Shows
All It Takes Is A GoalATG 226: No Elevator at Everest: A Candid Conversation with my brother, Will AcuffIn this episode, I sit down with my younger brother Will—founder of Corner to Corner and author of No Elevator at Everest—for a raw, hilarious, and deeply meaningful conversation about goals, grit, and joy in the midst of real-life challenges. We talk about family dynamics, stolen cars, late-night wake ups, and the kind of leadership that gets built when nobody's watching. If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like to lead with purpose when life doesn’t slow down, this episode is for you.Will's Book ListThe Big Leap by Gay Hend...2025-04-2152 min
All It Takes Is A GoalATG 194: 3 Soundtracks to Help Teens Win at Social MediaHave you ever wondered how teens can actually win at social media instead of just surviving it? In this episode, I’m sharing three key soundtracks that will help teens thrive online. From building a positive presence and setting healthy boundaries, to avoiding the comparison trap, I’ll give you practical tips to make sure social media is working for your teen, not against them. We’re in the middle of a big parenting season at the Acuff house! I’ve got a brand new book coming out that I wrote with my two daughters, LE and McRae, c...2024-09-0919 min
All It Takes Is A GoalATG 191: Soundtracks For Your Family: A Conversation with My Daughter McRae AcuffIn this episode, I’m hanging out with my daughter McRae to chat about one of our family’s go-to topics: soundtracks. We’re digging into how the soundtracks in our heads help us set goals, dodge those unforced errors, and make life a little more fun. Whether it’s packing your lunch the night before or remembering to put your shoes on first (trust me, it’s a game-changer), we’ll share the stories and quirky lessons that have become the soundtracks we live by. And yes, we’ll even tackle why showing up early isn’t just about being on t...2024-08-1927 min
All It Takes Is A GoalATG 166: Texting Oprah, Navigating Goals, and Self-Worth with Jamie Kern LimaHave you ever found yourself caught between the allure of external success and the deeper quest for internal fulfillment? In this episode, I sit down with Jamie Kern Lima, a celebrated entrepreneur, as she shares her riveting journey from childhood aspirations to the pinnacle of business success, founding a billion-dollar company. Despite her remarkable achievements, Jamie bravely opens up about her ongoing battle with self-worth, highlighting the stark disparity between self-confidence and genuine self-worth. Her candid reflections shed light on the intricate dynamics of pursuing ambitious goals while contending with internal struggles. Tune in as we explore Jamie's profound...2024-02-2646 min
All It Takes Is A GoalATG 146: The One Truth: A Path to Positivity with Jon GordonIn this guest episode, we're joined by the incredible Jon Gordon as we explore the world of positivity and his latest book, The One Truth.Jon Gordon shares his inspiring journey from writing to speaking, highlighting the role of resilience and unwavering family support. He shares tips on pursuing passions alongside your day job and making family and marriage a priority. This episode is your recipe for positivity, a clear path to personal growth and enduring success!My new book All It Takes Is a Goal is now available! You can grab a copy from...2023-10-0949 min
The Jon Gordon PodcastJon Acuff | How to Plan Goals that You're Guaranteed to ReachOn this episode of the Positive University Podcast, Jon Gordon is joined by New York Times bestselling author, Jon Acuff. Jon Acuff talks about: His 3-Step Plan to Ditch Regret and Tap Into Your Massive Potential How to Plan Goals that You're Guaranteed to Reach And more! Sound too good to be true? Jon Acuff thought so too. Until it happened--again and again--for him and the hundreds of real people in his research project. Whether your goals are personal, relational, or career-driven, the key to a better future is closer than you think. G...2023-09-1248 minThe Jon Gordon PodcastJon Acuff | How to Plan Goals that You're Guaranteed to ReachOn this episode of the Positive University Podcast, Jon Gordon is joined by New York Times bestselling author, Jon Acuff. Jon Acuff talks about: His 3-Step Plan to Ditch Regret and Tap Into Your Massive Potential How to Plan Goals that You're Guaranteed to Reach And more! Sound too good to be true? Jon Acuff thought so too. Until it happened--again and again--for him and the hundreds of real people in his research project. Whether your goals are personal, relational, or career-driven, the key to a better future is closer than you think. G...2023-09-1248 min
The Jon Gordon PodcastJon Acuff | The Importance of Setting GoalsOn this episode of Positive U, Jon is joined by Jon Acuff to discuss why it is so importance that we set goals for ourselves. Jon Acuff is the New York Times bestselling author of nine books, including Soundtracks, Your New Playlist, and the Wall Street Journal #1 bestseller Finish: Give Yourself the Gift of Done. When he's not writing or recording his popular podcast, All It Takes Is a Goal, Acuff can be found on a stage as one of INC's Top 100 Leadership Speakers. He's spoken to hundreds of thousands of people at conferences, colleges, and companies around the...2023-09-0148 minAll It Takes Is A GoalATG 136: Summer School #4: A Journey of CrossFit, Personal Development, and Achieving Health Goals with Nicole AucoinAre you tired of the never-ending sea of conflicting advice when it comes to achieving your health goals? In this episode, I have the pleasure of interviewing Nicole Aucoin, founder of Healthy Steps Nutrition. Together we’ll discuss the power of setting goals, breaking down the complexities of nutrition, and discovering practical strategies to transform your well-being. Whether you're aiming to lose weight, improve athletic performance, or simply lead a healthier lifestyle, this episode is your resource.This episode is part of our Summer School series! Get ready to learn through a fun journey covering various topics in...2023-07-3147 minAll It Takes Is A GoalATG 131: The Brilliant Zone: Achieve Your Goals through High-Value, Low-Energy ActionsWhat if achieving your goals could be easier than you think? You’ve probably heard the phrase “work smarter not harder,” but rarely do people share exactly how to do it. In this episode, you’ll learn all about the Brilliant Zone – a realm where every action you take adds value while requiring minimal energy. I share practical examples and strategies help you stay in your brilliance and unleash your true potential. Ready to achieve your goals without exhausting all of your energy? Let's dive in!Every successful goal has four stages: 1. Dream 2. Plan 3. Do 4. Review. Learn how to hav...2023-06-2621 minAll It Takes Is A GoalATG 121: Beyond Perfect: Soundtracks I Use to Beat Perfectionism (Part 2)Does your perfectionism make you feel like it's "all or nothing?" That perfectionist mindset limits your productivity and full potential. In "Beyond Perfect" Part 2, I join forces with Gian Lemmi, an Acuff team member and collegiate tennis coach, to tackle this issue. In this episode, you'll discover the value of breaking goals into smaller tasks, why I have a wall of reminders for tough days, and the soundtracks I use to beat perfectionism. You’ll also learn how to adjust your personal scorecards throughout life's seasons and make the most of every opportunity. Join us to embrace progress over pe...2023-04-1732 minAll It Takes Is A GoalATG 120: Beyond Perfect: The Hidden Enemy of Your Goals (Part 1)Ever felt like perfectionism is your biggest obstacle to achieving your goals? In this 2-part series of "Beyond Perfect," you'll discover how to take control of your perfectionism and unleash your full potential. Join me and my special guest, Gian Lemmi from Acuff Ideas (you're gonna love him)! In this episode (Part 1), we discuss impostor syndrome, procrastination, and striking the right balance between excellence and perfectionism. Let's kick perfectionism to the curb and start making real progress together!In This Episode:Follow me on GoodReadsBook me to speak at your event or...2023-04-1031 minAll It Takes Is A GoalATG 118: Dare to Dream Big: Master the Art of Boldness for Goal-Driven Success with Jennifer CohenWhat does it take to live the life you truly want? In today's episode, I explore this question with author Jennifer Cohen. Jennifer shares her belief that boldness is a learnable skill and reveals an approach that can help you overcome the fear of failure. We discuss the importance of vulnerability, embracing failure, and creating daily habits that lead to success. Jennifer also offers valuable advice on the difference between bold moves and big risks, while emphasizing the significance of not putting others in harm's way.My favorite was hearing Jennifer's journey from being a self-proclaimed "master...2023-03-2747 minAll It Takes Is A GoalATG 105: Which 2022 goals did I bomb? Which did I crush? Let's talk! (GOAL REVIEW)At the end of 2021, I recorded a podcast episode where I shared all the goals I wanted to pursue in 2022. There were 38 goals that I wanted to accomplish. In this episode, I’m doing a review of how I did on all of them. I’ll tell you which ones I crushed, which ones I miserably failed at, and which ones I retired after a while because they were just plain silly. In the next episode, I’ll share all of my 2023 goals, so we can do it all again next year. Tune in for insight on why some goals...2022-12-2632 minAll It Takes Is A GoalATG 103: The 7 best books I read in 2022I love lists, especially “best of” lists at the end of the year. if you share your best moments list, best restaurants for queso list, or best trails for a run list, and I’m so there. In this episode, I’m sharing the seven best books I read in 2022. They range from biographies to mysteries and cover topics from money to creativity to the life of King David. No matter the genre, each of these books taught me something that made 2022 a little better. Tune into the episode, and make sure to add these books to your 202...2022-12-1236 minAll It Takes Is A GoalATG 96: How to spark creativity when you feel like there’s none left - my interview with innovation expert Jeremy UtleyCreativity and innovation are commonly viewed as fleeting moments of inspiration that must be grand, life-altering, and totally new. No wonder they can feel so intimidating. But what if they were actually muscles that could be stretched and grown slowly over time with practice?In this episode Director of Executive Education at Stanford’s acclaimed Hasso Plattner Institute of Design (aka the d.school), Jeremy Utley is here to teach you how to do that. Jeremy is a self-proclaimed “recovering MBA, spreadsheet junkie, and management consultant,” who now studies innovation in large enterprises and startups. In this episod...2022-10-241h 01All It Takes Is A GoalATG 90: Curate and Crank Up Your New Playlist with my two favorite authors (my daughters!)TikToks and Instagram reels go viral when they have the right soundtrack. Your thoughts are the same way. The loudest, catchiest, most played thoughts are the ones that shape the way we view ourselves, the actions we take, and the results that come from those actions. But what if the thoughts we listen to the most are broken soundtracks? What if the loudest thoughts we have about ourselves aren’t even true? As adults, we’ve all picked up bad soundtracks along the way, but the students in our lives are still curating their playlists for the firs...2022-09-1240 min