Jon Acuff is the author of Stuff Christians Like (blog and book), as well as his new book Quitter. (Of which, I am giving away 50 copies. Read below.) He’s also a member of the Dave Ramsey team. He lives with his wife and two daughters in Nashville, Tennessee,. I have the privilege of speaking with Jon from time to time at our Total Money Makeover LIVE events. Recently I told Jon that my readers would love for me to interview him. He responded with, “And you are?” I then gave him a side hug, which is like his kryptonite, and he agreed to do the interview. At the end of the interview you can find out how to win Jon’s new book Quitter.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlVyydTKZFA&feature=player_embedded]
CLo: What inspired you to write your new book Quitter?
JA: A few years ago I started writing a blog that I loved doing. It ended up getting turned into a book, and I was eventually asked to speak at conferences. I was having a blast, but doing those things represented only a sliver of my week. I had a day job in an IT department. And I started to feel stuck between the tension of a day job and a dream job.
At first I thought I was the only one, until I started to talk to people and realized we’re becoming the “I’m, but” generation. Whenever I ask someone what they do, they tell me, “I’m a teacher, but I want to be an artist.” Or, “I’m a CPA, but I want to start my own business.” I wrote the book to help anyone who has ever bumped into something they loved doing, something they felt created to do and did not know how to do that with more of their life.
CLo: Why the title?
JA: At one point I had eight jobs in eight years. I was a quitter and fewer of us are staying at jobs for very long. I wanted to speak to our desire to quit and how to do it in a way that ensures success for your dream job.
CLo: Why don’t more people pursue their dreams?
JA: Fear is a big reason. We’re afraid to fail and afraid that unless it’s perfect, we can’t start. Perfectionism prevents a lot of people from dreaming.
CLo: You say in the book, “At the heart of a dream is change.” Tell me about that.
JA: No one has a dream and says, “If this dream works, if I’m successful, the status quo in life will forever be maintained and protected.” Dreams are always about doing something different or better or new. And that scares a lot of people because we tend to not like change.
CLo: What feedback have you received that has meant the most?
JA: I got an email from a couple in Portland, Oregon. They’ve got a big, bold dream and are coming all the way across the country to really lean into it by attending the Quitter Conference we’re having in Nashville on July 30th. To see them that excited about their dream is encouraging to me.
CLo: Can your book help leaders?
JA: Without a doubt. Dreamers are a dime a dozen. Doers are rare. People who actually execute and work hard on their dreams are rare. And to do that, you have to be a leader. To be successful at a dream always takes a degree of leadership.
CLo: Hanging out with you is always like Friday night at a comedy house. What was dinner like growing up in your household?
JA: It was like Def Jam Comedy night. If you didn’t have great material, you left the table in tears. Comedy and laughter were currency in my house. I loved it!
CLo: Wednesday posts on SCL ALWAYS reach deep inside of me and force me to reflect on how much God loves me. Where does all of that depth come from?
JA: I don’t consider myself a very deep person. It’s a work in progress, but if there is any it comes from the bruises and scars I’ve acquired in life and listening to how God loves me through those moments.
I am giving away 50 copies of Quitter to my readers. To get one, you must do the following:
- Leave a comment as to why you need a copy of the book. Be creative.
- Tweet a link to this post by using this link: . You can write your own tweet, or you can use, “Win a free copy of Jon Acuff’s new book Quitter on @CLoCurto’s blog – ” If you don’t have a Twitter account, you can use Facebook.
- I will pick 50 on or before July 10th.
That’s all you need to do. Let me know if you enjoyed the interview.
Have the book, love the book, can’t wait for the conference! Thanks for posting the interview, I really enjoyed it!
I met John in Nashville last February. He called me “Old School.”
Why do I want the book? I see this process like an Oreo cookie. I know the beginning and can see the outcome of taking dreams to fruition. The two sides of the cookie. It’s the vast in-between that is difficult to grasp. If the book addresses that, then it may be the key that unlocks the center of the process for me..
Chris, I actually have the book (I bought 4 copies when it when on sale the day Jon Acuff was on the Dave Ramsey show). I was truly hoping that my book would arrive by the time that he was at DFW for the book signing at Books a Million in Grapevine, but alas it did not. I went anyways and got to personally meet Jon and get my picture taken with him…and it was a BLAST! My books arrived and I was secretly hoping since I purchased them “from the source” that they would have Acuff’s autograph, they don’t. However, I must tell you in some communication on Facebook with Chris Mefford, he offered if I mailed it he would make sure it happened and I have it packaged and ready to ship…but if I won a copy here and it was autographed, that would mean I have another Quitter book to give away and keep the autographed one for myself and save you & I shipping on sending this one to Mefford! 🙂 I am sure there are others who need the book more than I do because I technically already have one that I am a 1/3 of the way into and the others I am giving away to people I want to encourage to find their dream job. I enjoyed the interview and the two nuggets for me are: Fear and perfection prevent us from pursuing our dreams…AND…Dreamers are a dime a dozen, doers are rare! Love that!!!
Ok – I need this book. I posted the link on FB and here is my comment. BUT here’s how bad I need the book. I can’t wait to “win” the book! I purchased it two minutes ago – it’s on 2 day shipping – and I’ll have it by Wednesday – should have it read by the week-end. When I need something – I NEED IT NOW! I can’t wait until July 10!
“I’m a mortgage banker – BUT I WANNA BE a writer and motivational speaker” – need I say more……?
If I win – then I’ll give the book to one of my friends who is a _______ but wants to be a _______.
Uh…..one more thing. I cried when I watched the video. Now THAT is further confirmation that: I NEED THIS BOOK!
I “need” a copy of Quitter to give to my friend Bert, who is stuck in a county job that is wearing him out. He is qualified to do many things – lead pack trips into the back country, weld, build fences, mow fields, – and has a wonderfully generous warm heart. But that job. . . sigh!
Jon, did you overcommit to evaluating blogs back in December? I’m ever hopeful that you will tell me the “magic formula” for mine! Just kidding – formulas are sooooo boring.
ick – sorry about the italics – tried to use them on Quitter but messed up on undoing them. Looks like I whispered the entire comment. Maybe I should have had an IT job so I would know better!
I need a copy of this book because I started one of my dreams this past weekend. I’ve always wanted to be a blogger and a writer but was afraid to start and didn’t know where to start. I took the plunge this weekend and started my own blog. I’m not where I want to be but at least I’m on the road. I also want the book because I found your blog over the weekend and became a subscriber! Great stuff on leadership and you can never go wrong with someone from the Ramsey Team!
To Eric – just to say “Congratulations!” on your plunge into “blogger land”! I am a “toddler” blogger – not really “baby” anymore – but taking a few steps! I found once I took the first step – first blog, then second blog – I was drawn in – started getting comments, confidence was growing. So, good luck and God bless on your new adventure!
Louise,
Thanks for the encouragement. I’ve never been so excited about doing something new. When I write I feel like it makes God happy! I love encouraging people and wanted to do something more about it.
Eric – that is incredible! Such an AFFIRMATION that you are operating in your brilliance! God bless you and all you do!
I need this book because anything recommended by Dave Ramsey is worth reading. Plus I always have had dream ideas but never pursued them and hoping this may be motivation to act on them. Tweet posted!
I know its after July 10, but I just found this page from looking up info on the book. If you still have a copy I would love a copy!! I am 30, working at a job, and I am the person who says “i’m…..but…..” i want to enjoy life like I see others around me enjoying life, I work ALL the time and am just not happy with the way things are going. I would LOVE to read this book.
I tell ya what, promote today’s post on Twitter or Facebook, and leave a comment, and I’ll send you one.