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What I Learned From Jon Acuff at 3 a.m.

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Have you heard of Jon Acuff? You should probably know a little more about him before I tell you 1. what he taught me at 3am and 2. why the heck I was with him at that insane hour.

 

What I Learned From Jon Acuff

I first heard of Jon at Blissdom ’12. He inspired me so much during his opening keynote that I wrote about him. Right when I decided to take a leap and leave my job as a middle school speech therapist, he was talking about his new book Quitter. Quitter is about making the decision to leave your day job and focus on your dream job. The timing was perfect.

This year at Blissdom, Jon was talking about his book START. Again, the timing was perfect. START is about the two paths you have in life: average and awesome. It’s about punching fear in the face. It’s about escaping average and about doing work that matters. You can see more here:

One of Jon’s beliefs is that it’s best to work on your dream at 5am–before life gets in the way. It’s easy to push off working on your dreams later in the day. You’re too tired, something comes up or there’s not enough time. Get up and at it at 5am and you have time to work on your dream before your day starts–and really, is there a better way to start your day than working on your dream?

THIS, my friends, is how I wrote my book.

START

Back in his Nashville home, Jon holds monthly meetings at 5am. It is called “5 Club.” Love Jon? Need inspiration? He’ll give it to you at that magic hour.

I attended a 5 Club when I attended Blissdom in March. I walked out with 7 pages of notes from that hour. Jon does a great job of pointing out things that we all know but haven’t put into words. When he puts these ideas into words, they stick.

5am Dallas time = 3am Tucson time. It. was. early.

Yes, I woke up at 2:30 Tucson time to get to Jon’s 5 Club and it was totally worth it.

What I Learned From Jon Acuff at 3 a.m.

1. Inspiration without instruction is useless.

2. The calendar is always moving forward.

3. Friends before favors. Don’t make the first thing you ask someone a request.

4. Be deliberate.

5. Always keep the promises you make. It’s better to do more as a surprise than to do less because you promised too much.

6. Give friends and family the grace to not understand your dream.

7. Write down every idea you have, it doesn’t have to be developed. Write now = be awesome later.

8. Make war against distraction.

9. Match high energy time to high energy tasks. What do you use the most energy on? Schedule that first thing in the morning. Save low energy tasks for the end of the day.

10. Ready is a myth.

11. Never compare your beginning to someone else’s middle.

12. Fear is a liar. Fear only gets loud when you do things that matter.

13. Joy is contagious.

Acuff

Jon Acuff has put together an experiment–a START experient. He gathered 2,000 people together and separated them into groups of 24. In those groups of 24, people are paired up with a partner. For 24 days, everyone works on a dream.

Today is the first day.

I’ve got my Five Club app. I’ve got a draft of my ebook (in progress) on my computer.

And I’ve got an army behind me.

24 days until my book is ready for editing. I’m STARTing!

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Comments

    • Hi Ben!

      I don’t think I’m going to make this one, but I haven’t ruled it out quite yet!

  4. I just read the chapter about 5 AM yesterday. I think I’m going to have to force myself to wake up that early for a week or so until it becomes routine. Otherwise, this is excellent! I think you’re a bit ahead of me on this road to awesome but don’t let me slow you down. I’ve just got to pick up the pace and “punch fear in the face.” Allons-y!” (did I mention I’m a Doctor Who fan?)

    • I’m getting up at 5 tomorrow-join me! Once you do it, it’s addicting. It’s a very productive time.
      We’re in it together, partner-you’re not slowing me down :)

  5. Hi Becca,
    Thanks for sharing. This was an inspiring post! I’m going to order his book and get started!
    Melissa

  7. Love this post! I am so excited for you and the goals you have ahead – you rock! I love that one of his tips was to write down every idea that comes to mind, write now = be awesome later. That’s exactly why I always have a notebook with me! :)

  10. I was so bummed to have missed his keynote at blissdom and still have his book in my nightstand. I need to read it, it sounds like! Best wishes for a rockin 24 days, Becca!

    • Gigi, I have a list of tips for bloggers from him that I’m posting next week – they’re great!

      Was his keynote included in Blissdom At Home?

  11. I have Quitter and haven’t read it yet… I really need to do that! I need that extra push to quit and do what I really want.

    Good luck on the book!

    • You’ll find exactly what you’re looking for with Quitter, Jackie! You’ll love it.

  17. Great story and photos! I remember reading about his books on Money Saving Mom’s site. Sounds like you got a lot out of it!

  20. Haven’t been over to your site in forever, Becca! Now I am completely certain that it is providence that I couldn’t go back to sleep @ 3 a.m. this morning;) Thanks for the nudge, Becca!
    I quit my “day job” a few months ago for my “dream job” as a stay at home mom (who hopes to scribble), but I have to admit that my lack of structure, productivity, & creativity have been discouraging to say the least.
    That 13 point list is fantastic! Now I’m off to do some chores and some #7 so that I can do #6 when my people awake;-)
    Hug to you, friend. You’re awesome.

    • I didn’t know you left the hospital, Dayna! I’m excited for you :)

      It takes a while to get that structure – you’ll get it!

      Thanks for stopping by, Dayna :) Big hugs!

  21. What an awesome post – I’m so excited for you! And so excited for us that there’s an ebook by you in the near future. May this be a fabulous 24 days! Looking forward to the tips for bloggers next week, too :)

  23. Though I didn’t attend the early morning meeting with Jon like my crazy roommate did, I was thrilled to sit in on one of sessions and closing keynote at Blissdom. Talk about inspiring! This post was the little push I needed today. I’m going to commit to reading his new book this week. :)

  24. I LOVE Jon Acuff. Amazing man, very wise and inspirational! My husband took a trip to Cancun with Dave Ramsey 2 years ago. He met with Jon Acuff and Jon pretty much told Josh that he should start taking SM advice from me cause I was doing “everything right” LOL!! I have held that compliment in my heart ever since.

    I wish I went to Blissdom and heard him speak. I have so many dreams and YES I am quitting my day job to work at home on my dream. I need to go even harder for it!

  25. SO EXCITING!
    I too have a dream about a book series for kids – just need to get going on that while 5,000 other things are going on in my life right now. I encourage you to keep at your dream and stay focused!

  27. That is awesome! Congratulations on starting your dream!
    I am not a morning person. My productive hours are from 11pm-2am, when the rest of the world is sleeping, but I’ll work on putting the rest of the tips to work.

  28. I loved this post. Great advice that is always good to hear and help motivate. Love it! I don’t know you well, but I do know you know how to get it done. You go girl! Good luck with the book. :)

    ~Jillene

Trackbacks

  1. […] As I mentioned last week, a few months ago I was able to attend one of Jon Acuff’s #5Club sessions, which was actually a #3club for me (since it was held at 3am Tucson time). The pages of notes I took at his hour long meeting of the minds outnumbered the notes I took during the conference I attended that weekend. I left with a lot of life lessons and a bunch of blogging and social media tips that I’m going to share with you today. […]