ATG 225: Success or a Story: The Mindset That Helped Me Survive an Empty Room
whatshot 14 snips
Apr 14, 2025
Explore a transformative mindset that frames every goal as either a success or a story worth sharing. Hear about a live event that flopped and the valuable lessons learned from an empty room. Discover how perseverance through disappointing moments can lead to personal growth. This engaging conversation encourages listeners to embrace both wins and failures, reminding us that both outcomes offer unique narratives in our journeys.
15:46
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Success or Story Mindset
Adopt the "success or story" mindset when trying new things.
View outcomes as either a win or a valuable learning experience.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Empty Room Story
John Acuff shares a story about hosting a meetup that nobody attended.
He took a photo, shared it, and it became a popular blog post.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Return to Success
Years after the failed meetup, John Acuff spoke at the same venue to a large audience.
This demonstrates the long-term potential for growth and success.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
In 'Soundtracks,' Jon Acuff explores how overthinking hinders our potential and offers a proven plan to change overthinking from a problem into a superpower. The book introduces the concept of 'soundtracks' as the repetitive thoughts that shape our perceptions. Acuff provides practical strategies, such as creating personalized playlists of empowering soundtracks and using daily affirmations, to replace negative thoughts with positive ones. He emphasizes the importance of controlling our thoughts and gathering evidence to support positive thinking. The book is based on a study involving 10,000 participants and offers tools to help readers rewire their thought processes and achieve their goals.
In this episode, I’m sharing one of my favorite soundtracks: It will be a success or a story. It’s the mindset I use every time I try something new—like hosting a live event or leading a book club that nobody shows up to (yep, that actually happened… to a brave 9-year-old and to me). Whether your next goal works out exactly like you hoped or turns into a story you’ll tell for years, this episode will remind you that both outcomes are worth it.
In This Episode: 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!
All It Takes Is A Goal 