What do you think?
Rate this book
Burn Your Goals: The Counter Cultural Approach to Achieving Your Greatest Potential
Our counter cultural approach to mental training has helped transform leaders in sports, business, and education. The stories, strategies, and tools within will leave you encouraged and inspired. If you are looking for a quick fix, look somewhere else. If you are looking to achieve your greatest potential on the journey of life, you have come to the right place.
374 pages, Paperback
First published May 12, 2014
130 people are currently reading
714 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
May 27, 2020
One of the best books I've read. I recommend this to all my athletes and other coaches. It's like he took 20 other books summarized and added his own life experiences into it. Very applicable and and easy to use in real life.
March 24, 2020
I’ve read other books by Joshua Medcalf and this one is my least favorite. I like the fable format...this one just seems like a bunch of blog posts put together to make a book. The content is good, it’s just slow because there’s nothing tying it all together.
Transformational Leadership has a similar format, but I thought the content in that one was better.
Transformational Leadership has a similar format, but I thought the content in that one was better.
December 21, 2020
Extraordinary book, there are so many concepts to take from this book, one I could definently read over and over again!
April 18, 2024
This was a recommendation from a fellow teacher. At first, it appeared to be extremely counter-intuitive to the thinking of any rational adult, let alone a teacher. I've always encouraged students to set goals and develop a plan to achieve them. After reading this, I am starting to think differently.
I am personally still pondering a lot of what was in the book and how I can use it in my life and in the teaching field. The only negative? I regret that I could not read this book in its entirety to a class of students in a public school setting. The authors have used Biblical passages and although, as a Christian, I am not offended by these in the slightest, I would have reservations about using the text as is with a group of students. I feel that the lessons and premises in it are great and could be modified for use in public schools. I just wish that the authors could publish a version that would be more appropriate for a school setting.
I was so taken by this book that I ordered copies for each of my three granddaughters.
I am personally still pondering a lot of what was in the book and how I can use it in my life and in the teaching field. The only negative? I regret that I could not read this book in its entirety to a class of students in a public school setting. The authors have used Biblical passages and although, as a Christian, I am not offended by these in the slightest, I would have reservations about using the text as is with a group of students. I feel that the lessons and premises in it are great and could be modified for use in public schools. I just wish that the authors could publish a version that would be more appropriate for a school setting.
I was so taken by this book that I ordered copies for each of my three granddaughters.
March 26, 2024
Amazing amazing book. I took countless notes on the deep, thought provoking questions that the book asks of you. I think 2 of my biggest takeaways were the “write your own obituary” and “what if you get to the top of the ladder only to realize that the ladder has been on the wrong building the whole time” I would recommend this to anybody in business, sports, leadership. I also enjoyed how the book challenges you to treat everybody around you wonderfully and not project things on to your environment.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 4, 2018
Didn’t want to put it down
It changed the way I think. I read It very quick because I didn’t want to put it down. Coaches, parents and athletes should read without a doubt. Highly recommend it. Trying to figure out how to cut goals out of my day to day as I’m writing this. Have read and will read more of his books.
It changed the way I think. I read It very quick because I didn’t want to put it down. Coaches, parents and athletes should read without a doubt. Highly recommend it. Trying to figure out how to cut goals out of my day to day as I’m writing this. Have read and will read more of his books.
December 12, 2021
Everyone of Joshua Medcalf books I really enjoy.
It did repeat some of the same chapters as his previous books and I did have to take the book 1 or 2 chapters each day to really apply what I've been learning. But I took so many notes on this book.
It did repeat some of the same chapters as his previous books and I did have to take the book 1 or 2 chapters each day to really apply what I've been learning. But I took so many notes on this book.
January 1, 2022
I loved this.
Very encouraging and inspiring Christian book.
Great productivity book.
Really important read.
Key Takeaway
Focus on being better, not better than others.
One of the best "goals" books I've ever read.
4.7/5
Very encouraging and inspiring Christian book.
Great productivity book.
Really important read.
Key Takeaway
Focus on being better, not better than others.
One of the best "goals" books I've ever read.
4.7/5
July 16, 2022
It is one of my favorite personal development books ever and Medcalf and Gilbert do a great job reframing certain situations as well as giving one a structure for processing the day and how one can be better at life all the while reaffirming one’s essential goodness and intrinsic value.
December 26, 2017
Thought provoking
Wonderful Christ driven, thought provoking, life changing and inspiring read. Short chapters made it an easy read in a busy life.
Wonderful Christ driven, thought provoking, life changing and inspiring read. Short chapters made it an easy read in a busy life.
February 16, 2019
Great book
I enjoyed the stories and guidance throughout the book. Joshua and Jamie made this read easy and entertaining. Good read for any leader or athlete.
I enjoyed the stories and guidance throughout the book. Joshua and Jamie made this read easy and entertaining. Good read for any leader or athlete.
April 29, 2020
Cracker
A really enjoyable and inspiring book . One of my favourite ever books and will read it again and again.
A really enjoyable and inspiring book . One of my favourite ever books and will read it again and again.
May 18, 2024
I appreciated the content but I wish I hadn’t read chop wood carry water right before this. Too much of the book was repetitive.
January 4, 2017
The great book on the sticking to the process and releasing the outcome. I have alot of high lights and notes in kindle. Loved that i could do that. A couple of highlights:
1- Focus on what you can control
2-Words are power, they shape what we believe, which shapes what we feel, which shapes what we do, which shapes our destiny
3-Talk to yourself instead of listen to yourself
4-Create a performance cue card
5-Remind yourself of 15-60 things that you did daily
One story really hit home. Jamie talked about treating every client as their most valuable client. He tells the story of getting a call from a 11 year old kid he was training as he was preparing for his biggest speech he was to give in his young career, initially he was annoyed by the call but then he realized that if Lebron or Curry called..he would have taken the call without hesitation. Treat every client like his most important client.
Well..towards the end of the book, both Jamie and Joshua give their Twitter handle and ask readers to follow them. I followed Jamie..I got a personal video thanking me for the follow. He has 16k followers. I dont know if he does this every follower..but i thought it was pretty awesome! I felt like an important client of his..
This is not directly tied to the book review but it is an experience i wont soon forget after reading the book.
1- Focus on what you can control
2-Words are power, they shape what we believe, which shapes what we feel, which shapes what we do, which shapes our destiny
3-Talk to yourself instead of listen to yourself
4-Create a performance cue card
5-Remind yourself of 15-60 things that you did daily
One story really hit home. Jamie talked about treating every client as their most valuable client. He tells the story of getting a call from a 11 year old kid he was training as he was preparing for his biggest speech he was to give in his young career, initially he was annoyed by the call but then he realized that if Lebron or Curry called..he would have taken the call without hesitation. Treat every client like his most important client.
Well..towards the end of the book, both Jamie and Joshua give their Twitter handle and ask readers to follow them. I followed Jamie..I got a personal video thanking me for the follow. He has 16k followers. I dont know if he does this every follower..but i thought it was pretty awesome! I felt like an important client of his..
This is not directly tied to the book review but it is an experience i wont soon forget after reading the book.
October 22, 2015
Great advice and an easy read. There is no need to race through this book from cover to cover becasue the chapters are not set up that way. Some chapters (or should I say lessons) are as short as two pages, so a huge time commitment is not required. A great book to keep nearby and refer to frequently.
September 30, 2025
Really loved the content and thought it was very applicable to everyday life, but there were so many typos and misprints that the book was difficult to read. The poor formatting interfered with the draw of the information. The book also repeats the same information over and over, could be much more concise and a whole lot shorter.
February 6, 2015
Everyone needs to read this book!!
January 5, 2016
A truly important read for anyone aspiring to lead and /or reach their potential.
August 22, 2016
An easy read on self-improvement and leadership. Liked it enough to read the authors' other books.
March 4, 2018
Fun book, that's easy to read, and surprising beneficial. A self help book with many practical applications. If you need a kickstart in life and don't enjoy long books, you'll love this one.
January 2, 2017
This book was much better than I thought it would be. To me it wasn't really about not setting goals, it was about a process or systematic approach to being better.
July 28, 2015
This book will change the way you lead, or how you see your leaders.
April 4, 2017
Not my style. Too religious.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews