UNSTUCK: A Story About Gaining Perspective, Creating Traction, and Pursuing Your Passion

By Dan Webster, Randy Gravitt and Jon Gordon

Untwist the question mark from your life to start living authentically

UNSTUCK offers a path forward for those who are "stuck"—despite the comfort, security, and what should feel like success. Do you feel disengaged from a life that looks good on paper? Do you feel like there must be something more? This is your guide to getting unstuck, breaking free of your comfortable cocoon, and discovering what you are meant to be. Through the story of George Johnson, a man in a position much like yourself, you'll learn how to shed the boredom, emptiness, and confusion so you can get on with your life. Whether you need a complete overhaul or just a jumpstart, you'll find the advice you need to start making it happen.

More than just a story, this book shifts your perspective to help you realistically plan a transition from the ordinary present to the extraordinary future; emotional support coupled with practical guidance helps you find your path, identify your destination, and begin your journey.

• Re-think your purpose in life and discover your calling
• Rediscover the truth about yourself and who you really want to be
• Follow a clear formula for moving forward with authenticity
• Break out of your comfort zone and feel fully alive

The fact that you've succeeded doesn't mean that you can never change; your dedication, commitment, and skills got you this far—imagine what they could do with a healthy dose of passion! You Unstuck re-acquaints you with your authentic self, helps you uncover your passion, and guides you toward your next big thing.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wiley
• Release date: Feb 27, 2017
• ISBN: 9781119381792

Book preview

UNSTUCK

A Story About Gaining

Perspective, Creating Traction,

and Pursuing Your Passion

Dan Webster and Randy Gravitt

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This book is printed on acid-free paper.

Copyright © 2017 by Daniel Webster and Randy Gravitt Leadership, LLC. All rights reserved.

Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey

Published simultaneously in Canada

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available

Names: Webster, Dan, 1951– author. | Gravitt, Randy, 1964– author.

Title: Unstuck : a story about gaining perspective, creating traction, and pursuing your passion / Dan Webster and Randy Gravitt.

Description: Hoboken, New Jersey : John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2017. |Includes index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2017007859 (print) | ISBN 9781119381624 (cloth)

Subjects: LCSH: Self-actualization (Psychology) | Self-realization. | Career development.

Classification: LCC BF637.S4 W43 2017 (print) | DDC 158.1–dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017007859

Cover Design: Wiley

Cover Image: © FrankRamspott/iStockphoto

I dedicate this project to my co-author,

Randy Gravitt. His life is a living illustration

of this book. He is truly one of the finest

men I've ever met.

—DW

To my wife, Laura.

Your love, prayer, and encouragement

are the reason I am living my dream.

Thank you!

—RG

CONTENTS

Foreword

Introduction

UNSTUCK: The Fable

The STOP Sign

Confession

Back at the Bank

Losing Heart

The Phone Call

Warning Sign

Alive, but Not Living

Perspective

ER

Daisies

Gone Missing

Everyone Needs Traction

Relief

Reflection

It's in the Doing

Action

Renewal

Welcome Back

Six Months Later

UNSTUCK: Application Guide

You, the Traction Formula, and the Six-Phase Model

The Traction Formula

Applying the Traction Formula to the Six-Phase Model

Applying The Traction Formula to the Six-Phase Model

Excitement Phase

Applying the Excitement Phase…

Applying the Traction Formula in the Excitement Phase

Fundamentals Phase

Applying the Fundamentals Phase…

Applying the Traction Formula in the Fundamentals Phase

Contribution Phase

Applying the Contribution Phase…

Applying the Traction Formula in the Contribution Phase

STOP Sign

Applying the STOP Sign…

Applying the Traction Formula at the STOP Sign

Misery Phase

Applying the Misery Phase…

Applying the Traction Formula in the Misery Phase

Renewal Phase

Applying the Traction Formula…

Applying the Renewal Phase…

Applying the Traction Formula in the Renewal Phase

Wisdom Phase

Applying the Wisdom Phase…

Applying the Wisdom Phase…

Creating a Personal Manifesto

Suggestions for Those Who Lead Others

Suggestions for Leading People in the Different Phases

Acknowledgments

About the Authors

Stay In Touch

Index

EULA

Foreword

Have you ever felt stuck in life? I know I have. Years ago, I found myself stalled in my work as well as in my most important relationships. Things appeared hopeless. I almost lost everything that was important to me. Thankfully, I was able to find traction in my life and work, but it took longer than it should have. Looking back, I wish I would have had a copy of UNSTUCK to serve as my compass toward renewal. 

As an author and speaker I now have the opportunity to work with organizations and teams all over the world, and I have observed a trend among today's leaders. They, too, have a tendency to lose their way. Not knowing the questions to ask or steps to take in order to move forward often leaves them feeling paralyzed, anxious, and defeated. Can you relate to what I'm saying? If so, I have good news. The book you are holding in your hand is about to help you find renewal. Dan Webster and Randy Gravitt have done a beautiful job capturing the internal conflict felt when someone is stuck while blending guiding principles into the narrative, describing a process of moving forward in the midst of the struggle.

Dan and Randy have spent their lives inspiring others to align their passions, live authentically, and to reach their potential. They are both gifted communicators who understand the process of leader development at the highest level. I have been personally encouraged by their work, and I know you will be too.

So, if you are disengaged in your career, struggling relationally at home, or lacking traction in other areas of your life, I am confident UNSTUCK will become your road map back to the life you are meant to live.

Jon Gordon

Introduction

If you have ever been stuck, you know how frustrating it can be. However, spinning your wheels in a vehicle, buried in the mud, barely compares to a life that has lost traction. A few years ago, both of the authors of this book found ourselves wondering if we were still on the right career paths. The malaise might as well have been mud. Many days felt hopeless as we struggled through the mundane monotony with little hope of renewal at work. Admittedly, there were times that being stuck at work also affected other areas of our lives.

Looking back, we could have settled for the status quo and stayed stuck. Many people make that choice. How about you? Do you feel trapped in a dead-end job, dreading the drudgery of work? Are you merely going through the motions in your relationships with those who matter most? Are you mired in a habit you need to break? If you answered yes to any of those, we have good news. You can become UNSTUCK. A fulfilling and significant career is still possible. Your most important relationships can again be life giving and bring you joy. And your life can experience transformation as you leave destructive habits behind and redirect toward growth.

When bogged down, our inclination is to grind it out and try harder. But if you have ever been stuck, you know that pushing the accelerator only buries you deeper in the muck. After discovering that trying harder doesn't work, the temptation can shift to trying less and choosing to disengage. Trying less may feel easier, but it still fails to create progress. The only thing that helps when you are stuck is traction.

Thankfully, we both were eventually able to become UNSTUCK and find renewal in work and life. How did we do it? By applying the principles you are about to read. On the following pages, you will encounter the story of George Johnson, and we think you will be able to relate. Truthfully, there is a bit of George in each of us. We all have a tendency to lose our way.

After you enjoy the story you will be positioned to activate its truths just like we continue to do. We have included an application guide in the back half of the book to walk you through the renewal process. It is a process to help you get UNSTUCK. If you faithfully work the process we are confident it will help you create traction in your life and work too. As you will discover, renewal is available to anyone who chooses to apply the simple formula that helped us.

It's time to for YOU to get UNSTUCK!

UNSTUCK

The Fable

The STOP Sign

Anne, we need to talk.

As soon as the words rolled out of George Johnson's mouth, the flashing blue lights caught his attention in the rearview mirror of his Lexus.

You have to be kidding me, came rushing hotly into George's mind. Of all days and of all …

The voice of his wife, Anne, interrupted his thinking. George! You ran the STOP sign! But it was too late. George had blown right through it, preoccupied with the thoughts that had been building in his mind and heart for weeks. The last thing George expected was to be pulled over in his own neighborhood.

Though once vibrant and fully engaged in his work, the past seven years as the president of First National Bank had taken its toll on George's psyche. He felt like his soul wasn't in his work anymore. Board meetings, golf outings, loan approvals, regulatory issues,