All It Takes Is A Goal

Jon Acuff

The future belongs to finishers. Join New York Times Bestselling author and speaker Jon Acuff as he explores the best tips, tricks and techniques to getting from where you are today to where you want to be tomorrow. All it takes is a goal.

  • 1 hour 33 minutes
    ATG 274 | From $250 Tuesday Nights to 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 of every show he's ever done (including whether he got a standing ovation), why he still sleeps in his car at gas stations with his handgun in the cup holder, and the one joke about the Confederacy he's been trying to crack for six years. We also dive into why most people quit before they make it, what it's like when other comedians become your reverse mentors, the moment you cross over from being the small guy to being the successful one everyone resents, and why "in a world addicted to fear, hope is an act of open rebellion." Plus, John breaks down why he thinks the internet has changed, what makes a good hang on the road, and why he's finally getting married after all these years. This one gets real about the trade offs, the ego hits, and why you can't have both pending doom and whatever at the same time.

    In This Episode:

    Grab your very own Soundtracks Conversations Card Deck for Parents & Teens 

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    23 March 2026, 5:00 am
  • 17 minutes 27 seconds
    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 but finishing is where the magic happens (spoiler: 92% of New Year's resolutions fail because everyone starts but only 8% finish), why feeling uncomfortable is actually a good sign that you're growing, and why the world will never be changed by the things you almost did. If you've got an almost list (and we all do), this episode will challenge you to rescue just one thing from it. These aren't just cards. They're conversation starters, daily reminders, and tools to help you retire broken soundtracks and replace them with powerful new ones. Growth is the goal, not comfort. Let's get after it.

    In This Episode:

    Grab your very own Soundtracks Conversations Card Deck for Parents & Teens 

    Make sure to follow me on Instagram and share with your friends!

    Keep up with my book list on GoodReads!

    Sign up for my newsletter, Try This!

    Book me to speak at your event or to your team!

    You can grab a copy of my book All It Takes Is a Goal from your favorite bookstore or at my website!

    Sign up for the Remarkable You Community today!

    16 March 2026, 5:00 am
  • 18 minutes 48 seconds
    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 soundtracks from our Parents and Teens card deck that will help you start real conversations with your teenager. These aren't hypothetical parenting tips. I raised two teenagers, and these are straight from my own dinner table. You'll discover why "if you wouldn't say it to a friend, don't say it to yourself" teaches self awareness, how "this is my first time too" opens up vulnerability and deeper connection, and why teenagers need to think of their parents as "investors in YOU Inc." These conversation starters are natural, simple, and designed to help you move from quantity time to quality time. Because here's the reality: you don't get one deep conversation. You practice these cards over and over until card number seven or fourteen changes everything.

    In This Episode:

    Grab your very own Soundtracks Conversations Card Deck for Parents & Teens 

    Make sure to follow me on Instagram and share with your friends!

    Keep up with my book list on GoodReads!

    Sign up for my newsletter, Try This!

    Book me to speak at your event or to your team!

    You can grab a copy of my book All It Takes Is a Goal from your favorite bookstore or at my website!

    Sign up for the Remarkable You Community today!

    9 March 2026, 5:00 am
  • 17 minutes 1 second
    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 why relationships get you the first opportunity but skills get you the second (and why you need both), how to balance the optimism required for dreaming with the realism needed for planning, and why you don't have to be the smartest person in the room if you're willing to be the bravest. After 13 years of running my own company and turning it into a seven figure business, I've learned that success often comes down to one thing: bravery. Not intelligence, not secrets, just the willingness to try, risk, fail, and try again. If you're building a side hustle, scaling a small business, or leading a team, this episode is for you.

    Grab your very own Soundtracks Conversations Card Deck for Entrepreneurs

    Make sure to follow me on Instagram and share with your friends!

    Keep up with my book list on GoodReads!

    Sign up for my newsletter, Try This!

    Book me to speak at your event or to your team!

    You can grab a copy of my book All It Takes Is a Goal from your favorite bookstore or at my website!

    Sign up for the Remarkable You Community today!

    2 March 2026, 6:00 am
  • 20 minutes 6 seconds
    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 can fast forward childhood but you can't rewind it (and what that means for decisions like when to give your kid a phone), why tired beats regretful (a soundtrack my daughter taught me when she studied abroad in London), and why family shows up (even when it's a three year old's birthday party or driving a 24 foot Penske truck down the East Coast). These aren't just nice ideas. They're the repetitive thoughts that turn into remarkable actions that turn into remarkable results. If you're a parent trying to navigate the narrow window of childhood, this episode will give you language for the culture you want to create in your family.

    Grab your very own Soundtracks Conversations Card Deck for Parents & Kids

    Make sure to follow me on Instagram and share with your friends!

    Keep up with my book list on GoodReads!

    Sign up for my newsletter, Try This!

    Book me to speak at your event or to your team!

    You can grab a copy of my book All It Takes Is a Goal from your favorite bookstore or at my website!

    Sign up for the Remarkable You Community today!

    24 February 2026, 8:00 pm
  • 18 minutes 46 seconds
    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 soundtracks matter for your marriage or relationship. You'll discover why every good relationship costs the same exact thing (hint: it's not money), why you should never, ever ask your spouse to be your accountability partner (seriously, change that setup right now if that's you), and how crisis magnifies kindness in ways you can't imagine. Plus, I'll share why you should never make big decisions when you have crisis brain and what a double thumbs up from a stranger during COVID taught me about small gestures. Whether you celebrated Valentine's Day or not, these soundtracks will help you build a stronger, healthier, more fun relationship.

    In This Episode:

    Grab your very own Soundtracks Conversations Card Deck for Couples

    Make sure to follow me on Instagram and share with your friends!

    Keep up with my book list on GoodReads!

    Sign up for my newsletter, Try This!

    Book me to speak at your event or to your team!

    You can grab a copy of my book All It Takes Is a Goal from your favorite bookstore or at my website!

    Sign up for the Remarkable You Community today!

    16 February 2026, 6:00 am
  • 1 hour 3 minutes
    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 turn scrap time into steel, transforming low value work into high purpose, innovative time. We dive into the signs of toxic culture, why anxious deference to the CEO is a red flag, and how to spot when you're stuck in an unhealthy organization. Juliet shares her unconventional path from growing up as Alan Funt's daughter (yes, from Candid Camera) to discovering the power of white space, taking four years to world school her three boys across 14 countries, and why most executives need therapy. Plus, we tackle the fascinating question: do people change via desire or disaster? Her answer might surprise you. If you've ever felt like you're spending unspeakable amounts of time doing work you hate, this conversation will change how you think about your day.

    Juliet Funt on Linked In

    JFG Can Help

    Wasted Payroll Calculator

    In This Episode:

    Grab your very own Soundtracks: The Conversations Card Deck

    Make sure to follow me on Instagram and share with your friends!

    Keep up with my book list on GoodReads!

    Sign up for my newsletter, Try This!

    Book me to speak at your event or to your team!

    You can grab a copy of my book All It Takes Is a Goal from your favorite bookstore or at my website!

    Sign up for the Remarkable You Community today!

    9 February 2026, 6:00 am
  • 48 minutes 25 seconds
    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 scale, and prioritized loving his work over maximizing revenue. In this episode, Pat shares the behind-the-scenes story of building The Table Group, why he kept his team at just 15 full-time employees while empowering thousands of consultants, and how saying no to growth actually gave him an unfair competitive advantage. You'll discover why his wife gave him their house fund to start the business, how he protects time with his family despite constant opportunities, and why one of their core values is "we want to love coming to work every day." If you're building something or thinking about starting, this conversation will completely reframe how you think about success.

    Use code "ATG" for 20% off the Working Genius Assessment here

    Grab your very own Soundtracks: The Conversations Card Deck

    Make sure to follow me on Instagram and share with your friends!

    Keep up with my book list on GoodReads!

    Sign up for my newsletter, Try This!

    Book me to speak at your event or to your team!

    You can grab a copy of my book All It Takes Is a Goal from your favorite bookstore or at my website!

    Sign up for the Remarkable You Community today!

    2 February 2026, 6:00 am
  • 1 hour 9 minutes
    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 experiences in a room of 100 people. From the woman who won't use plastic cutlery to why your weird uncle believes conspiracy theories, we explore how discipleship by algorithm is fragmenting society. We also talk about the false immediacy of social media, why high performers have the strongest inner critics, the Mount Rushmore of books we recommend, and what it takes to build relationships with people you admire without jumping levels of intimacy. Plus, Carey shares why the work is the reward, how he retaught himself to read books, and why he's pursuing mastery in his 60s. If you're a leader trying to navigate this fragmented world, this conversation is for you.

    The Art Of Leadership Academy

    In This Episode:

    Grab your very own Soundtracks: The Conversations Card Deck

    Make sure to follow me on Instagram and share with your friends!

    Keep up with my book list on GoodReads!

    Sign up for my newsletter, Try This!

    Book me to speak at your event or to your team!

    You can grab a copy of my book All It Takes Is a Goal from your favorite bookstore or at my website!

    Sign up for the Remarkable You Community today!

    26 January 2026, 6:00 am
  • 44 minutes 32 seconds
    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 way. In this episode, Caitlin shares how she went from youth pastor to coffee entrepreneur, why video 2000 was the one that changed everything, and the mindset shift that helped her turn trolls into traction. We dive into the reality of building a business on social media, why she's deliberately not opening a brick-and-mortar shop yet, and what it's like when strangers hug you in coffee shops. If you've ever thought about turning your passion into a business or wondered how to stay consistent when the middle feels like a slog, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom. Plus, you'll discover why the algorithm doesn't care if people love you or hate you—it just wants engagement.

    Order Caitlin's Coffee: streetbrew.ca

    In This Episode:

    Grab your very own Soundtracks: The Conversations Card Deck

    Make sure to follow me on Instagram and share with your friends!

    Keep up with my book list on GoodReads!

    Sign up for my newsletter, Try This!

    Book me to speak at your event or to your team!

    You can grab a copy of my book All It Takes Is a Goal from your favorite bookstore or at my website!

    Sign up for the Remarkable You Community today!

    19 January 2026, 6:00 am
  • 1 hour 15 minutes
    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 field. We dive deep into why optimism isn't naive positivity but the ground zero of mental toughness, how Felix overcame crippling claustrophobia to jump from 130,000 feet, and why every world's best performer Michael has worked with is fundamentally optimistic. You'll discover the difference between grounded optimism and naive optimism, why your brain's survival bias is working against you, how to extinguish fear using systematic desensitization, and why mastery requires looseness, not control. Plus, Michael breaks down the power of "yes, and" conversations, becoming a researcher of amazing, and why emotions are running the whole show. If you've ever thought optimism was soft or unrealistic, this conversation will change your mind.

    Dr. Michael Gervais' Website: https://findingmastery.com/

    In This Episode:

    Grab your very own Soundtracks: The Conversations Card Deck

    Make sure to follow me on Instagram and share with your friends!

    Keep up with my book list on GoodReads!

    Sign up for my newsletter, Try This!

    Book me to speak at your event or to your team!

    You can grab a copy of my book All It Takes Is a Goal from your favorite bookstore or at my website!

    12 January 2026, 6:00 am
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