632: Jon Acuff | Give Yourself the Gift of Done

Mar 3, 2022

Jon Acuff, a New York Times bestselling author known for his insights on goal-setting, dives into the pitfalls of perfectionism in this engaging conversation. He reveals why only 8% of New Year’s resolutions succeed and explores the Planning Fallacy that trips up overachievers. Acuff introduces the concept of strategic incompetence, suggesting we should deliberately miss the mark on certain tasks to alleviate pressure. He also discusses how hidden 'secret rules' shape our behaviors, encouraging listeners to challenge these beliefs for a more fulfilling life.

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INSIGHT

Finishing vs. Starting

Many people struggle with finishing, not starting, projects.
We celebrate beginnings, but rarely celebrate the middle or end of a project, which leads to quitting.

INSIGHT

Pre-congratulations Kill Motivation

Pre-congratulations on a goal provide dopamine, reducing motivation to actually pursue it.
Announcing goals often replaces actual work.

ANECDOTE

Book Writing and Perfection

81% of people want to write a book, but less than 1% actually do.
Jon Acuff made factual errors in his books, highlighting that perfection is impossible.

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Two Awesome Hours

Science-Based Strategies to Harness Your Best Time and Get Your Most Important Work Done

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Two Awesome Hours by Josh Davis provides practical strategies for maximizing productivity by focusing on the most important tasks during two highly effective hours each day. The book draws on neuroscience to help readers manage mental energy, leverage mind-body connections, and optimize their work environment for better performance.

Finish

Give Yourself the Gift of Done

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In 'Finish: Give Yourself the Gift of Done', Jon Acuff addresses the common struggle of not completing what one starts. He identifies perfectionism as the primary barrier to achieving goals and provides counterintuitive strategies to overcome it. Acuff suggests cutting goals in half to make them more achievable, eliminating secret rules that hinder progress, and emphasizing the importance of having fun in the process, which he argues can increase success by 43%. The book offers insights and practical advice on managing perfectionist tendencies, avoiding procrastination, and maintaining a focus on completion rather than perfection[1][3][4].

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