Why is it that so many of us struggle with work? Does everyone have a dream job? And does social media and leadership make you narcissistic?
Just a few of the issues we touch on today as I interview New York Times Best selling author and social media expert Jon Acuff.
These are just a few of the issues we touch on today as I interview New York Times best-selling author and social media expert Jon Acuff.
AND, don’t miss my podcast contest! Make sure you enter today.
Scroll all the way to the bottom to enter this week’s prize—free autographed copies of my book, Leading Change Without Losing It AND Jon Acuff’s Stuff Christians Like—and be entered to win the grand prize: admission to the Orange Conference 2015, plus coffee with me and Jon.
Welcome to Episode 9 of the podcast.
Guest Links: Jon Acuff
Jon on Twitter
Jon on Facebook
Dreamers and Builders (Jon’s Facebook group)
StuffChristiansLike.net (Jon’s satirical blog on Christian culture)
Acuff.me (Jon’s blog on getting unstuck in your work)
Gazelles, Baby Steps, and 37 Other Things Dave Ramsey Taught Me about Debt
Quitter: Closing the Gap Between Your Day Job & Your Dream Job
Start: Punch Fear in the Face, Escape Average and Do Work that Matters
Do Over: Rescue Monday, Reinvent Your Work, and Never Get Stuck (Jon’s new book coming out April 7, 2015)
Preorder on Amazon
Preorder on Barnes & Noble
Preorder on Books-A-Million
A Free eBook from Jon Acuff
This week, Jon Acuff is giving away a free e-book to you.
Text “GRIT” to 38470 to get a digital copy of The Grit Decisions: How to Make a Decision Involving Grit
Links Mentioned in This Episode
Orange (Reggie Joiner‘s next generation ministry)
Worldwide, Only 13% of employees are engaged at Work (2014 Gallup Poll)
“Comeback Kid (That’s My Dog)” by Brett Dennen
Check out the podcast archive for previous episodes with guests like Andy Stanley and Perry Noble: careynieuwhof.com/mypodcast
3 Things You Can Do Right Away
You don’t have to be miserable in your career, and what you’re passionate about is subject to change. As one seeks to evolve and explore their God-given talents, he may find himself feeling vulnerable to failure, but that’s OK! Jon talks to us about how to paddle through turbulent transitions.
1. Take responsibility for yourself. Jon said that he was a “serial quitter,” always bouncing from job to job when he got bored after being in a position for less than a year. After much self reflection, Jon realized that the common denominator among all of these “bad jobs” was him. The best-selling author says that when it comes to work, you control a lot more than you think, and you don’t control a lot more than you think. It’s about figuring out where that tension is. You may need to hustle on your attitude, not just your abilities.
2. Give yourself grace and freedom to explore your gift, and acknowledge that fear will come. So many times we ask ourselves, “How do I know what God wants me to do? How do I know what his will is for my life?” We expect God to give us a list of things to do, but He won’t do that. God wants us to rely on Him, to have a relationship with Him, not depend on a list. God is a lamp onto our path, not a lamp onto our mile. His mercies are new every morning, not every year. Sometimes we think that being afraid is failure, but it’s actually staying afraid that’s failure. Know that it’s going to be difficult, and that’s ok.
3. Discover your gift within community. Don’t try to go at it alone. We are often the worst judges at the things we are good at. The talent we have trouble recognizing is our own. When you grow up with a gift, and it comes natural to you, you assume that everyone can do it. You disrespect it. You need relationships that hold up a mirror to tell you, “You really come alive when you (gift goes here).” Community is a big part of figuring out the conversation of your calling versus trying to figure it out on your own. We need people; we need safe people. Join with the people experiencing some of the same things you are.
Quotes to Share from Jon
I’m gonna work for 40 years. I don’t think they should be bad, miserable years. @JonAcuff Click To Tweet We have accepted that work should be miserable. I don’t think that’s true. @JonAcuff Click To Tweet It’s much easier to blame people. Blame is a shortcut. @JonAcuff Click To Tweet You don’t get to have #hope without #hurt. @JonAcuff Click To Tweet Everyone has a gift they’re supposed to express. It comes in a lot of different shapes. @JonAcuff Click To TweetA New Episode Every Week…Just Subscribe.
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Got a question?
Next Episode: Ron Edmondson
Think your church can’t change? Think again. Next week, Ron Edmondson, blogger and pastor, joins us to talk about how to navigate change in a church or organization with a long history.
Enter HERE to Win Coffee with Jon and Me & a Ticket to Orange Conference 2015 & More!
Win a prize every week with our first ever listener contest! When you enter by leaving a comment in the show notes of the blog, it’s also your ballot to win the grand prize. This week’s prize is an autographed copy of Leading Change Without Losing It.
The grand prize, which will be drawn a few weeks from now, is a free ticket to The Orange Conference 2015 in Atlanta in April of next year. Not only does it get you in for free, but you get a coffee with me and Jon Acuff backstage!
We are selecting the grand prize winner from all of the comments shared over the next few weeks so you can enter multiple times by participating each week. And each week one person will win the book of the week. This week’s prize is free autographed copies of my book, Leading Change Without Losing It AND Jon Acuff’s Stuff Christians Like.
