Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,000+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Start your free trial
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
Start summary
Jon Acuff
Punch Fear In the Face, Escape Average, Do Work That Matters
17 mins
Brief summary
Start by Jon Acuff is a practical guide for anyone who wants to start something new. It offers tips on overcoming fear, setting realistic goals, and taking the first steps towards a brighter future.
Topics
Table of Contents
Start
Summary of 8 key ideas
Audio & text in the Blinkist app
Key idea 1 of 8
Escape the average and become awesome by punching your fear in the face.
Do you dream of escaping the average? Do you want to become awesome and exceptional, but don’t know where to start?
Here’s a tip: If you want to become awesome, you have to punch fear in the face.
Fear can alienate you from your dreams. It goes without saying that you shouldn’t let it, but to beat fear, you have to understand how it works. Fear prevents you from chasing your dreams by convincing you that they’re impractical or unattainable.
But don’t buy into that kind of defeatist thinking. Instead, write down your fears and then exaggerate them ridiculously, to show yourself how silly those fears actually are.
For example, if you’re afraid that starting a new project will cause you to lose your job and stay unemployed, write that down. And then let yourself go farther. Imagine you’ll end up on the street with a scraggly beard, sleeping on top of garbage bags and talking to stray cats.
Does that seem likely? Probably not, which is why you need to write it down. That way you can see how illogical your fears really are, and thus prevent them from controlling you.
Luckily, there’s one more effective way to deal with fear’s mind games: Just start doing whatever you’re scared of.
You have no control over the eventual result, but that won’t ever change. You’ll never know how things will end up, but at least you can control the outset. If you want to do something, do it!
For example, consider the Segway. When it was first introduced, people thought it might spark a transportation revolution. And yet, since its launch the Segway hasn’t been such a great success.
Still, the Segway people deserve respect. They risked failure and pursued their awesome dream of developing weird, two-wheeled electric transporters.
Want more?
Read or listen to the key ideas
from 7,000+ titles
Read or listen to the key ideas
from 7,000+ titles
Key ideas in Start
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is Start about?
Are you ready to escape the average and become awesome? Do you want to overcome your fears and follow your dreams? What does it mean to live a purposeful life and do work that matters? Ultimately, the most important step in achieving any great goal to START.
Start Review
Start (2013) by Jon Acuff is a must-read for anyone wanting to pursue their dreams. Here's why this book is worth your time:
- It provides practical strategies for overcoming fear and doubt, helping you take the first steps towards your goals.
- Combining personal anecdotes and real-life examples, the book offers a relatable and inspiring perspective on finding and pursuing your passions.
- With its humorous tone and engaging storytelling, Start keeps readers engaged and entertained, making personal development feel approachable and enjoyable.
Best quote from Start
If taking the first step on the road to awesome were easy, then everybody would already be on it.
—Jon Acuff
Who should read Start?
- Anyone who is tired of being average and wants to be awesome
- Anyone who has a great dream but is crippled by fear of the first step
- Anyone who has put off acting on an idea time and time again
Categories with Start
Book summaries like Start
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
4.7 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
30 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth
Start FAQs
What is the main message of Start?
The main message of Start is that anyone can turn their dream into reality with the right mindset and action.
How long does it take to read Start?
The reading time for Start varies depending on the reader's speed, but it typically takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Start a good book? Is it worth reading?
Start is definitely worth reading. It provides practical advice and inspiration to help you take the first steps towards achieving your goals.
Who is the author of Start?
The author of Start is Jon Acuff.
What to read after Start?
If you're wondering what to read next after Start, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Finish by Jon Acuff
- Soundtracks by Jon Acuff
- The 4-Hour Body by Tim Ferriss
- Eat It! by Jordan Syatt and Michael Vacanti
- The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss
- Outlive by Peter Attia
- Rich AF by Vivian Tu
- The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks
- Psych by Paul Bloom
- Mini Habits by Stephen Guise