Book Discussion: Finish, Part 2 – Deliberate Time Investments and Avoiding Distractions Nerd Journey: Career Advice for the Technology Professional

In order to finish the goals we begin, author Jon Acuff says we need more time to work toward each goal, the motivation to keep going, and to maintain focus amidst any possible distractions perfectionism may throw at us along the way.

Based on that, what will you intentionally decide to bomb so you have more time? How will you stay motivated to accomplish your goal? And how can you avoid distractions?

In episode 273, we’re joined by guest host Jason Gass to help answer these questions based on our discussion of the following chapters from Finish by Jon Acuff:



* Chapter 3: Choose What to Bomb

* Chapter 4: Make It Fun if You Want It Done

* Chapter 5: Leave Your Hiding Places and Ignore Noble Obstacles.



Original Recording Date: 04-07-2024

Topics – A Book Discussion Series, Chapter 3: Choose What to Bomb, Chapter 4: Make It Fun, Chapter 5: Leave Your Hiding Places and Ignore Noble Obstacles

A Book Discussion Series



* This is part 2 of a book discussion series centered on Finish: Give Yourself the Gift of Done by Jon Acuff. If you missed part 1 of our discussion, check out Episode 272.

* In that first episode we discussed the following topics:



* Reasons Jason Gass (our special guest host in this series) recommended the book

* Chapter 1 – The Day after Perfect

* Chapter 2 – Cut Your Goal in Half







2:59 – Chapter 3: Choose What to Bomb



* The only way to accomplish a new goal is to feed it your most valuable resource – time. We have to take time from one thing and give it to something else. Being good at one thing means being bad at something else. We choose what to be bad at to prioritize something we’d like to be better at.



* Jason liked the examples Acuff uses from his own life and the lives of real people.

* Acuff gives the example of using a specific block of time on Mondays to finish a book he was writing. His wife encouraged him to use that time.

* For those listening who may be working toward a specific goal (taking a class or a degree, pursuing a certification, etc.), you might need to work on it while your kids are awake, and it may take time away from them. But it is intended to be temporary.



* Jason used to enjoy mowing his yard, for example, but got tired of the time it was taking, especially in the heat of a Texas summer. He is able to pay for a mowing service and can now apply the 2 hours per week toward other goals.





* Nick says the decision to be bad at something is really putting your time in the right place to accomplish your goal. But it also prevents you from having a mental conflict later or needing to make further decisions. It saves mental cycles.



* Nick, for example, is choosing to bomb communicating with people a lot on weekends because he is podcasting. That’s just what he does.

* Jason’s wife hated grocery shopping. Now they’ve invested in a meal service and only shop for the basics. This relieved a task they just didn’t want to do.

* “There’s always something I feel in our lives that we just don’t want to do, and if we can trade or outsource so we can work on something that’s a little more energetic or more fulfilling, it’s a good handoff.” – Jason Gass

* John stresses that these things are planned and intentional. If grocery shopping takes 90 minutes out of your week that you really don’t like spending, and a delivery service can eliminate some of that or most of it for a fixed rate,