Quitter – Jon Acuff

I recently enjoyed Jon Acuff’s new book, Quitter. The subtitle is “closing the gap between your day job and your dream job.” I found the premise of the book fascinating because while writing Thriving at College I came across an interesting statistic: People in their twenties go through an average of seven jobs. Acuff himself went through a bunch of jobs before doing what he does now: writing and speaking full-time as an employee on the Dave Ramsey team.

In Thriving at College, I discuss the importance of discovering the intersection between your interests and passions (on the one hand) and your skills and gifts (on the other). Many college students today pursue fields that sound interesting, but aren’t once they get a taste of what it’s really like. This is sometimes due to an inflated sense of ability, but other factors can be at work (a pushy parent, an inordinate desire for massive wealth, etc.). It’s also common for people to pursue a particular field because it represents a “safe choice” rather than an area of passion. So they graduate, get a job, and then discover it’s not really what they like.

This can be an expensive and time-consuming process. Figuring out how to pursue your passion, and earn a living doing it, is not always easy. It tends to require serious thought, and a roadplan. Hence, Acuff’s book. And keep your eyes on the Boundless podcast – rumor has it Acuff will be interviewed on an upcoming episode.