All It Takes Is A Goal

ATG 261: 50 Things That Took Me 50 Years to Learn: Part 3 Dec 22, 2025

Show notes

I just turned 50, and milestone birthdays make me reflective. Here's what I realized: I liked my 40s way more than my 30s. I'm happier, in better shape, more connected relationally, accomplishing more goals, but taking more vacation. Why? What did I do in my 40s that made it the best decade of my life? In this episode, I'm sharing the first 25 lessons from my list of 50 things that took me 50 years to learn. From "everyone should write at least one book" to "your phone is a casino that runs on time," these lessons cover everything—money, marriage, mentors, mountains, and why you need to own a good suitcase. Some are practical, some are profound, and all of them will make your life better if you apply them. This is part one of a two-part series, so next week I'll share the final 25 lessons to close out the year.

You can pre-order my NEWEST book, Procrastination Proof, right now!

In This Episode:

Grab your very own Soundtracks: The Conversations Card Deck

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!
Book me to speak at your event or to your team!

You can grab a copy of my book All It Takes Is a Goal from your favorite bookstore or at my website!

Episode Artwork Photo by James Donaldson on Unsplash

Episode Links:

ATG 260: 4 (more) Lessons It Took Me 50 Years to Learn (That Will Change Your Life) Dec 15, 2025

Show notes

I just turned 50, and I've learned some things the hard way. In this episode, I'm sharing four more life lessons that took me half a century to figure out—lessons I wish I could tell my 30-year-old self. You'll discover why successful people are time machines who can shave years off your journey, why anxiety isn't something to fix but something to redeploy (this one changed everything for me), and why there's money on the ground everywhere if you're willing to pick it up. I'll also tell you why you should have kids before you're ready—because if you wait until you have enough money or the perfect career, you'll miss out on years with them. Ready is a myth. My 40s were better than my 30s, my 30s were better than my 20s, and I'm genuinely excited about my 50s because I know they're going to be even better. Here's to 50 and beyond.

You can pre-order my NEWEST book, Procrastination Proof, right now!

In This Episode:

Grab your very own Soundtracks: The Conversations Card Deck

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!
Book me to speak at your event or to your team!

You can grab a copy of my book All It Takes Is a Goal from your favorite bookstore or at my website!

Episode Artwork Photo by Maud Bocquillod on Unsplash

Episode Links:

ATG 259: 5 Lessons It Took Me 50 Years to Learn (And You Can Steal Right Now) Dec 08, 2025

Show notes

I'm turning 50 on December 19 (presents welcome), and as I approach the half-century mark, I've been reflecting on the lessons that have meant the most to me. When you're in your 20s, you don't have hard-fought wisdom, but at 50, there's no denying you've been around the block a few times. In this episode, I'm sharing the first five of ten life-changing lessons: how your thought life becomes your life life, why you reap what you sow (and how that's made me write 12 books), why a naturally negative person like me discovered that positivity has a better ROI, why you are the cavalry you've been waiting for, and the truth about having enough time. These aren't just philosophical musings—they're the practical principles that turned my life around at 34 and have shaped everything since. If you only steal one lesson from this list, make it the first one about soundtracks. Stay tuned for the final four lessons next week.

You can pre-order my NEWEST book, Procrastination Proof, right now!

In This Episode:

Grab your very own Soundtracks: The Conversations Card Deck

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!
Book me to speak at your event or to your team!

You can grab a copy of my book All It Takes Is a Goal from your favorite bookstore or at my website!

Episode Artwork Photo by Jacek Dylag on Unsplash

Episode Links:

The Greatest Year Ever Calendar

ATG 258: Gift Guide 2025: 11 Hidden Gems You Won't Find Anywhere Else Dec 01, 2025

Show notes

Don't know what to get for that person who has it all? I've got you covered. This year's Try This Gift Guide features 11 items the Acuff house absolutely loved or made in 2025—from the card game that teaches you everything about a person (SkyJo) to the weighted backpack that's making me look ridiculously in shape (GoRuck), to the brand-new Soundtracks Card Decks that are the perfect stocking stuffer. You'll also discover the best calendar ever made (yes, I'm biased), customized luggage tags that will save you at the airport, a book about bookstores that will restore your faith in humanity, and the greatest running shoes I've ever owned. Most of these are pulled straight from our Amazon order list, so they're easy to get and quick to ship. Get ready to surprise and delight everyone you know—from travelers to runners to book lovers to that spunky aunt in Santa Fe. Merry Christmas!

My Gift Guide:

SkyJo Card Game

GoRuck Backpack

Soundtracks Card Deck

The Heart Aroused by David Whyte

Galaga Handheld Arcade

150 Bookstores You Need To Visit Before You Die by Elizabeth Stamp

Tom Bihn Bags, I personally use the Pilot bag, our family has loved the Large Tote bag this year

Brooks Hyperion Max 2 running shoes

Pomodoro Timer

Customized luggage tags

As a bonus gift to yourself, you can pre-order my NEWEST book, Procrastination Proof, right now!

In This Episode:

Grab your very own Soundtracks: The Conversations Card Deck

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!
Book me to speak at your event or to your team!

You can grab a copy of my book All It Takes Is a Goal from your favorite bookstore or at my website!

Episode Photo by Nathan Lemon on Unsplash

Episode Links:

ATG 257: Politicians Are Temporary, Family Is Forever: Your Thanksgiving Survival Guide Nov 24, 2025

Show notes

I am my niece and nephew's favorite uncle—mostly because I'm their only uncle, but a win is a win. Election years turn every family gathering into "squirrely uncle season," and Thanksgiving is ground zero. You've got relatives who think differently, believe differently, and this year, vote differently. Before you get into a political argument that could cost you a decades-long relationship, here's one soundtrack to remember: "Politicians are temporary, family is forever." In this episode, I'm breaking down why you shouldn't do long-term damage over short-term politicians, how to set boundaries with difficult relatives, and what Andy Stanley said about winning arguments but losing relationships. This will be the 8th or 9th president of my lifetime—I've only had one dad and one mom. Do the math before you flip the table. And whatever you do, don't grab the pecan pie on your way out. Nuts ruin dessert.

You can pre-order my NEWEST book, Procrastination Proof, right now!

In This Episode:

Grab your very own Soundtracks: The Conversations Card Deck

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!
Book me to speak at your event or to your team!

You can grab a copy of my book All It Takes Is a Goal from your favorite bookstore or at my website!

Episode Artwork Photo by Libby Penner on Unsplash

Episode Links:

ATG 256: The 4 Books That Changed My Year (And Why I Read 75 Fewer Books) Nov 17, 2025

Show notes

Last year, I read more than 100 books. This year, I cut that goal down to 25—and actually got more out of them. After realizing I was flying through books without retaining much, I slowed down and found four that earned a permanent spot on my bookshelf. In this episode, I'm sharing my favorite reads of 2024: a cutthroat business memoir from the cofounder of CAA (with an amazing 10-minute meeting trick), a beautifully illustrated book about overthinking, a faith book that pulled me beyond my standard understanding, and a weird poet's guide to courting your wild twin back from the forest. Whether you're a business builder, an overthinker, a person of faith, or someone who's played it too safe, there's something here for you. Plus, I'll tell you which of my own books to start with if you're new to my work.

You can pre-order my NEWEST book, Procrastination Proof, right now!

You can find the 4 books right here:

Who is Michael Ovitz? by Michael Ovitz

(Bonus) Powerhouse by James Andrew Miller

Experience Jesus. Really. by John Eldredge

Thinking About Thinking by Grant Snider

Courting the Wild Twin by Martin Shaw

In This Episode:

Grab your very own Soundtracks: The Conversations Card Deck

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!
Book me to speak at your event or to your team!

My new book All It Takes Is a Goal is available! You can grab a copy from your favorite bookstore or at atgbook.com.
Grab my books, Soundtracks and Finish, today!

Episode Links:

ATG 255: Stop Being a Success Voyeur Nov 10, 2025

Show notes

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to binge on other people’s success stories? Podcasts, books, courses—it all feels productive, but sometimes it’s just procrastination in disguise. I call it being a success voyeur. You’re peering through the glass, watching other people build remarkable lives, while your own goals collect dust. I know, because I did it too. In 2024, I read 100 books and didn’t change my life one bit. It wasn’t learning—it was hiding. In this episode, I’ll share how I stopped watching success and started creating it again. If you’ve been stuck in research mode, this one’s for you. It’s time to get out of the stands and back into the game.

In This Episode:

Grab your very own Soundtracks: The Conversations Card Deck

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!
Book me to speak at your event or to your team!

My new book All It Takes Is a Goal is available! You can grab a copy from your favorite bookstore or at atgbook.com.
Grab my books, Soundtracks and Finish, today!

Episode Artwork Photo by Viviana Rishe on Unsplash

Episode Links:

ATG 254: Throw Your Bottles: Why the World Needs What You're Afraid to Create Nov 03, 2025

Show notes

I've written 11 books, but I didn't have a 10-year plan. I just got tired of my fearful mindset dictating my entire life. In my mid-30s, I threw my first bottle into the ocean—and it changed everything. In this episode, I'm sharing why you need to throw yours too. Here's the metaphor: You're on an island called "My Life," and the things you create are tiny notes you shove into bottles. When you throw them with courage and conviction, they float away to shores you've never seen—bookshelf, Spotify, Etsy, Amazon, maybe even Estonia. Someone opens that bottle and says, "This was made for me." You've never met them. You've never been to their city or country. That's the magic. When we make things, we change. When we share them, other people change. I don't know what your bottle is—a book, album, business, podcast, painting, or something else entirely—but I know it's time to throw it. We're all waiting.

In This Episode:

Grab your very own Soundtracks: The Conversations Card Deck

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!
Book me to speak at your event or to your team!

My new book All It Takes Is a Goal is available! You can grab a copy from your favorite bookstore or at atgbook.com.
Grab my books, Soundtracks and Finish, today!

Episode Artwork Photo by A R on Unsplash

Episode Links:

ATG 253: Be a Rebel: Why Hope is an Act of Open Rebellion in a World Addicted to Fear Oct 27, 2025

Show notes

A viral tweet recently claimed that 30-year-olds today can't afford what previous generations could—a house they like, a decent car, a $100K salary, and a stay-at-home spouse. Here's the truth: I was 30 in 2006 and only achieved half of that list. We had seafoam green carpet, a purple bedroom, squirrels living in our roof, a 2-door Camry with 150,000 miles, and a two-hour commute. But we were building something. In this episode, I'm breaking down why people procrastinate when they create impossible-to-achieve dreams, why you shouldn't be discouraged if you can't have all of it right now, and why trying anyway is an act of rebellion. Instagram tells you everyone else has it all. The media tells you you'll never get it. Don't fall into that procrastination trap. Pick the parts you want first and give a little on the others. In a world addicted to fear, hope is an act of open rebellion. Be a rebel.

In This Episode:

Grab your very own Soundtracks: The Conversations Card Deck

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!
Book me to speak at your event or to your team!

My new book All It Takes Is a Goal is available! You can grab a copy from your favorite bookstore or at atgbook.com.
Grab my books, Soundtracks and Finish, today!

Episode Artwork Photo by 愚木混株 Yumu on Unsplash

Episode Links: