when you pre-order Master of One
My next book, Master of One, won’t be in stores until January 21; but I’m giving you an amazing incentive to pre-order the book: I’m giving away a European cruise for two, dinner with me in Barcelona, and a private tour of one of the most compelling subjects in my book: La Sagrada Familia. Here’s a quick overview of this trip of a lifetime!
The core premise of Master of One is that we best glorify God and love our neighbors as ourselves when we find, focus on, and master the work we were created to do. Out of the dozens of stories I wrote in the book to illustrate this point, none paint a more vivid, physical picture than Barcelona’s La Sagrada Familia—the world’s largest church which is nearing completion after more than 135 years of construction! The church was designed by the renowned architect, Antoni Gaudí, who dedicated the last twelve years of his life to just one vocational pursuit: building an exceptional church that would quite literally “proclaim the excellencies of God” (1 Peter 2:9). You and the friend of your choice will learn more about Gaudí’s remarkable story as a master of one on a private tour of his magnificent church—the most visited attraction in all of Spain.
From Barcelona, you and your friend will embark on an incredible 7-night cruise on Royal Carribean’s Allure of the Seas, with stops in Italy (Rome, Florence/Pisa, and Naples), France (Provence), and Spain (Palma de Mallorca). This is your chance to see the Vatican and the Colosseum in Rome, the birthplace of the Renaissance in Florence, picturesque beaches in Palma de Mallorca, and much more all in one week!
While you’re in Barcelona, I will be flying into the city to take you and your friend to dinner! Barcelona is known as one of the greatest culinary cities in the world, so I am confident we will enjoy some great food over some even better conversation and fellowship.
There’s an old saying that goes, “He’s a Jack of all trades, and a master of none.” Early in my career, that described me perfectly. Maybe you’ve felt the same way.
I’d venture to say that most of us feel like we are making a millimeter of progress in a million directions with our lives and our careers. We are good at many different things, but we aren’t excellent, masterful, or exceptional at any one of them. We are overcommitted, overwhelmed, and overstressed, spending way too much time focused on minutiae rather than the work God created us to do.
Now, I don’t have a problem being a “jack of all trades,” but the thought of being described as a mediocre “master of none” makes me sick.
Why? Because mediocrity fails to accomplish the essence of the Christian life: to love God and love others. It is through the ministry of excellence and the pursuit of masterful work that we bring glory to God and love our neighbors as ourselves.
So, how do we find the work we can do most exceptionally well in service of God and others? What is the solution to being a mediocre master of none? The solution is becoming a master of one.
That is what my new book is all about. In Master of One, I will help you find, focus on, and master the work God created you to do.
In the book, you’ll hear more of my story, as well as the stories of more than twenty other Christians who have pursued mastery of one vocational thing for the glory of God and the good of others, including C. S. Lewis, Emily Ley, Mister Rogers, Cynthia Marshall, and Chip Gaines.
Pre-order Master of One now and enter to win a European cruise for two, dinner with me in Barcelona, and a private tour of the magnificent La Sagrada Familia!
The more copies of Master of One you pre-order, the more chances you get to win the trip!
1 book
Plus these guaranteed rewards: Immediate access to the first three chapters
2 books
Plus these guaranteed rewards: 2 signed bookplates + access to live Q&A with me and some of the masters profiled in the book + everything in the prior tier
3 books
Plus these guaranteed rewards: 10% off any products, events, courses, etc. I ever sell + videos of me guiding your group through a discussion of the book + everything in the prior tiers
10–49 books
Plus these guaranteed rewards: 15-minute private video Q&A between me and your group + signed bookplates for your entire group + 10% off any products, events, courses, etc. I ever sell + exclusive videos of me guiding your book club through Master of One + immediate access to the first three chapters
50–499 books
Plus these guaranteed rewards: 30-minute private video Q&A between me and your group + signed bookplates for your entire group + 10% off any products, events, courses, etc. I ever sell + exclusive videos of me guiding your book club through Master of One + immediate access to the first three chapters
500+ books
Plus these guaranteed rewards: I’ll travel to speak at your event anywhere in the world at no cost to you + signed bookplates for your entire group + 10% off any products, events, courses, etc. I ever sell + exclusive videos of me guiding your book club through Master of One + immediate access to the first three chapters
Click your favorite retailer to pre-order your copies of 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 didn’t do. As the ultimate Essentialist he modeled the disciplined pursuit of less. This is beautifully illustrated in Jordan Raynor’s Master of One.“
— Greg McKeown, author of the New York Times bestseller, Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less
“In a culture where we’re 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. If you’re looking for guidance to discern what your one thing might be, Master of One is a solid place to start.”
— Emily P. Freeman, Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Next Right Thing
“The Lord wants us to be excellent in what we do. He’s 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. Jordan’s book will show you how.”
— Tony Dungy, Pro Football Hall of Fame Coach
“My stepfather, C.S. Lewis, used to say that, ‘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 has taken the time to explore this idea more fully in Master of One. When Jordan writes, it is a good idea to read what he has to say, maybe two or three times, and this book is no exception to that rule.”
— Douglas Gresham, C.S. Lewis’s heir and the Executive Producer of Disney and Netflix’s Chronicles of Narnia films
“I tell people all the time, ‘You can’t do it all,’ but then I catch myself trying to complete ‘just a few more things’ as my to-do list mushrooms every morning. I’m thankful that Jordan 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.”
— Jon Acuff, New York Times bestselling author of Finish: Give Yourself the Gift of Done
“In Master of One, Jordan uses real life examples to point the way to a satisfied life, one of purpose, meaning, and happiness. When we do our work with excellence, when we take risks for the good of others, we are often placed in positions of great power that can be used to accomplish the Lord’s will. That has certainly been true in my own life. This book will show you how it can be true in yours.”
— Sherron Watkins, Enron whistleblower and Time Magazine’s Person of the Year (2002)
“The topic of this book speaks to my heart and will serve well with everyone who reads it.”
— Horst Schulze, Co-founder 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 that’s helped 10M people across the globe get clean water. Jordan gives the same advice in this book, showing you precisely how to find and focus on your one thing.”
— Scott Harrison, Founder and CEO of charity: water
“I loved Jordan’s first book, Called to Create, which is why I am so pumped for Master of One! Jordan is definitely speaking to me when thinking about the master multi tasker. I already have joy for living life for an audience of one, but I can’t wait to learn the principles to find focus and precision within my life.”
— Tamika Catchings, four-time Olympic gold medalist, ten-time WNBA All-Star, and former WNBA MVP
“Jordan writes with a clear and powerful conviction—the path to exceptional work is not about more work, but better work. There is an excellence waiting for us if we will just dig in. Jordan equips us to master our work for the glory of God and the good of others.”
— Carey Nieuwhof, Founding Pastor of Connexus Church
“Both social science and God’s Word refute the conventional wisdom that simply ‘following your passions’ will lead to the ultimate satisfaction of vocation. In Master of One, Jordan articulately argues that we find true vocational happiness for ourselves when we focus first on bringing joy to God and others by doing our work masterfully well. I highly recommend this read!”
— Missy Wallace, Executive Director of the Nashville Institute for Faith and Work
“Jordan does an awesome job communicating how the gospel impacts our work—especially the work of the entrepreneur and culture maker. Unlike many pastors and theologians, Jordan is able to relate with his readers because of his real-world experience in the trenches building companies. I am so grateful for his ministry!”
— Henry Kaestner, Co-founder of Bandwidth (NASDAQ:BAND) and Founder of Faith Driven Entrepreneur
“I am deeply grateful for this book. It is true, compelling, and relevant. Excellence is one of the best ways we love our neighbor in our work. Jordan offers you a practical guide to finding and focusing on the work you can do most exceptionally well—not 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.”
— Matt Perman, author of What’s Best Next
“I loved Master of One! Jordan’s 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. As I read the book, I grew more passionate for the work I’m already doing today, wanting to double-down, own my niche, and do my work to the best of my abilities. I highly recommend this read!”
— Stefan Kunz, letterer, designer, and illustrator behind @StefanKunz on Instagram and YouTube
“Christians ought to have the highest standards for excellence in our work. That’s the heart of this book, and I am so grateful Jordan has written it.”
— Bobby Bowden, second-winningest coach in Division I college football history
Greg McKeown
Emily P. Freeman
Tony Dungy
Douglas Gresham
Jon Acuff
Sherron Watkins
Horst Schulze
Scott Harrison
Tamika Catchings
Carey Nieuwhof
Missy Wallace
Henry Kaestner
Matt Perman
Stefan Kunz
Bobby Bowden
4.95 average star rating from more that 75 advance readers of Master of One
even better than Called to Create!
Called to Create gave me some new ideas and concepts I had never thought about. But Master of One gave me answers to things that I’ve been wrestling with for awhile. I’d say Master of One is even better than Called to Create.
SO good
Master of One is the white-board strategy session we have only thought to ask for in our prayers. With the turning of each page, Jordan provides answers, Scriptures, real-world examples and thoughtful resources to help you both discover your ‘one thing’ and live it out boldly.
the best reading I did
It was the best reading I did all summer. Wow! The current examples of relevant people, pursuing mastery of their “one thing” renewed my faith that it is possible, while the biblical references strengthened my conviction that it is necessary and biblical!
Hi! I’m Jordan Raynor. My team and I have helped nearly 2,000,000 Christians connect the gospel to their work, inspiring them to do their most exceptional work for the glory of God and the good of others. That’s what Master of One is all about!
My “one thing” is entrepreneurship, and I have been pursuing mastery of that craft for more than a decade. Today, I serve as the Executive Chairman of Threshold 360, a venture-backed tech startup that has built the world’s largest library of 360° experiences of hotels, restaurants, and attractions. Previously, I served as CEO of the company, following a string of successful ventures of my own.
I have twice been selected as a Google Fellow and served in The White House under President George W. Bush.
I live in beautiful Tampa, Florida where my family has been for six (going on seven) generations. I’m married to the love of my life, Kara, and am the proud “dada”of Ellison, Kate, and Emery.
