Praise for
Master of One
We are rightly inspired and grateful for all Jesus Christ did in his essential mission in life. But it is also breathtaking to consider what he didnt do. As the ultimate Essentialist, he modeled the disciplined pursuit of less. This is beautifully illustrated in Jordan Raynors Master of One.
G REG M C K EOWN , New York Times best-selling author of Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less
I tell people all the time You cant do it all, but then I catch myself trying to complete just a few more things as my to-do list mushrooms every morning. Im thankful Jordan Raynor has set out such a clear alternative that teaches you how to choose what you want most in your career and how to ignore everything else.
J ON A CUFF , New York Times best-selling author of Finish: Give Yourself the Gift of Done
In a culture where were told we can be anyone and do anything, Jordan Raynor makes a compelling case for embracing our vocational limits and choosing to do our one thing well.
E MILY P . F REEMAN , Wall Street Journal best-selling author of The Next Right Thing
The Lord wants us to be excellent in what we do. Hes placed us in our careers, and we have a responsibility to be the very best we can be in whatever field we decide to take up. We should run to win. Jordans book will show you how.
T ONY D UNGY , Pro Football Hall of Fame coach and New York Times best-selling author
The topic of this book speaks to my heart and will serve well everyone who reads it.
H ORST S CHULZE , cofounder of Ritz-Carlton and author of Excellence Wins
When I started my nonprofit, there were a million ideas swirling around, and a wise humanitarian encouraged me to deeply focus on one thing. That one thing was water, and that encouragement began a movement thats helped ten million people across the globe get clean water. Jordan Raynor gives the same advice in this book, showing you precisely how to find and focus on your one thing.
S COTT H ARRISON , founder and CEO of charity: water and New York Times best-selling author of Thirst
In Master of One, Jordan Raynor uses real-life examples to point the way to a satisfied life, one of purpose, meaning, and happiness.
S HERRON W ATKINS , Enron whistle-blower and Time magazines 2002 Person of the Year
Christians ought to have the highest standards for excellence in our work. Thats the heart of this book, and I am so grateful Jordan has written it.
B OBBY B OWDEN , second-winningest coach in Division 1 college football history
Jordan Raynor writes with a clear and powerful convictionthe path to exceptional work is not about more work but about better work. Excellence is waiting for us if we will just dig in.
C AREY N IEUWHOF , founding pastor of Connexus Church
My stepfather, C. S. Lewis, used to say, We do not need more people writing Christian books. What we need is more Christians writing good books. This is true for any Christian in any line of work. I am thrilled that Jordan Raynor has taken the time to explore this idea more fully in Master of One.
D OUGLAS G RESHAM , stepson of C. S. Lewis and executive producer of Disneys and Netflixs Chronicles of Narnia films
Both social science and Gods Word refute the conventional wisdom that simply following your passions will lead to the ultimate satisfaction of vocation. In Master of One, Jordan Raynor articulately argues that we find true vocational happiness when we focus first on bringing joy to God and others by doing our work masterfully well.
M ISSY W ALLACE , executive director of the Nashville Institute for Faith and Work
Work is an opportunity to serve the world. But if we are to serve well, we ought to have the highest standards of excellence in our work. This book will help you find and focus on the work you can do most masterfully well.
J EFF G OINS , best-selling author of The Art of Work and Real Artists Dont Starve
Jordan Raynor does an awesome job communicating how the gospel impacts our workespecially the work of the entrepreneur and culture maker.
H ENRY K AESTNER , cofounder of Bandwidth and founder of Faith Driven Entrepreneur
Jordan Raynor is definitely speaking to me when thinking about the master multitasker. I already have joy for living life for an audience of one, but I cant wait to learn the principles to find focus and precision within my life.
T AMIKA C ATCHINGS , four-time Olympic gold medalist, ten-time WNBA All-Star, and former WNBA MVP
Serve the world by picking a lane and getting masterfully good at your craft. This book will show you how.
C HRIS G RAEBE , host of the StartupCamp podcast
I loved Master of One! Jordans writing frees you from the paralysis of indecisiveness and provides a simple framework for choosing the work you will do most masterfully well for the glory of God.
S TEFAN K UNZ , letterer, designer, and illustrator behind @stefankunz on Instagram and YouTube
Jordan Raynor offers a practical guide to finding and focusing on the work you can do most exceptionally wellnot for your own sake but to bring benefit to the world. We need this message right now. And the great news is that this book exhibits what it teaches: it is a book on mastery that is masterfully written.
M ATT P ERMAN , director of career development at the Kings College, New York City, and author of Whats Best Next
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Scripture quotations marked ( ESV ) are taken from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version, ESV Text Edition (2016), copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked ( NASB ) are taken from the New American Standard Bible. Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org).
Cover design by Kelly L. Howard
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Names: Raynor, Jordan, 1986 author.