Shock Notes

Notes on Creativity, Technology, and Life

Volcanic Momentum

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Update December 23, 2022: You can now read this book for free.

It’s one thing to set goals. But what happens after you reach them? Volcanic Momentum is about constantly moving forward in life. You don’t just set a goal, reach it, and stop. You blast through the goal and keep going, like an erupting volcano.

In Volcanic Momentum, author Jordan Ring outlines nine strategies for setting up your life for constant forward momentum. Here are my top ten takeaways from the book:

  1. Each year, choose one word to focus all your efforts on. For example, if your word is “authenticity,” then make sure your actions and decisions move you in the direction of more authenticity.
  2. You should make three kinds of goals: Small Attainable Goals (SAGs) that can be accomplished in a day or a week, Big Hairy Audacious Goals (BHAGs) that you can accomplish in a month or several months, and Destiny Goals that take a year or more to accomplish and benefit other people.
  3. Master your energy levels by eating healthy, getting enough sleep, staying organized, staying focused, embracing change, meditating, and consistently working toward your goals.
  4. Have coffee with more people to network, create accountability, and get ideas and direction. Start asking people around you if they would like to go grab a coffee. The only agenda should be to get to know them better.
  5. Schedule weekly check-in meetings with an accountability partner. Prepare a notebook for meeting notes and brainstorming.
  6. You’re either going forward or backward. When it comes to personal development, there is no such thing as staying in neutral.
  7. Don’t worry about failing. Failing will only make you stronger.
  8. Make a habit of asking for things, no matter how much you think the answer will be “no.” You don’t get what you don’t ask for. Even if the answer is “no,” you plant a seed that may someday blossom into a “yes.”
  9. Don’t be afraid to question anything, even your religious beliefs. Only good can come out of it. Either you come out with a stronger conviction to your beliefs than ever, or you realize that what you’ve been believing all this time has been wrong (and your new beliefs will stand on even more solid ground than your old beliefs).
  10. Don’t just read books without taking action. Put your newfound knowledge into practice. Set goals. Track your progress. Take action today.

If any of these tips resonate with you, you’ll find much more in the book Volcanic Momentum: Get Things Done by Setting Destiny Goals, Mastering the Energy Code, and Never Losing Steam, by Jordan Ring.