Business Book Review: Undistracted by Bob Goff

Goff shows how unwavering faith and humour can journey together. In triumphs and misadventures, you’ll embrace both if you have an undistracted vision.  

My Rating: ★★★★
Length: 238 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson US
Released: 2021

Key Takeaways for Personal Branding

Bob Goff, author of New York Times best-seller, Undistracted, is the poster child for making business personal. In keeping with the tradition set in his other books, he shares his personal phone number at the back of the book. And invites readers to contact him to chat.

Goff’s a self-proclaimed “recovering lawyer”. His over thirty years of experience includes being both a partner and starting his own firm. He’s now dedicated himself to motivating and serving others. He has made tremendous contributions to vulnerable communities, particularly children in Africa.

Undistracted is a storytelling masterpiece. Goff captures your attention with his adventurous tales. From concerts and encountering stalkers to practising law and his work in Africa. He lightly nudges you toward the moral.

A few personal takeaways include:

Mr Wilson

Upon travelling interstate for a speaking engagement, Goff shares an amusing meeting with a kind stranger who offers to give him a lift to his hotel. As his driver starts to share tales of his childhood, Goff buckles in for what is to be a long ride.

One story shared the driver’s father’s anger over a hotel charging extra for each kid. A perceived injustice the disgruntled father could not seem to shake.

When Goff arrives at the hotel, he’s appreciative of his driver’s kindness in walking him to the desk. This then turns into confusion as all the staff seem to know his name — Mr Wilson. As it turns out, his unassuming driver was the son of Kemmons Wilson — founder of the Holiday Inn chain.

As Goff highlights, Mr Wilson didn’t need to look important. He was important:

“Be humble and you won’t be distracted trying to look important.”

Turn disappointments into Invitations

While the goal is to stay undistracted toward your vision, much of Goff’s messages is about accepting, with a sense of agency, the misadventures along the way:

“See unexpected circumstances as surprises, and what seems like disappointment will become an invitation.”

When setbacks occur, get busy, not bitter. Don’t get sour, get creative. Start moving in a new direction. Build a new path.

Favourite Quotes

“Figure out how much longer you think you’ll live, set a timer to countdown from there, and see how it changes your days. I bet you’ll have fewer arguments and scroll social media less. You will look for more rainbows, find more waterfalls, and watch more sunsets. You’ll surf the waves instead of surfing the web, and you’ll trade reality shows for . . . actual reality.”

“Living with boldness can make other people a little uncomfortable. Here’s why. People who are still asking for permission get antsy when they see this kind of unbridled agency and vision in motion.”

“Have a conversation with yourself and perhaps some trusted friends about what constitutes a good, purposeful, and joy-filled life. Focus on a few of those things and try to make one or two moves in their direction every day.”

“Maybe your thing is ridding yourself of distraction so you can dial up your availability and presence with things that matter way more than Netflix.”

“When you let your real self out, you will attract the people who like how you uniquely live and see the world. Those are the ones who long for a real relationship with a person like you, not a relationship with a version of you that doesn’t really even exist.”

“Buck the trends; defy the world’s assumption that you will maintain the status quo. Choose to go deep instead. Quit merely complying with everyone’s expectations about who you should be. Make a little noise if you need to. Decide you will transform who you are, from a puppet to a real person.”

“What would it look like if you had twenty seconds of insane courage? What would twenty seconds of embarrassing bravery create in your life?”

Undistracted is an impressive display of Goff’s unique personal brand voice. In a rare blend, it’s filled with both his unwavering religious faith and a remarkably witty sense of humour. Goff writes like both a pastor and a friend you’re laughing with over a coffee. He’ll regale you with his many tales — both triumphs and misadventures.

In sharing his journey of getting closer to his purpose, he’ll help you find yours. A pursuit of happiness you can’t be distracted from.

Undistracted by Bob Goff: Available on Amazon.