Book Summary: Do Over by Jon Acuff

While I'm only commuting 4-5 hours in total most weeks, I want to make better use of that time, and I am getting a bit tired of just music on the radio.  Last week, I decided to start with listening to Do Over by Jon Acuff, and because I'm no quitter, I just reached the finish line with it.  As indicated by the title, this is not so much a review, as just a summary to help me remember some key points.


The core of the book is about making investments into your CSA.  That would be your Career Savings Account.  The components of the CSA are skills, relationships, character, and hustle.  Any time you encounter a career transition, voluntary or not, a healthy CSA will be a valuable asset.

That old phrase "it's not what you know, it's who you know" speaks to the importance of relationships to your career.  There is a lot of truth to this.  You may think you can pull yourself up by your own bootstraps, but the world was not designed that way.  We all need each other.


The skills that you know are still important though.  Relationships may help you get your foot in the door, but without skills, you'll still have a hard time getting to the next one.  In addition to the technical skills we may think of, soft skills like showing up reliably, diplomacy, and flexibility are valuable.

Character is who you are.  It will bleed into everything you do and touch everyone you know.  Jon likens it to an orchard, as it takes time and constant tending to develop it.  You won't see the fruit for a while, but it will come.

Hustle will have an amplifying effect on the other investments.  Frequency is key to strong relationships.  Time and effort are essential to sharpen and build new skills.  Constancy is required to grow character.  Hustle is about putting in the time, and time is key.

With a healthy, diversified CSA, you will be ready for any career transition, whether that be breaking through a ceiling, making a jump, recovering from a bump, or taking advantage of an opportunity.