What if you could break out of the work rut-tine? What if your dream job is closer than you expect? What if doing work that truly matters is more of a reality than ever before?
Sure, we’ve all heard those same questions before… and then some veneer-flashing, wonder speaker pitches us the next “get rich” quick scheme. (*buzz*) Pass! Not for me.
Confession time: that’s what I expected when I first started reading Start: Punch Fear in the Face, Escape Average, and Do Work that Matters by Jon Acuff. I was completely mistaken.
The past hundred years has seen a revolution in how we use technology, culture, and the way we do business. The old model of “slave away for 30 years, and then you can enjoy the good life,” is now being challenged with the dawn of startups, solopreneurs, and people unwilling to accept status quo, hook, line, and sinker.
Acuff does an excellent job walking his readers through the life path of work that matters. The easy road is the average road: the normal, the entry-level to the junior level to mid-management to senior to exec…. to death. That doesn’t sound like a great road to me at all, especially since the past ten years has taught me many senior and executive personnel have lost their identity (and family) to their companies long ago.
Things change on the awesome road. Acuff explains seven stages on the road to doing awesome work, and how each of these stages adds value to your journey. It’s harder because you will need to face fears and insecurities, including some ghosts from your past, but the reward is work with purpose attached.
This book was a major catalyst in helping me launch Archway Ink. I was sick and tired of the glass ceiling over the past near decade, and I believe in a better way of life and fulfillment. The decision to chase dreams that matter was one of the best decision I’ve ever made. Any time someone mentions to me they’re ready for a change, to do something more with their career, future, even their life, I’m recommending “the Start book”.
Jon Acuff is a New York Times best-selling author of four books, speaker, and semi-pro fear-puncher. He also has my favorite first name, which makes us basically blood brothers. Start: Punch Fear in the Face, Escape Average, and Do Work that Matters can be purchased through Amazon. If you’d like to read more from Jon Acuff, visit his site to read his latest posts.