What does it really take to be successful? A platform? The right connections? A giant start-up fund?

Corinne Crabtree didn’t have any of those things but that didn’t stop her from building a massive business. Corinne is a weight loss coach, multi-million dollar business owner, and productivity genius, but her success wasn’t the result of some big break. Corinne was raised by a single mom without any money. She didn't finish college. She started her business without a platform. And now she's got a multi-million dollar business and has helped thousands of people achieve their health goals. Whether you’re looking to get in shape, advice on growing your side hustle or want a productivity hack that will transform your calendar, my conversation with Corinne has what you need to know.

Keep up with Corrine on Instagram and try her No BS Free Course!

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How do you handle rejection?

If you're like me, you'd respond with "poorly and personally, " but there's a better way. Rejection sucks, but it's a part of life, and you should be prepared for it. That's why in this episode, I'm giving you 7 ways you can deal with rejection that will help you take the sting out of it, learn from it, and get over it.

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If you've ever heard the word “networking” and were instantly flooded with images of uncomfortable cocktail parties, awkward business card exchanges, and cheesy Zoom calls, it’s probably because that’s how most of the world is still running networking events.

Luckily there are people like Jordan Harbinger that are making the world of networking much more enjoyable and much more worth your time. Jordan is a lawyer that left the corporate world to, in his words, “read books and talk to smart people.” His podcast, the Jordan Harbinger Show, receives over 11 million downloads a month and features insights and strategies from the world’s most successful people.

Listen to my conversation with Jordan for practical advice about how to build the network you need to help you accomplish the goals you’re working on without all the awkwardness.

In this episode:
The Jordan Harbinger Show
Jordan's website
Jordan's free course
Jordan on Instagram & Twitter

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Perfect isn't possible.

Deep down, you know this, but perfectionism will do everything in its power to convince you that if you take perfect steps, you can achieve perfect goals. The reality is that perfection is in the opposite direction of your goal's finish line. Sometimes perfectionism is easy to spot, but sometimes it can get a little sneaky. That's why this episode is all about how to spot perfectionism in your life so that you can identify it, avoid it, and stay on track and finish your goals.

Mentioned in this episode:
Jon's book Finish

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What's the best age to take a risk?

Fear will always tell you that you're never on time for your dream. It will try to convince you that you're too old or too young; that you don't have enough experience or that you're too experienced to take a chance on something new. But if there's one thing I know to be true, it's that some of life's greatest lessons come from the most unexpected circumstances. For me, one of those great life lessons involves a story about a finger, a power drill, and bravery, and it all directly applies to that dream you've been putting off. Listen to the story that changed the way I thought about dreams and fear forever because I think it will change your view too!

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In this very special episode, Joel and Matt from the How to Money Podcast join me for the first-ever New Friend Friday. Joel & Matt are financial experts, craft beer enthusiasts, and real-life best friends. They know that figuring out your finances can be an intimidating goal, so they're joining me to answer 5 questions that will help you jumpstart financial goals with peace of mind. Whether you want to start investing, pay off debt, or save up for a killer vacation, start with this episode for some great practical tips and resources that will get you moving in the right direction.

Book list mentioned in this episode:
The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason
The Simple Path to Wealth by J.L. Collins
The Millionaire Real Estate Investor by Jay Papasan
The Behavioral Investor by Daniel Crosby
The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel

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What would you do if you were the leader of the most successful college sports league in the entire world when COVID hit?

That’s the exact question the Commissioner of the SEC, Greg Sankey, faced. Last year when the pandemic forced the world to shut down, all eyes were on Greg and his team as they figured out how to navigate the college football season in the midst of chaos. He joins me for a conversation about how to lead through a crisis and how to keep learning as you go. No matter how big or small, if you hold any leadership position in your life, this episode is a masterclass that will encourage you to be the best leader you can be.

Books mentioned in this episode:
Thinking in Bets by Annie Duke
Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss
The Life You’ve Always Wanted by John Ortberg
Be Quick But Don’t Hurry by Andy Hill
Ecclesiastes, a book of the Bible
Do Over by Jon Acuff

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What if you could turn perfectionism from a foe into a friend?

I started asking myself that question after years of constantly wrestling with perfectionism. It led me to an interesting creative exercise: I invited perfectionism to have a conversation with me. What unfolded helped me to see that my once mortal enemy might have been a misunderstood companion all along. If you're tired of fighting with perfectionism, it's time for a truce.

Listen in for an episode that will redefine your view of perfectionism and give you tools to use it in a way that will move you toward the finish line of your goal.

Join the FREE 5 day Beyond Perfect Challenge!

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My guest, Mary Marantz, is a podcaster, entrepreneur, and bestselling author of the book, Dirt. Mary grew up in small rural town in West Virginia, and from an early age excelled in everything she did. Despite the limited opportunities her hometown offered, with the enduring support of her dad and years of hard work, she went from a five-room schoolhouse to the hallowed halls of Yale University.

Her journey is nothing short of incredible, but along the way her achievements and her identity became one in the same to her. Untangling the two was a long process, but she joined me this week to share the process it took to undo the mindsets that a lifetime of overachieving instilled in her. Listen in for an incredibly moving conversation about how you can achieve big goals without letting them define who you are.

Links from this episode:
Mary's book Dirt
Mary's Website
Jon and Mary's conversation on The Mary Marantz Show
Goal coaching at The Whiteboard Room

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Why is staying motivated during a goal so difficult?

When your motivation for a new goal disappears, the temptation may be to believe that you've picked the wrong goal to work on, but most of the time, I don't think that's the issue at all. Motivation is notoriously flighty, so the key to success is learning how to bring it back every time it takes off. In this episode, I'm sharing my #1 motivation tool so that you can keep making progress on your goals even if your excitement starts to fade.

Links from today's episode:
Jon's book Finish
The FREE 5-day Beyond Perfect Challenge
The Finish Calendar
Read the first chapter of Soundtracks here

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Greg Mckeown joined me this week for a speical two-part episode to help answer the question "Do big goals have to be painfully difficult "to count?"

Greg is a speaker, podcast host, and author of the recently released book, Effortless, and he doesn't think your most important goals have to be that difficult at all. In Part 2 of our discussion on how to make the essential things in your life the easiest things, we're picking up right where we left off bringing you more practical ways you can accomplish your goals with minimum stress and maximum value.

Find out more about Greg and his new book, Effortless, at his website. Catch up with his podcast What's Essential.

In this episode:
Josh Shipp's 18 Books Every Teen Should Read Before They Turn 18

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Have you ever convinced yourself that to achieve a big goal, it has to be painfully difficult or it doesn’t count?

There aren’t many people that take committing to the essential things in life more seriously than Greg McKeown. Maybe you’ve heard him on the What’s Essential podcast, read his book million-selling book Essentialism. He’s a fountain of wisdom, and in this special two-part episode, he’s sharing the secret to effortlessly accomplish the goals that are most important to you. Sound too good to be true? Listen in for this incredible conversation and stay tuned for part two!

Find out more about Greg and his new book, Effortless, at his website. Catch up with his podcast What's Essential.

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There are a limited number of universal truths in the world, but I think we can all agree on this: Nobody likes a boring graduation speech. That's why this week's podcast episode is my version of what I think all commencement speeches should be: practical, fun, and in list format.

Whether you're a grad, know a grad, or even if you can't remember your college graduation because it was so long ago, tune in for the 10 things that no one ever tells you when you graduate college that will help you succeed in the real world.

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Health and fitness goals are at the top of the list of difficult things to accomplish.

It's not that losing weight, staying in shape, or shaving a few minutes off your mile time are difficult because there's a lack of information about how to do those things. They're difficult because of the abundance of shame that often creeps in when you start pursuing health-related goals. In this episode, I'll give you the 3 shame-free soundtracks that will help you accomplish all your difficult health goals and keep you moving forward until you've reached the finish line.

Book mentioned in this episode:
I Hate Running and You Can Too by Brendan Leonard

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When I say "positive thinking," what words come to mind?

If it's words like "dumb," "fake," or "cheesy," you're in good company. I used to be a total hater too, but not anymore. A few years ago, I started noticing that leaders I really respected believed in positive thinking, and it was hard to argue with the results they were constantly producing in their life. So I began to investigate. In this week’s episode, I’m sharing how my experiments with positive thinking led me to create a New Anthem that changed my life, the lives of thousands of others, and how it can change yours too.

Running Down a Dream by Tim Grahl

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How do you say no to friends who want you to work for free without damaging the relationship?

I doubt there’s an entrepreneur out there that hasn’t had to ask this question at some point. If you're a photographer, a designer, a developer, a writer, a personal trainer, a doctor, a mechanic, a hairstylist, a lawyer, an illustrator, a dog walker, or a billion other professions, friends are going to ask you to work for free. In this episode, I’m sharing four guilt-free soundtracks that will help you set boundaries and keep making money.

From this episode
If you don’t want to do the project, say this:

In order to honor and fulfill the commitment I’ve made to my paying clients, I can’t take on any pro bono work. I love doing it when I can, but I don’t have the time.

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How much power does a positive mindset really have?

Colleen Barry lost her job in the entertainment industry during the dot com bust in 2001. Her unexpected unemployment led her to take a job making pizzas in a wood-fired oven, doing freelance graphic design, and eventually becoming the “lobby barista” of a real estate agency.

Today, she’s the CEO of the same company where she used to serve espresso to prospective clients. Listen to this week’s episode of All It Takes is a Goal to learn how choosing a positive mindset allowed her to climb the ladder and how you can use the same strategies she did to achieve your goals too.

Books mentioned in this episode:
There's No Such Thing As Luck by Colleen Barry
Start by Jon Acuff
The Dip by Seth Godin
Lead with Luv by Ken Blanchard and Colleen Barrett
Mindset by Carol Dweck, Ph.D.
Pema Chödrön
Eat That Frog by Brian Tracy

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How does a goal go from an idea in your head to something tangible you live out every day?

Joseph Sojourner AKA Sojo is a rapper, public speaker, sneakerhead, and good friend of mine. Like a lot of people, Sojo was once just a small-town kid with big city dreams. So how did he go from Akron, Ohio to traveling the country, working on movie sets, and living out the dreams he’d had since middle school? Listen in to our discussion to learn what it takes to pursue authentic goals, take control of your story, and actually finish a goal.

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The last thing an overthinker needs is 800 new ideas about transforming overthinking. So in this episode, I simplified two years of research into three words. How?

Well, I'll tell you exactly as I read you the entire Introduction and Chapter 1 of my brand new book Soundtracks: The Surprising Solution to Overthinking. Want to learn how to make your thoughts fight for you not against you? Listen to this week's episode and make sure you pre-order your copy of the book at soundtracksbook.com.

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Resilience is a popular word, especially in the midst of what we’ve faced in the last year. We all need it, but what does it actually mean? In this episode, I'm breaking down exactly what resilience is and how you can build it with the three soundtracks I use when overthinking starts to get in the way of progress.

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I’ve got some good news and some bad news. The bad news is that your memory is a liar. 

We tend to think our memory is telling us exactly what happened in the past but that’s never what it does. It adds details. It deletes details. It distorts details. Your memory is a real rascal, a word I’m trying to bring back. That’s the bad news. The good news is that your memory is malleable. You can hack it. In this episode I’ll share the two memory tricks elite athletes use to accomplish big goals.

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John Lee Dumas is a goal machine. I took about a thousand notes during this fun interview and so will you. If you want an encouraging, practical story from someone who built a whole new life, brick by brick, this is the one for you.

John's new book The Common Path to Uncommon Success is available for pre-order. You can also find out more at the Entrepreneurs on Fire website.

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When he was 21, Will Smith was going to move to Los Angeles. He was from West Philadelphia born and raised, on the playground was where he spent most of his days. (I just made you sing.) His manager, James Lassiter, told him, “Listen, if we’re going out to L.A., we probably should have a goal.” The transition from rapper to actor would not happen by accident and Lassiter knew if they went to LA without a goal that city would eat Will Smith alive. “I want to be the biggest movie star in the world,” Smith replied. That sentence in and of itself isn’t that unique. A thousand people riding buses from the Midwest out to Hollywood say that same thing every week.

But what he did next radically changed his life and it’s a simple principle you can use to change your life, too. I call it, “Borrowing someone else’s diploma” and I’ll explain how to do it in this episode.

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Want to change your mindset? Want to tweak your self talk? Want to become more mindful without going on a 90-day Jared Leto style silent retreat in Sedona? Listen to this episode. I’ll teach you three really simple techniques I learned while doing the research for my new book about overthinking.

Join the free Overcoming Overthinking Challenge at www.Acuff.me/Challenge 

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In the 1800s, sailors would stamp, “Here be dragons” on unexplored, dangerous sections of maps. It was meant to serve as a warning, but what if there aren’t as many dragons as you were told? What if it was time to launch that adventure you’ve been dreaming about? What if you could beat those dragons? This short, inspirational episode is going to make you want to run through a wall like the Kool Aid man. I promise.

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You’ve got an idea, but is it a best-selling idea? Whether it’s a side-hustle or starting your own business, I share the three circles to apply to your goal of creating something lots of people will love.

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Referenced in this episode:
Billy Ivey on Instagram.

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When I asked Billy Ivey to be a guest on a show about goals, his wife asked him, “Is this like some kind of intervention?” That made me laugh and I promise you will too in this fun conversation with my very first writing mentor. We’ve been friends for 22 years, worked closely with the same billionaire and started our first blog together. Take a listen.

You can keep up with Billy Ivey on Instagram or his Napkinisms website.

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My favorite teachers always graded on a curve. They’d add bonus points to particularly difficult tests. What if you did the same thing with 2020 and 2021? Instead of beating yourself up about the most weirdo years we’ve had in a decade, what if you gave yourself a few bonus points? In this episode I’ll show you how I did it with one of my big goals.

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Buckle up, this one’s a firehose. Here’s what’s inside this episode: 1. How to use the phrase “I’ve always wanted to” as an easy way to find a new goal. 2. How to turn your goal into a race you can win. 3. How to pick a goal out of all your different options.

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One of the few things that every goal has in common is that to accomplish it, you have to do terrifying things. You have to get outside the proverbial comfort zone. Here are the 5 steps I use and why they helped me recently with surfing legend Laird Hamilton.

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Jon Acuff didn’t write a book for the first 34 years of his life. He's written 7 in the last 11. What changed? Find out in this wicked short preview of Jon Acuff's new podcast, "All It Takes Is A Goal."

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