This week I sat down with Jordan Raynor, a bestselling author, serial entrepreneur, and one of the leading voices in the faith and work movement. Jordan wrote Called to Create, Redeeming Your Time, The Creator in You, and his newest book, Redeeming Your Goals, and he's the executive chairman of Threshold 360 after stepping down as CEO to write full time. He has been married since 2009, is a dad to three daughters, and he asks a much better question than most goal-setting gurus: who are we becoming while we chase these goals?
We started with the all-boys versus all-girls dad debate, and I told the story of a sold-out daddy daughter retreat that left me with serious FOMO. From there we got into the Tim Keller book that changed Jordan's faith, the day his kids' drawings of the family left him out and he gave his board 15 months notice, and the nightly ritual that keeps his phone out of his hands from 5 p.m. to 6:37 a.m. If you're a dad who wants to stop compartmentalizing your faith, your work, and your family, this one is for you.
Timeline Summary
[1:01] Larry welcomes Jordan, and the two compare life raising all girls versus all boys
[2:25] Larry shares how a sold-out daddy daughter retreat with 12 dads and 12 daughters became his favorite event
[10:27] Larry introduces Jordan: bestselling author, serial entrepreneur, and faith and work voice
[12:23] Jordan explains how he became a Google Fellow running a political tech company
[13:58] Jordan on his faith, his first campaign at 17, and why he left politics for entrepreneurship
[18:23] Jordan credits Tim Keller and The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness with changing how he follows Jesus
[22:05] Jordan tells the story of meeting his wife at Florida State and two years in the friend zone
[28:56] Jordan on writing his first book, Called to Create, and betting on himself as a full-time writer
[33:05] Why Jordan gave his board 15 months notice as CEO after his kids drew family pictures without him
[38:12] Why Jordan refuses to compartmentalize faith, marriage, parenting, and work
[42:11] Two practical steps: remember God cares about your work, and pray in short silent moments all day
[44:08] Jordan's phone ritual: no phone from 5 p.m. to 6:37 a.m. so his kids see his full presence
[50:27] A study showing kids run the bases faster and make fewer mistakes when parents aren't on their phones
[51:56] Redeeming Your Goals: seven principles, 58 practices, a no template, and kill criteria for strategic quitting
[57:00] Jordan's family goal to love like Jesus, and his 12-year-old raising money to send two orphans to college
[1:03:23] Jordan shares where to find him and how preordering Redeeming Your Goals enters you to win $4,000
Five Key Takeaways
Links & Resources
Closing
Jordan said he can't imagine a more valuable present to give his kids than his presence, and that line has stayed with me. I've watched a mom at my son's soccer game barely look up while her little boy banged on the glass for attention, and I don't want to be that dad for even one day. If this conversation moved you, pick two hours tonight, put your phone in another room, and give your family everything you've got. Go out and live legendary.