Aliveness Mindset: Lead and Live with More Passion, Purpose, and Joy

by Jack Craven

Jack Craven’s Aliveness Mindset is an invitation for anyone feeling stuck to awaken to a life of renewed passion, greater purpose, and authentic joy. When did you last feel truly alive? What if you could experience that feeling not just once in a while but every single day? That is the promise and goal of an Aliveness Mindset. You are fully capable of bringing the best, most vibrantly alive version of yourself into the world day after day. Aliveness is already within you, but you have to define it and find it, guard it and grow it. It must be discovered because you are unique and so is your experience of aliveness. In Aliveness Mindset, executive coach Jack Craven shares the principles and strategies he has used to lead countless CEOs and high-level business leaders into a more fulfilling, authentic life. His practices are not a series of impersonal steps or a formula to blindly follow but rather an organic process of self-understanding and personal growth. In Aliveness Mindset, you 1. Create your own Aliveness Mindset. 2. Learn the simple yet powerful components of the Circle of Aliveness. 3. Discover the unique way you experience aliveness and how to remain in this “Optimal State” despite the ups and downs of life. 4. Understand the seven components of an Aliveness Mindset and how they work together to power your aliveness journey. 5. Receive practical, proven strategies to restore and expand your experience of aliveness.

256 pages, Hardcover

Published April 2, 2024

About the author

JACK CRAVEN has always shaped his professional journey around his passions. Starting as a trial lawyer with the Chicago State’s Attorney’s office, he moved into private practice and later took on the role of CEO for his family’s business for nearly two decades. Yet his move into executive coaching stands out as the most challenging—and rewarding—chapter of his career. It was during this time that Jack created his “Living All In” philoso- phy. He has utilized his extensive professional and personal growth journey to empower individuals to discover deeper purpose, joy, and happiness in their lives. Since 2007, Jack has also been an active member and certified facilitator for the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO), the world’s leading community for chief executives. Just as passionate about his personal pursuits, Jack loves keeping fit, reading, volunteering for his Chicago community, and spending quality time with his wife, three daughters, and dog, Riley. This is his debut book.

Reviews

[Shana Craven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aliveness Mindset blew me away. I’m not typically one for “self-help” or “business development” books. Aliveness Mindset is the exception. The book perfectly balances keeping the reader captivated and self reflective. It empowers you to unlock the tools necessary for living life to your full “aliveness”, consistently encouraging active participation from the reader to apply its teachings effectively. Jack’s writing inspires me to delve deeper into uncovering and embracing my own “aliveness” and “optimal state”.

[Shawn Roser · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Aliveness is within me."

Within each chapter of Aliveness Mindset, Jack Craven slowly and meticulously builds the foundation of guiding one down the path of discovering what aliveness means to each individual. If you have ever wondered where to start, or what it means to feel alive, this is the book for you.

Jack directs you through a step-by-step journey to help find what makes you feel most alive. He provides the tools to help maintain that mindset each day, describing examples from his own life which help build a connection with the reader. The author is someone who has walked the path, discovered what does and does not work, and is willing to share his extensive knowledge with the goal of making a difference in people's lives.

As one walks the Aliveness path with Jack, he presents questions to assist in the journey. These questions are profound, thoughtful, and meaningful. They are designed to help the reader explore areas of their life they rarely think about.

For example:

"What am I most frustrated or disappointed with right now? What am I missing?"

"Can you think of a time you used the power of your mind to change your outlook and behavior from negative to positive? What did you do to make that switch? What were the results?"

"What is one thing you could do today to be more open, curious, and less reactive?"

This is definitely a book that should be read and referenced multiple times. It is designed to be a life-changing manual that will be by one's side anytime it is needed.

If you are ready to start feeling alive, Jack is ready and available to be your guide. You can do this!

[Kate Dane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book offers a range of suggestions for finding your inner center, what matters to you, and when you a most alive. It then discusses how to move from obligation, duty or expectation to reframing your mindset and looking at what you truly want to do. Putting all these steps into practice may be a big ask and take time, but as the author says, moving a bit in that direction can help make your life more satisfying. There is flexibility offered in how to adopt the practices. I like the examples and the patterns of self-reflection the author lays out. Although this book is framed for leaders who may have more ability to shift their lives at work, pieces of it would work for most of us.

It's a thoughtful way to reimagine the life you may feel you are forced into and take steps to live it more fully.

I received a free advance reading copy of the book.

[Lisa Kosak · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're feeling stuck and looking for a way to awaken your true passion and find greater purpose, Aliveness Mindset by Jack Craven is the book for you. This book is not just a series of impersonal steps or a complicated formula to follow, but rather an easy process of self-understanding and personal growth. Craven shares the principles and strategies he has used to lead countless CEOs and high-level business leaders into a more fulfilling, authentic life. The thought-provoking questions at the end of each chapter will get you thinking, and the practical, proven strategies will help you restore and expand your experience of aliveness. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to live a more vibrant

[Valerie Atkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I admit being a sucker for books that make a promise. Many fail to deliver but Aliveness Mindset makes good on its subtitle; Lead and Live with More Passion, Purpose, and Joy. The author, Jack Craven, uses himself as a visual aid. He vulnerably shares his journey which, along with his training as a coach and consultant, provides the basis for the process he offers us. In Chapter 4, he invites us to Show Up or Shut Up and then gently lays out the path leading to our aliveness with ideas and exercises that guarantee our arrival. If you are serious about shifting your mindset and leading a fuller, more gratifying life, this book is for you.

[Anastasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack Craven in Aliveness Mindset says "Nobody else can tell you how to be fulfilled. Nobody else can understand you better than yourself. So how do you find it? How do you define it? Let's explore that together."

Aliveness is a state and you are capable of getting there and making your life better. Jack Craven will help you get there. He describes what is it and how you can get there. And at the end of the book, there is a whole chapter dedicated to the tools that you can use to achieve aliveness.

I thought the book was very interesting and will be going back to the toolset again and again.

[Sam Bachert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book and I have learned a great deal about becoming my true alive self. It is a book that many times throughout the book I easily identified with the examples provided and realized this was something that I could implement. It isn't a quick fix, it is a life long process that we will have to come back to every day. I have begun the journey, will you? This is a must read for anyone who wants more out of life!

[Siv · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Weaving Influence for an ARC of this book!

It's no small thing to say that this book was the nudge I didn't know I needed to begin to think differently about what I do & how I live. The books strength lies in its questions, offering coaching & insight one might receive from a business or life coach at a fraction of the cost. I also appreciated the Living All In Tools, many of which I already use & can be more intentional about on a daily basis.

[Crystal Furgerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are you feeling a lack of joy, passion, or even purpose? Check out Aliveness Mindset Lead and Live With More Passion, Purpose, and Joy by Jack Craven. He will guide you through exercises and thoughts to take on an aliveness mindset. He gives examples, but encourages you to take the journey for yourself using your own thoughts and experiences. Definitely a book to check out! #AlivenessMindset

[Megan Evert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Felt very similar to other books on the same topic but with fewer ah-hahs. Nothing jumped out at me, simply another list of things to evaluate your life on and questions to reflect on. There is nothing wrong with that but nothing felt new or remarkable to me.

[Judith Saldaña · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good insights on how to be present and intentional in the life of a leader. IMO the book would be better if read in a book group with discussion.
#AlivenessMindset

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

One thing that stood out to me was Craven makes it clear from the beginning that experiencing aliveness on a regular basis takes work. It requires that you align how you feel, how you think, and how you live. An aliveness mindset is achieved through the development of seven mindsets that he explores in depth in the book. Part two of the book breaks down Craven’s seven mindsets needed to have an aliveness mindset. Part three explains how to practice aliveness, and part four focuses on living in your optimal state. There are many examples including Craven’s personal story that help bring the points alive. Finally, there are tons of questions and exercises for you to complete that will walk you through the journey to aliveness.