All It Takes Is A Goal

You can grab a copy of my new book Procrastination Proof from your favorite bookstore or at my website!

Make sure to follow me on Instagram and share with your friends!
Sign up for my newsletter, Try This!
Book me to speak at your event or to your team!

Keep up with my book list on GoodReads!

Have me speak at your next event!

Episode Links:

ATG 291 | Turn Up the Volume: 5 Bravery Soundtracks That Will Change Your Life Jul 20, 2026

Show notes

What if the thoughts running through your head on repeat could be the difference between staying stuck and moving forward? In this episode, I'm sharing five powerful soundtracks that help me choose bravery when fear gets loud. You'll discover why "It's just a puddle" changed how I parent and handle everyday stress, how to shift from "Woe is me" to "Wow is me" (one letter that changes everything), and why being the CEO of yourself isn't enough if you're still a terrible boss to yourself. I'll also show you how to focus on the fix instead of the fear, and why feeling uncomfortable is actually a sign your old comfort zone is having a hard time keeping up with you. These aren't just catchy phrases. They're the thoughts that turn into actions, and actions that turn into results. This is episode 5 of our Bravest Summer Ever series, but you don't need to have heard the others to get massive value from these five soundtracks.

In This Episode:

You can grab a copy of my new book Procrastination Proof from your favorite bookstore or at my website!

Make sure to follow me on Instagram and share with your friends!
Sign up for my newsletter, Try This!
Book me to speak at your event or to your team!

Keep up with my book list on GoodReads!

Have me speak at your next event!

Episode Links:

ATG 290 | Bravery is More Muscle Than Magic: How to Practice Being Brave This Week Jul 13, 2026

Show notes

You're either practicing bravery or you're practicing fear. There's no neutral when it comes to mindset. In this fourth episode of the Bravest Summer Ever series, I'm breaking down the third key to bravery: practice. Research shows that just 5 minutes of negative news makes people more depressed, less likely to help others, and convinced the world is a negative place. When you binge the news, scroll political tweets, or read angry Facebook posts, you're practicing fear. So how do you practice bravery instead? Simple. Look at your calendar for the next 7 days and ask: where do I want to be brave this week? Whether it's a big podcast interview, giving tough feedback, or posting about your work, find 1 to 3 practice moments and figure out your plan. The key to mindset is spending more time talking to yourself than listening to yourself. You get better at anything you practice, so let's practice bravery.

In This Episode:

You can grab a copy of my new book Procrastination Proof from your favorite bookstore or at my website!

Make sure to follow me on Instagram and share with your friends!
Sign up for my newsletter, Try This!
Book me to speak at your event or to your team!

Keep up with my book list on GoodReads!

Have me speak at your next event!

Episode Links:

ATG 289 | Bravery is One Size Fits You: Why Curiosity is the Key to Courage Jul 06, 2026

Show notes

What's brave for me won't be brave for you, and vice versa. I once had a woman share that driving over a bridge was a brave moment for her. I drive over bridges all the time without thinking about it, but paperwork? That sends my heart rate through the roof. In this third episode of our Bravest Summer Ever series, I'm breaking down the second key to bravery: curiosity. Most people aren't curious about themselves because they're running so quickly through life. But when you get curious, you develop self awareness, which is a superpower all its own. I'll teach you three questions to ask yourself to identify your brave moments and give you homework that will change how you see your week. When you're curious, you learn about yourself. When you learn about yourself, you can be braver than ever before. Because bravery is one size fits you, not one size fits all.

In This Episode:

You can grab a copy of my new book Procrastination Proof from your favorite bookstore or at my website!

Make sure to follow me on Instagram and share with your friends!
Sign up for my newsletter, Try This!
Book me to speak at your event or to your team!

Keep up with my book list on GoodReads!

Have me speak at your next event!

Episode Links:

ATG 288 | The First Key to Bravery (And Why You'll Never Be Brave Without It) Jun 29, 2026

Show notes

Want to know the secret to bravery? It's not what you think. In this episode, part of my "Bravest Summer Ever" series, I'm revealing the first of three keys to bravery, and it's so obvious you might miss it: goals. Here's the truth: no one is brave "just because." That would be dumb. Bravery is uncomfortable, challenging, and requires sacrifice. So why would anyone choose it? Because they have big, beautiful, sexy goals they're in love with. Goals that get them out of bed at 4:55 AM. Goals they can't stop thinking about. I'd rather watch YouTube than write some days, but I want to hold a finished book in my hand, so I have to be brave enough to focus. Desire leads to bravery. Every successful goal requires it, and every goal inspires it. So let me ask you a tough question: What do you want? You don't have to tell me, but you better tell yourself.

In This Episode:

You can grab a copy of my new book Procrastination Proof from your favorite bookstore or at my website!

Make sure to follow me on Instagram and share with your friends!
Sign up for my newsletter, Try This!
Book me to speak at your event or to your team!

Keep up with my book list on GoodReads!

Have me speak at your next event!

Episode Links:

ATG 287 | Bravest Summer Ever: Why Fear Has Had Enough of a Run (Part 1) Jun 22, 2026

Show notes

Fear had a pretty good run the last few years. It kicked our butts, didn't it? But I'm over it, and I think it's time we take back the territory we lost. That's why I'm starting a new 5 episode series called "Bravest Summer Ever." In this first episode, I'm breaking down three reasons why we need to talk about bravery right now: fear had its moment and it's enough already, bravery is the only thing every successful person has in common (it's the skill that unlocks every other), and most importantly, you can learn it. Bravery isn't something you're born with or without. It's a skill anyone can master. I'll share definitions of bravery, from "motion despite emotion" to "putting miles between you and your desire to quit," and give you your first homework assignment: What does brave mean to you? Over the next few weeks, you're going to become braver than you've ever been. Let's rally.

In This Episode:

You can grab a copy of my new book Procrastination Proof from your favorite bookstore or at my website!

Make sure to follow me on Instagram and share with your friends!
Sign up for my newsletter, Try This!
Book me to speak at your event or to your team!

Keep up with my book list on GoodReads!

Have me speak at your next event!

Episode Links:

ATG 286 | What Your Favorite Airline Says About You (And Why It Matters) Jun 15, 2026

Show notes

After 14 years of travel, I finally achieved Delta Diamond Medallion Status. But here's the thing: it took me over a decade even though I fly 100 times a year. Why? Because time is the currency I care about most. In this episode, I'm breaking down what your airline choice reveals about your priorities and why understanding your real values changes everything. If you live in Atlanta, Delta is unbeatable with Sky Clubs and first class upgrades. But I live in Nashville, and flying Delta means adding 2 to 4 hours to every trip through connections. That's 200 hours a year I'd lose. Your words don't reveal what you care about, your actions do. Whether it's airlines, yard work, or cars, the choices you make every day show who you really are. I'll teach you how to match your actions to your intentions, because that's the soundtrack that always leads to excellence. The choices you make, make you.

In This Episode:

You can grab a copy of my new book Procrastination Proof from your favorite bookstore or at my website!

Make sure to follow me on Instagram and share with your friends!
Sign up for my newsletter, Try This!
Book me to speak at your event or to your team!

Keep up with my book list on GoodReads!

Have me speak at your next event!

Episode Links:

ATG 285 | Stop Saying "Late Bloomer": The 4 Words That Will Change Everything Jun 08, 2026

Show notes

I used to introduce myself as a "late bloomer" on hundreds of podcast episodes. It sounded casual, even humble. But here's what I was really saying: "I should have learned this earlier. Smarter people figured this out years before I did. I'm behind." That broken soundtrack has been quietly wreaking havoc in my life for years. In this episode, I'm exposing one of the most dangerous phrases you might be saying right now and showing you the four words you should say instead. Whether you learn something new at 30, 50, or 70, whether you accomplish a goal this year or next, whether you finally clean that garage or lose those 20 pounds, there's no official age when you're supposed to do any of it. Shame cannot answer the question: "When was I supposed to know this?" Because there is no answer. You're not a late bloomer. You're right on time.

In This Episode:

You can grab a copy of my new book Procrastination Proof from your favorite bookstore or at my website!

Make sure to follow me on Instagram and share with your friends!
Sign up for my newsletter, Try This!
Book me to speak at your event or to your team!

Keep up with my book list on GoodReads!

Have me speak at your next event!

Episode Links:

ATG 284 | Your Communication Type Is Sabotaging Your Success (And You Don't Even Know It) Jun 01, 2026

Show notes

Why do some people totally bomb when a conversation really counts? In this episode, therapist and author Jason VanRuler breaks down the five communication types that explain how we connect, where we fail, and why we keep repeating the same patterns. From Peacemakers who avoid conflict to Sparks who struggle to go deep, Jason reveals how childhood shaped your communication style and what happens when stress makes the real you show up. We also dive into the bullseye method for vulnerability (not everyone gets the middle), why cutting people off isn't a badge of honor, and the three phrases that will change your relationships: "If it matters to you, it matters to me," "Can I explain this?" and simply "Maybe." Plus, Jason shares why you need a new therapist when you can guess what they're going to say, the watches and hobbies we've both obsessed over, and why he cries on planes flying home. If you've ever wondered why communication breaks down when it matters most, this episode will show you exactly what's happening and how to fix it.

In This Episode:

Find Jason VanRuler on Instagram: @jason.vanruler

Or online at jasonvr.com

You can grab a copy of my new book Procrastination Proof from your favorite bookstore or at my website!

Make sure to follow me on Instagram and share with your friends!
Sign up for my newsletter, Try This!
Book me to speak at your event or to your team!

Keep up with my book list on GoodReads!

Have me speak at your next event!

Episode Links:

ATG 283 | The Analyst's Trap: When Reviewing the Past Prevents You From Dreaming the Future May 25, 2026

Show notes

You're a pro at seeing what went wrong, why it went wrong, and exactly what it will cost if it goes wrong again. If you love a good post mortem and naturally think in terms of evidence and precedent rather than optimism and possibility, you might be an Analyst. In this episode, I'm breaking down the third procrastination profile from my new book Procrastination Proof. Analysts excel at reviewing data and learning from results but get stuck moving from analysis to future vision. You become an archivist for mistakes, accidentally curating a perfect museum of all the times it didn't work before. The pain of the past creates the procrastination of the present. You can't do today because of something that happened yesterday. Do you know what the hardest part of the eleventh diet is? The first ten that didn't work. If this sounds like you, take the free quiz at JonAcuff.com/quiz to discover your exact procrastination profile and get a customized action plan.

In This Episode:

You can grab a copy of my new book Procrastination Proof from your favorite bookstore or at my website!

Make sure to follow me on Instagram and share with your friends!
Sign up for my newsletter, Try This!
Book me to speak at your event or to your team!

Keep up with my book list on GoodReads!

Have me speak at your next event!

Episode Links: