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Master of One: Find and Focus on the Work You Were Created to Do
What is your one thing? The entrepreneur, thought leader, and best-selling author of Called to Create offers a refreshing stop trying to do it all so you can thrive in your unique, God-given work. “A compelling case for embracing our vocational limits and choosing to do our one thing well.”—Emily P. Freeman, Wall Street Journal best-selling author of The Next Right Thing Imagine how different your life would be if you spent your time doing the very thing that brings you the greatest joy. It’s possible, but most people spend their days making incremental advances on numerous tasks, competent at many things but exceptional at none. That’s because for too long we’ve believed the lie that more activity, more jobs, and more responsibility equals greater effectiveness. In short, we are becoming a society of “jacks-and-jills-of-all-trades and masters of none.” But what if you could shift your focus from too many things to one? In this thought-provoking book, you’ll discover the exponential power of pursuing a singular craft. Through practical principles, Jordan Raynor provides straightforward steps for finding and thriving in your calling. He also highlights more than a dozen real-life examples of high-impact individuals who have chosen to focus on and excel in their unique gifting, • Chronicles of Narnia author C. S. Lewis • Enron whistle-blower Sherron Watkins • TV legend Mister Rogers • Dallas Mavericks CEO Cynthia Marshall • Reality TV star Chip Gaines • NFL Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy • Biblical figures, a teacher, a pilot, a banker, and world-class entrepreneurs Too many of us are overwhelmed, overcommitted, and overstressed. This book offers a better way—the path to becoming a master of one!
220 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 21, 2020
275 people are currently reading
2941 people want to read
About the author
Jordan Raynor
18 books1,382 followersJordan Raynor is a leading voice of the faith and work movement. Through his bestselling books (The Creator in You, Redeeming Your Time, Master of One, and Called to Create), the Mere Christians podcast, and his weekly devotionals, Jordan has helped millions of Christians in every country on earth connect the gospel to their work.
In addition to his writing, Jordan serves as the Executive Chairman of Threshold 360, a venture-backed tech startup which Jordan previously ran as CEO following a string of successful ventures of his own.
Jordan has twice been selected as a Google Fellow and served in The White House under President George W. Bush. A sixth-generation Floridian, Jordan lives in Tampa with his wife and their three young daughters. The Raynors are proud members of The Church at Odessa.
In addition to his writing, Jordan serves as the Executive Chairman of Threshold 360, a venture-backed tech startup which Jordan previously ran as CEO following a string of successful ventures of his own.
Jordan has twice been selected as a Google Fellow and served in The White House under President George W. Bush. A sixth-generation Floridian, Jordan lives in Tampa with his wife and their three young daughters. The Raynors are proud members of The Church at Odessa.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 255 reviews
July 14, 2023
i wanted to like this book but unfortunately walked away disappointed. another evangelical man writes a tone-deaf 300 page book that could have been a blog post.
some helpful ideas, but the book read like a hastily-compiled sales pitch. some confusing and contradictory ideas. repetitive and I felt like 80% of the book was talking about other people's books [to that point, would highly recommend the heavily quoted "Garden City" by John Mark Comer]
additionally, "finding the work you were created to do" reeks of privilege and I didn't feel the author adequately addressed how his principles would apply to anyone except middle-to-upper class westerners. if you have no other option but backbreaking menial labor to put food on your family's table, would the author say that is what God created you to do?
I walked away with the impression that this book's argument is that being a faithful follower of Jesus means becoming a "master" and that becoming a master = becoming renowned and successful in your field. he didn't address the fact that hard work doesn't equal success and fame for the billions of people that are affected by systemic injustice every day (racism, sexism, ableism, classism, etc.). I hope this is not truly what the author believes, as he did speak to the importance of leveraging work to love our neighbors and make an impact in our cities.
I felt like the book really overly glorified this idea of being a "master" to the point of legalism without properly defining it and without grounding that idea in a meta-narrative from scripture. I agree that Christians should be people who are committed to excellence in what they do, and agree that chronic job hopping looking for the next right job that will really make me happy is the result of flawed logic. however, at the end of the day I believe every follower of Jesus has already been equipped with all they need to live a life of love and service. by the end of the book, I just didn't buy the premise. [read for work]
some helpful ideas, but the book read like a hastily-compiled sales pitch. some confusing and contradictory ideas. repetitive and I felt like 80% of the book was talking about other people's books [to that point, would highly recommend the heavily quoted "Garden City" by John Mark Comer]
additionally, "finding the work you were created to do" reeks of privilege and I didn't feel the author adequately addressed how his principles would apply to anyone except middle-to-upper class westerners. if you have no other option but backbreaking menial labor to put food on your family's table, would the author say that is what God created you to do?
I walked away with the impression that this book's argument is that being a faithful follower of Jesus means becoming a "master" and that becoming a master = becoming renowned and successful in your field. he didn't address the fact that hard work doesn't equal success and fame for the billions of people that are affected by systemic injustice every day (racism, sexism, ableism, classism, etc.). I hope this is not truly what the author believes, as he did speak to the importance of leveraging work to love our neighbors and make an impact in our cities.
I felt like the book really overly glorified this idea of being a "master" to the point of legalism without properly defining it and without grounding that idea in a meta-narrative from scripture. I agree that Christians should be people who are committed to excellence in what they do, and agree that chronic job hopping looking for the next right job that will really make me happy is the result of flawed logic. however, at the end of the day I believe every follower of Jesus has already been equipped with all they need to live a life of love and service. by the end of the book, I just didn't buy the premise. [read for work]
May 13, 2023
This book literally ruined my life but in the best way. When I first read it, I thought “yeah but I can do lots of things and it’s fine” but it really put a rock in my shoe and I couldn’t stop thinking about this book! Finally, I humbled myself, took a step back, and saw that this book was right. God used this book to help me say “no” to all of the various things I was trying to do (which compounded in a lot of anxiety and stress) so I could say “yes” fully to my calling as an author. It is amazing to look back and see how God has blessed that decision this past year, and I am so thankful that this book out me on that path!
October 11, 2019
Master of One showed me God's sovereignty in equipping believers with gifts, talents, and abilities. My passion for my calling comes as I follow God in obedience to master the necessary skills. The blessings arrive when I use what I've learned to glorify Him. I thought nothing could compare with Called to Create, but this takes the believer to the next level of service with a clearer understanding of God's role in our lives.
January 7, 2020
A year or two ago I read Raynor's first book Called to Create and loved it, so when I saw this book available to pre-read I jumped on the opportunity. Especially as the topic is particularly relevant. In my particular stage of life and career field, it oftentimes feels like I have to be good at everything. There are so many opportunities, and it can be hard to even become really good at one thing before I move on to the next.
This is where Raynor comes in with Master of One. He immediately starts by negating the idea that we need to be 'jacks-and-jills-of-all-trades' because that is neither sustainable nor the best use of our time.
So here's what I loved:
First of all, I love Raynor's use of sources. He quotes theologians, businessmen, non-profit directors, Christian authors, and secular authors to name a few. I am also the nerd that gets excited when authors I love love the other authors I love, so the fact that he quotes Greg McKeown and Cal Newport was an immediate plus. I also enjoyed the quotes at the beginning of each chapter, and highlighted several to add to my quote collection.
Second, I appreciated the structure of the book. It was broken into three parts that talk about why it's important to be masters of one, how to pick your one thing and master it, and finally the positive impacts of being a master of one. It is very straightforward and easy to process/implement.
Finally, I loved the fact that he turned work into a mission field. He talks about how, as Christians, we are called to bring glory to God and to love others well. He goes on to explain that by becoming masters in our chosen field, we are able to serve our clients, employers, and employees well, and this in turn will serve our family and community. I also appreciated his take on the importance of mastery, in that he says that once we have that established credibility in our field, we are better able to be witnesses for the Gospel because people are already listening to us. He shares so many good stories and examples in the area, and I loved this perspective.
The only downside (if it can even be considered one) is that my to-read list grew by at least five books because of Raynor's praise of them. I would highly recommend this book to people in all stages of their careers, but especially for those still trying to figure out what their 'one thing' is. Maybe it's just because I am still in school and at the beginning of my career, but I found Raynor's suggestions for identifying and and mastering your craft to be particularly helpful.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this review. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
This is where Raynor comes in with Master of One. He immediately starts by negating the idea that we need to be 'jacks-and-jills-of-all-trades' because that is neither sustainable nor the best use of our time.
So here's what I loved:
First of all, I love Raynor's use of sources. He quotes theologians, businessmen, non-profit directors, Christian authors, and secular authors to name a few. I am also the nerd that gets excited when authors I love love the other authors I love, so the fact that he quotes Greg McKeown and Cal Newport was an immediate plus. I also enjoyed the quotes at the beginning of each chapter, and highlighted several to add to my quote collection.
Second, I appreciated the structure of the book. It was broken into three parts that talk about why it's important to be masters of one, how to pick your one thing and master it, and finally the positive impacts of being a master of one. It is very straightforward and easy to process/implement.
Finally, I loved the fact that he turned work into a mission field. He talks about how, as Christians, we are called to bring glory to God and to love others well. He goes on to explain that by becoming masters in our chosen field, we are able to serve our clients, employers, and employees well, and this in turn will serve our family and community. I also appreciated his take on the importance of mastery, in that he says that once we have that established credibility in our field, we are better able to be witnesses for the Gospel because people are already listening to us. He shares so many good stories and examples in the area, and I loved this perspective.
The only downside (if it can even be considered one) is that my to-read list grew by at least five books because of Raynor's praise of them. I would highly recommend this book to people in all stages of their careers, but especially for those still trying to figure out what their 'one thing' is. Maybe it's just because I am still in school and at the beginning of my career, but I found Raynor's suggestions for identifying and and mastering your craft to be particularly helpful.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this review. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
August 12, 2021
Thought-provoking and very God-centered. Raynor discusses the Biblical approach to vocation, interviews Christian masters in their field, and is generally inspiring as he envokes his readers to excellence for the glory of God and the good of others.
December 8, 2019
Jordan writes an easy to follow guide for finding your calling and pursuing it to mastery. As someone who thought she knew her calling from a young age, then made a major “pivot” once I realized it wasn’t what I thought, this book gives me the confidence to pursue the skills and career that ultimately match my gifts with my passion. You won’t be disappointed!
November 27, 2019
I first learned of Jordan Raynor on the YouVersion bible app. I had come across a 5 day devotional based on his book Called to Create. I was excited when I heard that he was releasing another book, Master of One. Once again, Jordan Raynor didn't disappoint! If you are one of the large percentage of people that are unsatisfied with your job, this book is for you. It is so much more than just guiding you to discover your calling, or "one thing" though. It's about learning how to do it "exceptionally well in service to God and others". When you have discovered what that thing is, Jordan gives you direction on how to eliminate the non-essentials that keep you from mastering it, to help you make the most of the gifts that God has given to you.
Throughout the book, Jordan includes quotes and stories of familiar people, including Fred Rogers and Chip Gaines, that have mastered the path that God has set before them. Each chapter ends with a summary, scripture and an action step to help you move forward. He also has provided a Master of One notebook where you can write down your thoughts and personal steps in your own journey.
Imagine what we, as Christians, could accomplish if we all focused on our "one thing" and working towards mastering it.
Throughout the book, Jordan includes quotes and stories of familiar people, including Fred Rogers and Chip Gaines, that have mastered the path that God has set before them. Each chapter ends with a summary, scripture and an action step to help you move forward. He also has provided a Master of One notebook where you can write down your thoughts and personal steps in your own journey.
Imagine what we, as Christians, could accomplish if we all focused on our "one thing" and working towards mastering it.
December 18, 2019
Should Christians strive for excellence in their work? Is there ONE thing that should define our legacy?
As a creative who has gone through several seasons and career changes, the question has been one I've thought about a lot. I don't think I've read a book that 'gets it' as much as Master of One.
By striking a balance between Scriptural integrity and practical examples of believers who found their one thing in a variety of ways, Raynor makes it clear that we can discover God's ultimate calling for our lives by excelling in our daily work - and that doesn't mean just 'following your passion.' I was intrigued by how Raynor used both Scripture and data-driven research to show that finding your calling is not random, nor is it based on wishful thinking or even prayer alone - it's a process which he outlines in great detail and with a lot of forethought.
The most refreshing thing about Raynor's new book Master of One is how much it is NOT about defining excellence on our own terms. Master of One avoids the 'self-help' hole that so many Christian career-oriented books tend to fall into, and instead steers the reader back to the original source of excellence - God himself.
This book is a must-read for any Christian who has questioned whether God has a single occupation or calling in mind for their life. The answer is yes, but by reading this, you'll avoid the traps that so many Christians fall into on the way to the thing that will define your legacy.
As a creative who has gone through several seasons and career changes, the question has been one I've thought about a lot. I don't think I've read a book that 'gets it' as much as Master of One.
By striking a balance between Scriptural integrity and practical examples of believers who found their one thing in a variety of ways, Raynor makes it clear that we can discover God's ultimate calling for our lives by excelling in our daily work - and that doesn't mean just 'following your passion.' I was intrigued by how Raynor used both Scripture and data-driven research to show that finding your calling is not random, nor is it based on wishful thinking or even prayer alone - it's a process which he outlines in great detail and with a lot of forethought.
The most refreshing thing about Raynor's new book Master of One is how much it is NOT about defining excellence on our own terms. Master of One avoids the 'self-help' hole that so many Christian career-oriented books tend to fall into, and instead steers the reader back to the original source of excellence - God himself.
This book is a must-read for any Christian who has questioned whether God has a single occupation or calling in mind for their life. The answer is yes, but by reading this, you'll avoid the traps that so many Christians fall into on the way to the thing that will define your legacy.
November 17, 2019
Wow. wow. wow. I am in awe at how Jordan is able to capture the essence and nature of God in his writing. This book introduces people to practical tools, questions, and stories to become a true master of the call that God has placed on their life. As a 25 year old (you'll understand why this matters when you order your copy), I feel like I just got the Christian code to my life. Instead of just closing the book right now, I am excited to dive into the action steps and give all the glory back to God.
January 15, 2020
A great book to read at the beginning of the year (or new season in life) to push you forward in your focus.
March 1, 2021
I don't even know where to begin with
Master of One
... I have had to collect my thoughts before writing this review because the last two weeks have been life-changing! Every morning, I dedicated an hour to read and meditate on a chapter of this book, absorbing the wisdom found within its pages. Like my friend Soleil said after I shared a couple of pages with her,
Master of One
is a "guidebook to life"!
Jordan Raynor continues to blow me away! Tackling the age-old questions that we all must come against, Jordan simplifies the process of finding and mastering our callings with all our heart and soul! With Scripture forming each chapter and quotes from famous, successful, and well-known people, athletes, entrepreneurs, writers, and more, readers are taken on a soul-searching journey onto the path God is calling each of us to walk down! Rather than reading a how-to book that gives us all the answers, Master of One lays down the foundation, giving us wings to soar closer to the Father and hear the words He wants to say to each of us. We are never far from God, and walking out the life He has put on our hearts is the greatest way to draw nearer to Him, finding true contentment and joy along the way.
As we say goodbye to adolescence and hello to adulthood, the question that tends to plague our minds is, "What am I going to do with my life?" No one wants to get stuck in a job that pays the bills but leaves us with little to no joy. In Master of One , Jordan Raynor explores what becoming a master of one in a world that encourages us to become a jack/jill-of-all-trades does for the body of Messiah and our relationship with God! Taking our focus off ourselves and onto bringing glory to God and being a servant to others, Jordan shifts the world's view of success for something more fulfilling. Many of us are struggling to find purpose in this era where so much is available to us; but, with dedication, the Spirit's guidance, and wisdom from other believers, we will be able to move a few steps closer to the finish line! We all have a choice, though, and it will take some detours for us to learn where our devotion, calling, and passions lie!
Master of One changed my perspective on how I look at my work. As someone who understands what God has called me to do, I still struggle with time-management and focus. Reading this book, taking the time to soak in the words, gave me a newfound peace and drive to set up boundaries and truly devote my days to mastering my craft! Speaking clearly through Jordan's words, the Father taught me a new lesson with each chapter, causing me to fill my journal with quotes, Scriptures, insights, and prayers that I look forward to rereading in the future.
Whether you are questioning your calling or feel overwhelmed with the pressure the world is putting on you to choose a specific path, I recommend reading Master of One . Never has a book been more clear and encouraging! It's great to try your hand at multiple jobs — so long as you don't get stuck doing something that pulls you away from achieving true mastery — but it's also important that we learn to work for others rather than ourselves. I pray that after reading this book, you will begin to ask yourself these two important questions when making a decision, "Will this bring glory to God? How can I serve others through this work?" May we learn to take ourselves off the pedestal and remember what Yeshua said are the most important commands, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind...love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22:37,39)
Jordan Raynor continues to blow me away! Tackling the age-old questions that we all must come against, Jordan simplifies the process of finding and mastering our callings with all our heart and soul! With Scripture forming each chapter and quotes from famous, successful, and well-known people, athletes, entrepreneurs, writers, and more, readers are taken on a soul-searching journey onto the path God is calling each of us to walk down! Rather than reading a how-to book that gives us all the answers, Master of One lays down the foundation, giving us wings to soar closer to the Father and hear the words He wants to say to each of us. We are never far from God, and walking out the life He has put on our hearts is the greatest way to draw nearer to Him, finding true contentment and joy along the way.
As we say goodbye to adolescence and hello to adulthood, the question that tends to plague our minds is, "What am I going to do with my life?" No one wants to get stuck in a job that pays the bills but leaves us with little to no joy. In Master of One , Jordan Raynor explores what becoming a master of one in a world that encourages us to become a jack/jill-of-all-trades does for the body of Messiah and our relationship with God! Taking our focus off ourselves and onto bringing glory to God and being a servant to others, Jordan shifts the world's view of success for something more fulfilling. Many of us are struggling to find purpose in this era where so much is available to us; but, with dedication, the Spirit's guidance, and wisdom from other believers, we will be able to move a few steps closer to the finish line! We all have a choice, though, and it will take some detours for us to learn where our devotion, calling, and passions lie!
Master of One changed my perspective on how I look at my work. As someone who understands what God has called me to do, I still struggle with time-management and focus. Reading this book, taking the time to soak in the words, gave me a newfound peace and drive to set up boundaries and truly devote my days to mastering my craft! Speaking clearly through Jordan's words, the Father taught me a new lesson with each chapter, causing me to fill my journal with quotes, Scriptures, insights, and prayers that I look forward to rereading in the future.
Whether you are questioning your calling or feel overwhelmed with the pressure the world is putting on you to choose a specific path, I recommend reading Master of One . Never has a book been more clear and encouraging! It's great to try your hand at multiple jobs — so long as you don't get stuck doing something that pulls you away from achieving true mastery — but it's also important that we learn to work for others rather than ourselves. I pray that after reading this book, you will begin to ask yourself these two important questions when making a decision, "Will this bring glory to God? How can I serve others through this work?" May we learn to take ourselves off the pedestal and remember what Yeshua said are the most important commands, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind...love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22:37,39)
March 23, 2024
I am going to be a dissenting voice here, given the other reviews, but I have some really mixed feelings about this book.
I picked it up as I’m in the middle of a career pivot and thought it might help me clarify what’s next.
Conceptually I like it. But it puts a lot of pressure on finding the one thing. While that worked for previous generations, it doesn’t seem to fit this culture, which is why I’m sure the author needs to make a strong case for it. And I appreciate that he supports exploration, but given the sheer amount of time and level of endurance to find mastery, I feel pressured. I’m in my 40s. Though I think I’ve had a consistent calling in my life, it’s looked like a lot of different things and I’ve had to significantly pivot to learn new skills.
Second issue with the book is that he’s constantly praising one thing, but it feels inconsistent. Is it truly one thing if a speaker also writes a book? Can one be really great at two different things? (What if your one thing becomes something you can no longer do after a health issue or a crisis of some other kind?) This flies in the face the chapter where it’s purported, on essentialism. I also got a little annoyed that when the author had to simplify to get to his one thing, his wife chose to give up her very successful career she was pursuing mastery of. I’m for mastery of motherhood but this piece did not sit well.
The pursuit of mastery where there’s always a higher bar and a new target feeds hustle culture. Can there be rest in this paradigm? I wish there had been some exploration of this.
And what if mastery doesn’t put one in the room with kings and leaders? I think too often we promote people out of mastery because rising is the goal. I once had an opportunity for management where I knew my better one thing was at the ground level interfacing with the public more than spending my days in meetings. This concept aligns with humility he talks about…but the stories he told were not just average people of endurance but wildly successful people who were in very public places “for such a time as this.”
For all this, I did find a lot of gems and some clarity as I make some decisions about another mid-life pivot. I just happen to like some of Jordan’s other books better.
I picked it up as I’m in the middle of a career pivot and thought it might help me clarify what’s next.
Conceptually I like it. But it puts a lot of pressure on finding the one thing. While that worked for previous generations, it doesn’t seem to fit this culture, which is why I’m sure the author needs to make a strong case for it. And I appreciate that he supports exploration, but given the sheer amount of time and level of endurance to find mastery, I feel pressured. I’m in my 40s. Though I think I’ve had a consistent calling in my life, it’s looked like a lot of different things and I’ve had to significantly pivot to learn new skills.
Second issue with the book is that he’s constantly praising one thing, but it feels inconsistent. Is it truly one thing if a speaker also writes a book? Can one be really great at two different things? (What if your one thing becomes something you can no longer do after a health issue or a crisis of some other kind?) This flies in the face the chapter where it’s purported, on essentialism. I also got a little annoyed that when the author had to simplify to get to his one thing, his wife chose to give up her very successful career she was pursuing mastery of. I’m for mastery of motherhood but this piece did not sit well.
The pursuit of mastery where there’s always a higher bar and a new target feeds hustle culture. Can there be rest in this paradigm? I wish there had been some exploration of this.
And what if mastery doesn’t put one in the room with kings and leaders? I think too often we promote people out of mastery because rising is the goal. I once had an opportunity for management where I knew my better one thing was at the ground level interfacing with the public more than spending my days in meetings. This concept aligns with humility he talks about…but the stories he told were not just average people of endurance but wildly successful people who were in very public places “for such a time as this.”
For all this, I did find a lot of gems and some clarity as I make some decisions about another mid-life pivot. I just happen to like some of Jordan’s other books better.
January 20, 2020
Have you ever finished an inspiring book, article, blog, or Instagram post and thought, "I love this, but how?" Master of One is a refreshing contrast to the stereotypical self-help/business book.
Advice like "you can do anything you set your mind to" and "follow your passions" has never sat well with me. I didn't think it was wrong necessarily, just missing the practical element.
Jordan has a clear message for readers - God designed you for mastery.
From both his personal experience and the inspiration of numerous Christian leaders, Jordan challenges many of the mainstream concepts associated with faith and work and provides a 5-step path to mastering your one thing. He even ends each chapter with an overview, theme bible verse, and action step.
This book is a great resource for 1. Someone wanting to align their professional work (gifts and talents) with their faith 2. Someone interested in making a transition away from a "society says so" work mindset to "What is God asking me to give to the world?" 3. Someone wanting to gain an even deeper understanding of who God is and who He created us to be.
Favorite quotes:
"Because the Gospel frees us from the requirement to win, we gain a deep desire to master our work and proclaim the excellencies of God in the process." - Chapter 2 Proclaiming the Excellencies of God
"Choosing your vocation is not about choosing between good and bad or right and wrong. It is about choosing between better and best." - Chapter 6, Choose
"If we are unwilling to say no to the nonessential in order to focus on the work we feel called to master, we are selfishly holding back the contribution God has called us to make in the world." - Chapter 7, Eliminate
Advice like "you can do anything you set your mind to" and "follow your passions" has never sat well with me. I didn't think it was wrong necessarily, just missing the practical element.
Jordan has a clear message for readers - God designed you for mastery.
From both his personal experience and the inspiration of numerous Christian leaders, Jordan challenges many of the mainstream concepts associated with faith and work and provides a 5-step path to mastering your one thing. He even ends each chapter with an overview, theme bible verse, and action step.
This book is a great resource for 1. Someone wanting to align their professional work (gifts and talents) with their faith 2. Someone interested in making a transition away from a "society says so" work mindset to "What is God asking me to give to the world?" 3. Someone wanting to gain an even deeper understanding of who God is and who He created us to be.
Favorite quotes:
"Because the Gospel frees us from the requirement to win, we gain a deep desire to master our work and proclaim the excellencies of God in the process." - Chapter 2 Proclaiming the Excellencies of God
"Choosing your vocation is not about choosing between good and bad or right and wrong. It is about choosing between better and best." - Chapter 6, Choose
"If we are unwilling to say no to the nonessential in order to focus on the work we feel called to master, we are selfishly holding back the contribution God has called us to make in the world." - Chapter 7, Eliminate
August 10, 2025
3.7 stars. I want to round this up to 4 stars, but I have one big issue with the book that prevents me from highly recommending it… will explain.
First, I really liked a lot about this book. It’s super unique, and there’s not many books like it (if really any). I like the premise of the book — in a world where we are constantly moving from one passion to another and pivoting in our careers (guilty), Raynor suggests that being a jack of all trades is actually not as beneficial as we might think and that narrowing our focus can be a way to better pursue excellence, service of others, and glorify the Lord.
I specifically loved the idea that the purpose of mastery is not self-promotion or self-seeking, but selfless service. One quote that stuck with me was, “Excellence in our work is actually a form of generosity and love, and poor quality is a form of stinginess and selfishness.”
BUT, here’s the tension… I’m all for searching for that “one thing” and Raynor providing practical advice to do so, but I don’t think it’s as easy to find that one thing as he makes it sound. It can feel like a lofty task and instead of creating excitement, can create anxiety. What if I don’t figure it out ASAP? Am I not glorifying the Lord then? He acknowledges that calling can gradually unfold, or that it’s okay if you don’t figure it out right away, but I wish he’d address the difficulties of the process more and talk about how to be faithful in the midst of the waiting. Or just more that didn’t make me feel like he was being overly prescriptive.
First, I really liked a lot about this book. It’s super unique, and there’s not many books like it (if really any). I like the premise of the book — in a world where we are constantly moving from one passion to another and pivoting in our careers (guilty), Raynor suggests that being a jack of all trades is actually not as beneficial as we might think and that narrowing our focus can be a way to better pursue excellence, service of others, and glorify the Lord.
I specifically loved the idea that the purpose of mastery is not self-promotion or self-seeking, but selfless service. One quote that stuck with me was, “Excellence in our work is actually a form of generosity and love, and poor quality is a form of stinginess and selfishness.”
BUT, here’s the tension… I’m all for searching for that “one thing” and Raynor providing practical advice to do so, but I don’t think it’s as easy to find that one thing as he makes it sound. It can feel like a lofty task and instead of creating excitement, can create anxiety. What if I don’t figure it out ASAP? Am I not glorifying the Lord then? He acknowledges that calling can gradually unfold, or that it’s okay if you don’t figure it out right away, but I wish he’d address the difficulties of the process more and talk about how to be faithful in the midst of the waiting. Or just more that didn’t make me feel like he was being overly prescriptive.
January 14, 2023
Oustanding read!
Raynor has a way of telling compelling stories and guiding you through his insightful thoughts. Sharing lots of personal experience, he doesn't withhold the experience of many other masters of different trades. Very well researched, organized, his book challenges the reader to view work - the thing we do most of the time of our day - in a refreshing and exciting new light.
While Raynor focuses on the task of teaching how to become a master of one, he gives an excellent example of his own mastery of composing this exceptional book. Thanks, Sport.
Raynor has a way of telling compelling stories and guiding you through his insightful thoughts. Sharing lots of personal experience, he doesn't withhold the experience of many other masters of different trades. Very well researched, organized, his book challenges the reader to view work - the thing we do most of the time of our day - in a refreshing and exciting new light.
While Raynor focuses on the task of teaching how to become a master of one, he gives an excellent example of his own mastery of composing this exceptional book. Thanks, Sport.
January 28, 2020
This book challenged me in ways that my millennial ears did not really want to hear. But I really needed to hear what Jordan had to say because it's steeped in deep truth. I'll be chewing on these "tasty thoughts" for some time.
January 17, 2020
This book changed my life. I felt like I never was getting to the places I wanted to go because I didn't have enough value to offer to people.
Now I just focus on things within my core skillset and it's completely changed my business and opportunities. Jordan is a fantastic author and I'd highly recommend this book if you want to change your circumstances!
Now I just focus on things within my core skillset and it's completely changed my business and opportunities. Jordan is a fantastic author and I'd highly recommend this book if you want to change your circumstances!
did-not-finish
June 2, 2021This book did not work for me. I was thinking that the focus of the idea would revolve around work related material or something of the sort. However, the book was too religious focused.
January 31, 2025
100% every Christian with a dream, goal, passion, or simply wanting to pursue Gods will for their life should read this book ❤️ super easy audio read! Simple and actionable take on pursuing the talents God gave you to serve, based on the word of God!
February 21, 2020
Here is a link to my review: https://www.madetoflourish.org/resour...
September 10, 2019
Overview:
— I got a preview copy of the book via NetGalley and had downloaded this a while back but got around to reading this now. Some caveats upfront – I am not a Christian. This book was seemingly written predominantly for a Christian audience. That said, I am not averse to reading books about Christianity and to be honest like it when an author quotes an interesting scripture. It tends to make complex subject simple in a quick and easy way. So, I didn’t mind reading a book full of scriptures.
What is the book about:
— This book is about how does one go about finding & mastering the “One thing” that you are meant to do and do it in the service of Christ and do it really well.
— The author shares his personal journey of how he found his vocation and how it transformed his life. So, the book is about finding the reason why you are alive and doing that so well and in service of Christ.
Ease of reading:
— If you are a Christian and are not very familiar with the work of Greg McKeown or Cal Newport, then this is a good book to read.
— If you like reading quotes from scriptures, you will like the book even more. However, if you are not really a fan of reading about Christ and quotations from scriptures,
— I would recommend that you give this book a miss and instead read the work of Greg and Cal. You will have learnt all that is in the book and miss very few things.
What I loved about the book:
— As I said at the beginning of this post, I like quotes from scriptures, irrespective of which scriptures they come from, so I liked reading the book. I also liked reading about the different stories that the author shares about entrepreneurs, pastors and many more. Each one of them interesting in and of by themselves but each one of them also mastering their craft and vocation and dedicating that mastery to the larger good.
— I also liked the fact that he has created a workbook to along with his book which serves as a companion for readers to follow and create their own record of personal change and growth.
What would I have done differently:
— There is very few things that I would have done differently. I think that this book is very good for the audience that the author has written this book for.
In Conclusion:
— This is a 4 star book for me, but only if you are a Christian and/or love reading scriptures and for everyone else it’s a 3 star.
— I got a preview copy of the book via NetGalley and had downloaded this a while back but got around to reading this now. Some caveats upfront – I am not a Christian. This book was seemingly written predominantly for a Christian audience. That said, I am not averse to reading books about Christianity and to be honest like it when an author quotes an interesting scripture. It tends to make complex subject simple in a quick and easy way. So, I didn’t mind reading a book full of scriptures.
What is the book about:
— This book is about how does one go about finding & mastering the “One thing” that you are meant to do and do it in the service of Christ and do it really well.
— The author shares his personal journey of how he found his vocation and how it transformed his life. So, the book is about finding the reason why you are alive and doing that so well and in service of Christ.
Ease of reading:
— If you are a Christian and are not very familiar with the work of Greg McKeown or Cal Newport, then this is a good book to read.
— If you like reading quotes from scriptures, you will like the book even more. However, if you are not really a fan of reading about Christ and quotations from scriptures,
— I would recommend that you give this book a miss and instead read the work of Greg and Cal. You will have learnt all that is in the book and miss very few things.
What I loved about the book:
— As I said at the beginning of this post, I like quotes from scriptures, irrespective of which scriptures they come from, so I liked reading the book. I also liked reading about the different stories that the author shares about entrepreneurs, pastors and many more. Each one of them interesting in and of by themselves but each one of them also mastering their craft and vocation and dedicating that mastery to the larger good.
— I also liked the fact that he has created a workbook to along with his book which serves as a companion for readers to follow and create their own record of personal change and growth.
What would I have done differently:
— There is very few things that I would have done differently. I think that this book is very good for the audience that the author has written this book for.
In Conclusion:
— This is a 4 star book for me, but only if you are a Christian and/or love reading scriptures and for everyone else it’s a 3 star.
November 12, 2019
This book is changing the way I think about the second half of my life! I’m actually looking forward to finishing it so I can read it again.
November 16, 2019
"Master of One", just like "Called to Create" before it, is opening my eyes to what I was created to be and helping me narrow my focus specifically to the unique gift God put in me to master. Jordan Raynor's transparency in sharing his journey to this point is deeply insightful and Spirit led. His writings are freeing a generation of followers to fully become what they are intended to be. Life changing!
November 14, 2019
The content, format, and tone of this book are spot on. It is going to be a huge success and even bigger than Called to Create.
In this post Christain society where Christains are looked at as dumb, Master of One calls us to be great in what we do. So great we will be impossible to ignore.
I say often that the best thing that could happen to bring more people to faith now days, would be for the next Steve Jobs or Elon Musk to be a strong Christain. I think because of this book and the Lord working through it, we might not have one but many.
In this post Christain society where Christains are looked at as dumb, Master of One calls us to be great in what we do. So great we will be impossible to ignore.
I say often that the best thing that could happen to bring more people to faith now days, would be for the next Steve Jobs or Elon Musk to be a strong Christain. I think because of this book and the Lord working through it, we might not have one but many.
May 11, 2020
I had such immensely high hopes for this book. Especially since this is 100% the season I am in right now, I am a jack of all trades master of none & have had many coaching calls with my mentors to help me navigate this. I see this book on Amazon and get SUPER excited. I get even more excited in the beginning as he quotes some of my favorite authors (John Mark Comer & Greg McKeown)
I have read every book of Comer’s and LOVED them. “Essentialism” also changed my life. Here’s where my excitement started to dissipate. Raynor utilized the content of these other authors so much that I had already read most of what he talked about for 80% of this book. Even when he’s not quoting other authors (which he does ALOT) — he still utilizes much of their verbiage & ideology.
Garden City - John Mark Comer
One Thing - Gary Keller
Essentialism - Greg McKeown
Deep Focus - Cal Newport
These are 4 books I read prior to “Master of One” that get heavily cited & just abused in ideology whenever not cited. And I’m okay if somebody takes a known ideology and presents it in a fresh thought-provoking way, but I don’t feel like Raynor did that. In fact, I feel like Comer, McKeown & Keller did a significantly better job putting value to those ideology’s in fresh ways. I’m sorry but its really hard to enjoy a book that just feels like a repeat and sometimes straight copy of other authors you really do enjoy and love.
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The last thing that got me that almost made me drop this book entirely was that I just wasn’t compelled that Jordon Raynor himself is a Master of One. He talks about his journey a lot and every time he does, it just reveals more and more scatteredness to me. Even when he talks about having laser-focus on one to two projects max to complete them with excellence.. thats cool.. but again, not mastery. This does a good job leaning into the ideology from “Deep Focus” and moving towards mastery & making excellent work come to life but this book is clearly pre-mature to the writer. I feel like Raynor needs 10 more years of focus & work in one thing to actually achieve mastery AND then write a book about it. To me, instead of being compelled by his mastery, it came off like another great “entrepreneurial” idea of his that he decided to focus on and accomplish. Again, great.. but not mastery. This book didn’t tell me you mastered the art of entrepreneurship, writing, marketing, family, whatever you went after — it told me you acquired great focus to finally lean into one to two things max and had the discipline to accomplish those things. To me, that is not mastery — thats discipline, focus & hard work.
John Mark Comer demoting himself to teaching pastor of one campus instead of lead pastor of 3 to clear many hours and spend 10 years solely teaching scripture, writing books & leading his family.. THATS MASTERY.
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The saving grace are the final chapters breaking down the keys to mastery and the purpose to mastery — I do feel like that content was well thought out, more original and very practical — for that, I did enjoy the end!
But for the 80% of this book — if you are genuinely interested in this topic, read the 4 books I cited above. You’ll will be happy you made the investment there!
I have read every book of Comer’s and LOVED them. “Essentialism” also changed my life. Here’s where my excitement started to dissipate. Raynor utilized the content of these other authors so much that I had already read most of what he talked about for 80% of this book. Even when he’s not quoting other authors (which he does ALOT) — he still utilizes much of their verbiage & ideology.
Garden City - John Mark Comer
One Thing - Gary Keller
Essentialism - Greg McKeown
Deep Focus - Cal Newport
These are 4 books I read prior to “Master of One” that get heavily cited & just abused in ideology whenever not cited. And I’m okay if somebody takes a known ideology and presents it in a fresh thought-provoking way, but I don’t feel like Raynor did that. In fact, I feel like Comer, McKeown & Keller did a significantly better job putting value to those ideology’s in fresh ways. I’m sorry but its really hard to enjoy a book that just feels like a repeat and sometimes straight copy of other authors you really do enjoy and love.
__
The last thing that got me that almost made me drop this book entirely was that I just wasn’t compelled that Jordon Raynor himself is a Master of One. He talks about his journey a lot and every time he does, it just reveals more and more scatteredness to me. Even when he talks about having laser-focus on one to two projects max to complete them with excellence.. thats cool.. but again, not mastery. This does a good job leaning into the ideology from “Deep Focus” and moving towards mastery & making excellent work come to life but this book is clearly pre-mature to the writer. I feel like Raynor needs 10 more years of focus & work in one thing to actually achieve mastery AND then write a book about it. To me, instead of being compelled by his mastery, it came off like another great “entrepreneurial” idea of his that he decided to focus on and accomplish. Again, great.. but not mastery. This book didn’t tell me you mastered the art of entrepreneurship, writing, marketing, family, whatever you went after — it told me you acquired great focus to finally lean into one to two things max and had the discipline to accomplish those things. To me, that is not mastery — thats discipline, focus & hard work.
John Mark Comer demoting himself to teaching pastor of one campus instead of lead pastor of 3 to clear many hours and spend 10 years solely teaching scripture, writing books & leading his family.. THATS MASTERY.
__
The saving grace are the final chapters breaking down the keys to mastery and the purpose to mastery — I do feel like that content was well thought out, more original and very practical — for that, I did enjoy the end!
But for the 80% of this book — if you are genuinely interested in this topic, read the 4 books I cited above. You’ll will be happy you made the investment there!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
October 25, 2019Apart from actually using my name in the book, this book was written directly to me. This is a topic that I have wrestled with for, unfortunately, years. I have held a handful of positions, but my mind is always racing on what I should be doing, and I’m always questioning if I’m doing the right thing. Not necessarily bad things to ponder, but I was going at it with the wrong motives. This book showed me that the pursuit of “one” doesn’t mean the one perfect job, the one job that will make me happy, or the one job I must do forever. It means the one thing in my life that I’m called to master and makes me feel the most alive and aligned with my God given calling on this earth. I loved the interviews and stories of regular people who have mastered their one thing, and were able to do extraordinary things and make a impact in the world. Through this book I have begun the process of narrowing down my abilities to that one thing that all of my career endeavors will center around. I have also realized that during this process, I must still continue to work with excellence in any position I hold. It may not be the job I retire at, but I will put 100% effort into it and show the love of God through my work. I look forward to the days ahead as this book has started me on the path to being the Master of One that God created me to be.
February 5, 2022
I have given this three purely for the last 10-20% which resonated and gelled with my life. The rest? Raynor came across as a televangelist from the born-again Christian mould that perform some quite astonishing mental origami with scripture. I grew up in the tradition, I know of which I speak.
I liked the part about Jesus setting his face and getting on with his divine mission despite people tutting over what they perceived as poor social skills/ bad manners: ' so rude of that jesus not to heal all the people and stay for a nice chat and cup of orange squash.'.
Like many people with a smartphone and internet connection, I have focus and concentration issues. I've always had them but am at a point in my life where I am super busy with studies, parentingand work and can't afford to half-arse any of them. This book was one of many I've listened to/ read to use my time productively. Atomic Habits followed Good Habits, Bad Habits followed Persuasion interspersed with James Smith , Brene brown, Glennon Doyle..people who Get Shit Done. I'm trying to join the 5am club but my kid won't let me.
I tuned in more at the difference between naive practice and focused practice. This distinction has recently become important to me and I'm in the somewhat uncomfortable transition phase. i felt I was getting it, that this was the good stuff. That and Raynor's work habits. useful.
I liked the part about Jesus setting his face and getting on with his divine mission despite people tutting over what they perceived as poor social skills/ bad manners: ' so rude of that jesus not to heal all the people and stay for a nice chat and cup of orange squash.'.
Like many people with a smartphone and internet connection, I have focus and concentration issues. I've always had them but am at a point in my life where I am super busy with studies, parentingand work and can't afford to half-arse any of them. This book was one of many I've listened to/ read to use my time productively. Atomic Habits followed Good Habits, Bad Habits followed Persuasion interspersed with James Smith , Brene brown, Glennon Doyle..people who Get Shit Done. I'm trying to join the 5am club but my kid won't let me.
I tuned in more at the difference between naive practice and focused practice. This distinction has recently become important to me and I'm in the somewhat uncomfortable transition phase. i felt I was getting it, that this was the good stuff. That and Raynor's work habits. useful.
March 9, 2020
I'm terribly disappointed. I can't even finish the book right now because I had such high hopes. Perhaps I will come back at a later time and finish.
I've always said that a person should review a book not on how much you agree with, but on how thought-provoking it is and on the quality of writing. This book is written in a way that irritates me. In my career, I am passionate about creating art for the glory of God. I see every client as my opportunity to minister. These are talked about in the book, but it reads like this is a chore and discipline is needed. My passion for my skill and my passion for Christ compel me. Many in this world are driven to work in order to buy stuff and make money. But passion for what I do is as important as air is to breathe. I don't create to make money. God provides money for me as I passionately do as he created me to do. It's not my money, but His. If I didn't have passion for my craft, I never would have spent the time necessary to achieve my skill level. Passion is essential. It's not about making me happy. It's about being the person God made me to be. I feel like the book is taking passion out of the equation. Ugh! I just don't care for this book. Sorry.
I've always said that a person should review a book not on how much you agree with, but on how thought-provoking it is and on the quality of writing. This book is written in a way that irritates me. In my career, I am passionate about creating art for the glory of God. I see every client as my opportunity to minister. These are talked about in the book, but it reads like this is a chore and discipline is needed. My passion for my skill and my passion for Christ compel me. Many in this world are driven to work in order to buy stuff and make money. But passion for what I do is as important as air is to breathe. I don't create to make money. God provides money for me as I passionately do as he created me to do. It's not my money, but His. If I didn't have passion for my craft, I never would have spent the time necessary to achieve my skill level. Passion is essential. It's not about making me happy. It's about being the person God made me to be. I feel like the book is taking passion out of the equation. Ugh! I just don't care for this book. Sorry.
September 12, 2020
This is a good book on awakening one to their calling. There are lot of detailed steps provided to figure out ones true calling. The author also busts myths related to mastery and calling. There are lot of examples in detail to support the author’s arguements. He also uses some research to back these, such as Cal Newport’s deep work and Angela Duckworth’s grit.
The book, however, comes across as a biblically driven one. Nothing wrong about it, but there is no such indication in the details of the book. Given that background it may not appeal to a wider audience who might expect other foundations.
The book, however, comes across as a biblically driven one. Nothing wrong about it, but there is no such indication in the details of the book. Given that background it may not appeal to a wider audience who might expect other foundations.
May 18, 2020
The premise of being a master at one thing was good but once said, the rest was superfluous. I found the books that he referenced "Grit" by Angela Duckworth and "Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less" by Greg McKeown to be much more compelling. I would recommend reading those books first in that order.
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