 Hidden Gems You Won't Find Anywhere Else
Don't know what to get for that person who has it all? I've got you covered. This year's Try This Gift Guide features 11 items the Acuff house absolutely loved or made in 2025—from the card game that teaches you everything about a person (
ATG 257: Politicians Are Temporary, Family Is Forever: Your Thanksgiving Survival Guide
I am my niece and nephew's favorite uncle—mostly because I'm their only uncle, but a win is a win. Election years turn every family gathering into "squirrely uncle season," and Thanksgiving is ground zero. You've got relatives who think differe...
ATG 256: The 4 Books That Changed My Year (And Why I Read 75 Fewer Books)
Last year, I read more than 100 books. This year, I cut that goal down to 25—and actually got more out of them. After realizing I was flying through books without retaining much, I slowed down and found four that earned a permanent spot on my b...
ATG 255: Stop Being a Success Voyeur
Have you ever noticed how easy it is to binge on other people’s success stories? Podcasts, books, courses—it all feels productive, but sometimes it’s just procrastination in disguise. I call it being a success voyeur. You’re peering th...
ATG 254: Throw Your Bottles: Why the World Needs What You're Afraid to Create
I've written 11 books, but I didn't have a 10-year plan. I just got tired of my fearful mindset dictating my entire life. In my mid-30s, I threw my first bottle into the ocean—and it changed everything. In this episode, I'm sharing why you need...
