What do you think?
Rate this book
How to Get Unstuck: Breaking Free from Barriers to Your Productivity
How to Get Unstuck
introduces listeners to the ten core principles at the heart of becoming an effective person whose life genuinely flourishes and impacts others positively.
Bad news we all get stuck. It's a fact of life. But the good news is that it is possible to get unstuck and overcome the obstacles to doing great work and getting the right things done. The question How do you get "unstuck" in your productivity in both work and life—and how to do it in a spiritually healthy way?
Matt Perman—author of What's Best Next and director of career development at The King's College, NYC—has spent his career helping people learn how to do work in a gospel-centered and effective way, combining theological substance with practical self-management. In How to Get Unstuck, he will walk you step-by-step through the core principles that free you to be more effective in everything you do by helping
Understand how you get stuck and what your obstacles are. Prepare to get unstuck by grappling with who you are and how you see yourself. Develop a practice of personal management. Overcome obstacles and adapt to unforeseen problems. Drawing on the wisdom of the Bible and on the best of today's research, How to Get Unstuck shows believers and non-believers alike how to live productive, integrated lives and develops a poignant portrayal of true effectiveness.
Charts, graphs, and application points available in the audiobook companion PDF download.
PLEASE When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
Bad news we all get stuck. It's a fact of life. But the good news is that it is possible to get unstuck and overcome the obstacles to doing great work and getting the right things done. The question How do you get "unstuck" in your productivity in both work and life—and how to do it in a spiritually healthy way?
Matt Perman—author of What's Best Next and director of career development at The King's College, NYC—has spent his career helping people learn how to do work in a gospel-centered and effective way, combining theological substance with practical self-management. In How to Get Unstuck, he will walk you step-by-step through the core principles that free you to be more effective in everything you do by helping
Understand how you get stuck and what your obstacles are. Prepare to get unstuck by grappling with who you are and how you see yourself. Develop a practice of personal management. Overcome obstacles and adapt to unforeseen problems. Drawing on the wisdom of the Bible and on the best of today's research, How to Get Unstuck shows believers and non-believers alike how to live productive, integrated lives and develops a poignant portrayal of true effectiveness.
Charts, graphs, and application points available in the audiobook companion PDF download.
PLEASE When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
Audible Audio
First published May 1, 2018
211 people are currently reading
911 people want to read
About the author
Matt Perman
6 books61 followersMatt Perman is director of Marketing at Made to Flourish and the author of What's Best Next: How the Gospel Transforms the Way You Get Things Done (Zondervan, 2014). He has an M.Div. in biblical and theological studies from Southern Seminary and a Project Management Professional certification from the Project Management Institute. Prior to Made to Flourish, Matt served as director of strategy at Desiring God. Matt is a frequent speaker on the topics of leadership and productivity from a God-centered perspective and also consults with businesses and non-profits, focusing on startups devoted to solving large global problems. He blogs at www.whatsbestnext.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
May 13, 2018
I don't think I exactly blame Mr. Perman for this book. I think I hold Zondervan accountable for this.
I mean it is the nature of non-fiction publishing, right? The author crafts an original idea, writes a book, it profits, and then they assign you to write another. What follows, however, is a book of this particular ilk -- a book of similar nature to its successful counterpart but unequal in originality. We've all seen it e.g. 7 Habits of Highly Effective People then 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Workbook then 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens then 7 Habits of Highly Effectives Rabbits, etc.
This book unfortunately feels like the same breed as the aforementioned books, not so much in content (though Perman does like his Covey) but its attempt capitalize on prior successes. I have no doubt that many authors and publishers call this staying “within your strengths,” but I think the 5 Love Languages, the 5 Love Languages for Children, the 5 Love Languages for Singles, The Heart of the Love Languages, The 5 Love Languages of Teenagers, the 5 Love Languages in the Workplace, etc. are less attempts at staying within one’s strengths and more the fear of creating anything that won’t sell (which, I mean, shoot.. The fear of creating something of equal value to a prior work is enough to drive a man to his end [SEE: DFW]).
Nonetheless, what follows, if you've read What's Best Next, is that you start the book hopeful. Page by page, however, you start to wonder why he is spending so much time explaining why this is an important topic (a typically method of fluffing non-fiction. And since it's a religious non-fiction, they'll spend the first three chapters biblically qualifying why this book is important (as if you would just give several hours to a book you thought to be unimportant)). There comes a time when you realized that this blog-book represent more of the compilation of data already-said then anything ground breaking. After which, you feel duped, suckered, tricked. You feel the same unipotent regret that we all feel after buying two apple pies instead of one at McDonald’s.
Perhaps my expectations were incompatible with the book. Or perhaps I am being too hard on the book. Or perhaps I am directing my frustrations with the current tendencies to sell Remakes and Sequels.
I would like to note, if you’re read this far, that I am the minority of people who feel this way. How to Get Unstuck is receiving a fair amount of good reviews from the Goodreads Locals. So, if you like John Piper, Tim Keller, or any of the evangelical heavy-weights at the Gospel Coalition. Or if you like David Allen, Cal Newport, and others then you might like this book. Otherwise, I would just keep scrolling along.
I mean it is the nature of non-fiction publishing, right? The author crafts an original idea, writes a book, it profits, and then they assign you to write another. What follows, however, is a book of this particular ilk -- a book of similar nature to its successful counterpart but unequal in originality. We've all seen it e.g. 7 Habits of Highly Effective People then 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Workbook then 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens then 7 Habits of Highly Effectives Rabbits, etc.
This book unfortunately feels like the same breed as the aforementioned books, not so much in content (though Perman does like his Covey) but its attempt capitalize on prior successes. I have no doubt that many authors and publishers call this staying “within your strengths,” but I think the 5 Love Languages, the 5 Love Languages for Children, the 5 Love Languages for Singles, The Heart of the Love Languages, The 5 Love Languages of Teenagers, the 5 Love Languages in the Workplace, etc. are less attempts at staying within one’s strengths and more the fear of creating anything that won’t sell (which, I mean, shoot.. The fear of creating something of equal value to a prior work is enough to drive a man to his end [SEE: DFW]).
Nonetheless, what follows, if you've read What's Best Next, is that you start the book hopeful. Page by page, however, you start to wonder why he is spending so much time explaining why this is an important topic (a typically method of fluffing non-fiction. And since it's a religious non-fiction, they'll spend the first three chapters biblically qualifying why this book is important (as if you would just give several hours to a book you thought to be unimportant)). There comes a time when you realized that this blog-book represent more of the compilation of data already-said then anything ground breaking. After which, you feel duped, suckered, tricked. You feel the same unipotent regret that we all feel after buying two apple pies instead of one at McDonald’s.
Perhaps my expectations were incompatible with the book. Or perhaps I am being too hard on the book. Or perhaps I am directing my frustrations with the current tendencies to sell Remakes and Sequels.
I would like to note, if you’re read this far, that I am the minority of people who feel this way. How to Get Unstuck is receiving a fair amount of good reviews from the Goodreads Locals. So, if you like John Piper, Tim Keller, or any of the evangelical heavy-weights at the Gospel Coalition. Or if you like David Allen, Cal Newport, and others then you might like this book. Otherwise, I would just keep scrolling along.
May 2, 2018
Matt Perman is a gospel-centered writer who helps Christians practically live out their faith in their work. "Unstuck" is full of perspective-altering insights, practical tips, questions for evaluation, and tons of other recommended resources to help you progress in your work. Certainly aimed at a "knowledge worker" and a fair amount of tips might feel difficult to implement if you don't have a lot of autonomy in your work.
In some ways this book feels like it should be read side-by-side with "What's Best Next" because of the frequent (helpful) references to his first book. "Unstuck" doesn't quite function as a prequel or sequel but more as a compendium on productivity, work, and the Christian life. I'd suggest skipping around and reading the sections that seem most interesting or helpful, although there are solid tips and insights in each chapter.
In some ways this book feels like it should be read side-by-side with "What's Best Next" because of the frequent (helpful) references to his first book. "Unstuck" doesn't quite function as a prequel or sequel but more as a compendium on productivity, work, and the Christian life. I'd suggest skipping around and reading the sections that seem most interesting or helpful, although there are solid tips and insights in each chapter.
May 19, 2018
Incredibly insightful. The content is a great summary of the best productivity techniques available today under a Christian worldview. It could be even better if the Christian distinctives were highlighted more often throughout the work.
April 13, 2018
This is a really helpful book on productivity from a Christian perspective. Perman has clearly read a huge range of books on this topic, and harnesses some of the best tips from lots of top books in the field and compiles them here in a structured and helpful way.
This book isn't just about avoiding productivity pitfalls, but about actively cultivating habits and a lifestyle that will allow us to get good things done. Highly recommended.
This book isn't just about avoiding productivity pitfalls, but about actively cultivating habits and a lifestyle that will allow us to get good things done. Highly recommended.
August 7, 2021
The chief irony of this book on productivity is that it’s 256 pages long. Like many books of its ilk, it could have been 120 or so. The insights are there, but so much time is consumed in getting to the salient ones. Perman said early on that this book represented thoughts that didn’t make it into “What’s Best Next.” In a way, I can see that. These are the directors cut thoughts that didn’t make it into the touchstone work. Yet it also reads like a full-on treatment of everything oriented toward efficiency and effectiveness. A study in contradictions, I found it helpful, verbose, chocked with quotes, frequently boring, and sometimes profound.
May 1, 2020
Perman’s book is a very thorough guide on eliminating barriers to productivity. When I jotted down notes from the book, I loved the Kingdom-centered thought process and benefited greatly from many of the ideas in the book, but I think the length and breadth caused me to get bogged down in the middle. During the read, I was struggling to get through it. When I went back and noted highlights, I was surprisingly impressed with all the great content. I am afraid many won’t benefit from the book on productivity because there is too much filler in it.
April 25, 2018
I just finished my copy of How to Get Unstuck, and I loved it. This is a productivity book written from a Christian perspective, but the material is relevant to anyone who wants to get important things done. It’s obvious he researched each aspect in depth, but he makes it actionable and easy to understand. If you like productivity books, you’ll enjoy this one. Check out the preorder bonuses at www.howtogetunstuck.com before May 1!
April 30, 2018
I appreciated and benefited from the author’s first book, What’s Best Next, reading it twice, once in a book club with colleagues at work. Reading that book, while I would recommend it, and it complements this work, is not necessary to gain the full benefit from this new book. The goal of this book is to get you unstuck in your productivity in work and life, do it in the right way – a God-centered, gospel-driven way – and enable you to stay unstuck through obstacles. It is about conquering busyness, doing great work, and escaping average for a cause greater than yourself.
The author aims to give brief insights on how to get unstuck from specific issues surrounding personal effectiveness. He wants you to do more of what God calls you to do and do it better. In short, the book is about accomplishing God’s purposes without getting stuck. The author wants to help you find what God wants you to do, and then for you to do it with excellence and through obstacles. He addresses how to accomplish God’s priorities using quick tips for getting unstuck in common time-management dilemmas.
Being productive as a Christian is ultimately about doing good for others. The author writes that being unstuck is about fundamental change, not just short-term or superficial change. Getting unstuck is also about staying unstuck as well. You consistently have to get things done, done well, and with continual improvement. Being unstuck is ultimately a positive concept. It is getting the right things done through obstacles again and again for the good of others and the glory of God.
The author addresses numerous aspects of getting unstuck. Below are some of my takeaways:
• Personal effectiveness. This is the skill of leading yourself every day to get the right things done in the right way, for the right reason, and in the shortest possible amount of time. It is about developing a vision for your life.
• Lack of vision, lack of execution, and obstacles. These are what get us stuck. To be unstuck is to be getting important work done through obstacles, and to keep doing it - over and over again.
• Time management. The reason we get stuck in our time management is because we act on the basis or urgency rather than importance. The biggest reason we have to start with our time is because that is where the limitation is.
• Priorities. Your priorities are the things through which you can make the greatest contribution. Without setting priorities you ultimately get stuck. He states that if you practice prioritizing day after day, over time you will have developed an ongoing pattern of effectiveness.
• Vision. This enables us to operate from the importance paradigm rather than the urgency paradigm.
• Preparation. This is central to effectiveness because it puts routine elements of a task on autopilot so that you can give your focus to the higher-level challenges involved.
• Personal Management. One of the aims of a good approach to personal management is to enable you to get into the “zone” easily. The zone is the state in which you are able to do your best work in the most efficient way. It is when you are operating at your highest capacity.
A subject of the book I particularly benefited from was deep work, which means giving total focus to your work so you can get more done in less time. We have to put deep work into our schedules, seeking three or four hours a day for deep work. Managing our time is not enough for deep work, we also need to manager our energy.
He writes that distractions and interruptions are two of the key things that get us stuck. He addresses the need for renewal, because we are tired. He specifically addresses the role of spiritual renewal in getting unstuck.
The last part of the book looks at overcoming unique and unexpected obstacles that come our way.
Each of the relatively short chapters end with a helpful “Unstuck Clinic”, which includes core points, exercises and resources. He shares helpful information from books and research on the subject matter.
The author aims to give brief insights on how to get unstuck from specific issues surrounding personal effectiveness. He wants you to do more of what God calls you to do and do it better. In short, the book is about accomplishing God’s purposes without getting stuck. The author wants to help you find what God wants you to do, and then for you to do it with excellence and through obstacles. He addresses how to accomplish God’s priorities using quick tips for getting unstuck in common time-management dilemmas.
Being productive as a Christian is ultimately about doing good for others. The author writes that being unstuck is about fundamental change, not just short-term or superficial change. Getting unstuck is also about staying unstuck as well. You consistently have to get things done, done well, and with continual improvement. Being unstuck is ultimately a positive concept. It is getting the right things done through obstacles again and again for the good of others and the glory of God.
The author addresses numerous aspects of getting unstuck. Below are some of my takeaways:
• Personal effectiveness. This is the skill of leading yourself every day to get the right things done in the right way, for the right reason, and in the shortest possible amount of time. It is about developing a vision for your life.
• Lack of vision, lack of execution, and obstacles. These are what get us stuck. To be unstuck is to be getting important work done through obstacles, and to keep doing it - over and over again.
• Time management. The reason we get stuck in our time management is because we act on the basis or urgency rather than importance. The biggest reason we have to start with our time is because that is where the limitation is.
• Priorities. Your priorities are the things through which you can make the greatest contribution. Without setting priorities you ultimately get stuck. He states that if you practice prioritizing day after day, over time you will have developed an ongoing pattern of effectiveness.
• Vision. This enables us to operate from the importance paradigm rather than the urgency paradigm.
• Preparation. This is central to effectiveness because it puts routine elements of a task on autopilot so that you can give your focus to the higher-level challenges involved.
• Personal Management. One of the aims of a good approach to personal management is to enable you to get into the “zone” easily. The zone is the state in which you are able to do your best work in the most efficient way. It is when you are operating at your highest capacity.
A subject of the book I particularly benefited from was deep work, which means giving total focus to your work so you can get more done in less time. We have to put deep work into our schedules, seeking three or four hours a day for deep work. Managing our time is not enough for deep work, we also need to manager our energy.
He writes that distractions and interruptions are two of the key things that get us stuck. He addresses the need for renewal, because we are tired. He specifically addresses the role of spiritual renewal in getting unstuck.
The last part of the book looks at overcoming unique and unexpected obstacles that come our way.
Each of the relatively short chapters end with a helpful “Unstuck Clinic”, which includes core points, exercises and resources. He shares helpful information from books and research on the subject matter.
June 11, 2018
'How to Get Unstuck' continues building on the gospel-foundation established in the author's first book, What’s Best Next, by considering common barriers to productivity - not just to get more done, but to flourish in loving God and others with our to-do lists.
There are many productivity books out there that focus on getting things done, but this one is unique in its intensely gospel-driven focus. It begins by exploring what it means to be stuck, why it’s so important to get unstuck, and how it all relates to personal effectiveness for the glory of God.
Getting 'stuck' is defined not as simply failing to get things done, but rather failing to faithfully pursue whatever God has called you to do — whatever reflects His glory, obeys His commands, and loves His people. Getting 'unstuck' is then defined as being “steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” In other words: flourishing and abounding on the right things, according to God’s principles and commands, despite the difficulties of daily life. I found this definition (and its lengthier explanation in Chapter 2) foundational for understanding and implementing the ideas in the rest of the book.
The second section considers how vision, strategy, mindset, and preparation affect our ability to flourish in what we do. Knowing your why, understanding how your faith and work relate, embracing (helpful) professionalism, and working deliberately to improve all play a part in increasing our productivity and personal effectiveness. This section was a little closer to what you’d find in other productivity books (though with some unique perspectives), but still written from a clearly biblical worldview, with the overarching theme of doing all for the glory of God — not just to get ahead in your job or cross things off your to-do list.
While the first two sections were crucial to better clarifying my understanding of personal effectiveness, the third section was the one I found most overwhelmingly helpful. It develops a healthy approach to time management, how to set the most effective priorities, the power of deep work and how to implement it, and how to find renewal when we get weary (mentally or physically).
Too many productivity books encourage you to start with your task list, setting the top three priorities on that list, and then doing those things first . . . no matter what. The problem is that our tasks are never-ending, but our time is not. This is true for anyone, no matter what your role might be — parent, CEO, freelancer, handyman, student, etc.
Time is our scarcest resource. You can never earn more, it cannot be stored for later, nothing can be substituted for it, and everything requires it. So, when it comes to figuring out how to get unstuck and start flourishing . . . we start with time management. This principle is developed throughout this section by considering how to evaluate activities and eliminate time wasters, the benefit of excluding some (good) things to focus on (better) things, the consequences of not setting the right priorities, why consistent focused attention leads to excellence, how to get ‘in the zone’ on a regularly scheduled basis, and why limitations or rest-periods are critical to building momentum. It was a very actionable section, with practical ideas that could be immediately implemented for long-term results.
The final section of the book considers a few common barriers to productivity — such as disorganization, poor willpower, planning for interruptions, and adaptability — and offering specific remedies to overcome those obstacles. This is a section I will definitely be returning to in the future as my circumstances change and my roles fluctuate at both home and work.
It’s obvious the author has spent many long hours reading, pondering, and personally working through the concepts he shares. The writing is engaging and practical, and the ideas are well-researched and easily implemented. It also includes a helpful section for each chapter with key thoughts, practical exercises, and further reading that will be invaluable for future reference. But where it shines most is by putting the gospel at the foundation of our effectiveness.
The gospel-centered focus of this book (and of What’s Best Next) make it one of the best approaches to personal effectiveness and productivity. It’s a must-read for any person who is struggling to get things done, not sure how to prioritize effectively, or simply wanting to flourish in doing the right things, despite distraction and difficulty!
Disclaimer: I received this book for free in exchange for sharing my honest review. All opinions are completely my own.
There are many productivity books out there that focus on getting things done, but this one is unique in its intensely gospel-driven focus. It begins by exploring what it means to be stuck, why it’s so important to get unstuck, and how it all relates to personal effectiveness for the glory of God.
Getting 'stuck' is defined not as simply failing to get things done, but rather failing to faithfully pursue whatever God has called you to do — whatever reflects His glory, obeys His commands, and loves His people. Getting 'unstuck' is then defined as being “steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” In other words: flourishing and abounding on the right things, according to God’s principles and commands, despite the difficulties of daily life. I found this definition (and its lengthier explanation in Chapter 2) foundational for understanding and implementing the ideas in the rest of the book.
The second section considers how vision, strategy, mindset, and preparation affect our ability to flourish in what we do. Knowing your why, understanding how your faith and work relate, embracing (helpful) professionalism, and working deliberately to improve all play a part in increasing our productivity and personal effectiveness. This section was a little closer to what you’d find in other productivity books (though with some unique perspectives), but still written from a clearly biblical worldview, with the overarching theme of doing all for the glory of God — not just to get ahead in your job or cross things off your to-do list.
While the first two sections were crucial to better clarifying my understanding of personal effectiveness, the third section was the one I found most overwhelmingly helpful. It develops a healthy approach to time management, how to set the most effective priorities, the power of deep work and how to implement it, and how to find renewal when we get weary (mentally or physically).
Too many productivity books encourage you to start with your task list, setting the top three priorities on that list, and then doing those things first . . . no matter what. The problem is that our tasks are never-ending, but our time is not. This is true for anyone, no matter what your role might be — parent, CEO, freelancer, handyman, student, etc.
Time is our scarcest resource. You can never earn more, it cannot be stored for later, nothing can be substituted for it, and everything requires it. So, when it comes to figuring out how to get unstuck and start flourishing . . . we start with time management. This principle is developed throughout this section by considering how to evaluate activities and eliminate time wasters, the benefit of excluding some (good) things to focus on (better) things, the consequences of not setting the right priorities, why consistent focused attention leads to excellence, how to get ‘in the zone’ on a regularly scheduled basis, and why limitations or rest-periods are critical to building momentum. It was a very actionable section, with practical ideas that could be immediately implemented for long-term results.
The final section of the book considers a few common barriers to productivity — such as disorganization, poor willpower, planning for interruptions, and adaptability — and offering specific remedies to overcome those obstacles. This is a section I will definitely be returning to in the future as my circumstances change and my roles fluctuate at both home and work.
It’s obvious the author has spent many long hours reading, pondering, and personally working through the concepts he shares. The writing is engaging and practical, and the ideas are well-researched and easily implemented. It also includes a helpful section for each chapter with key thoughts, practical exercises, and further reading that will be invaluable for future reference. But where it shines most is by putting the gospel at the foundation of our effectiveness.
The gospel-centered focus of this book (and of What’s Best Next) make it one of the best approaches to personal effectiveness and productivity. It’s a must-read for any person who is struggling to get things done, not sure how to prioritize effectively, or simply wanting to flourish in doing the right things, despite distraction and difficulty!
Disclaimer: I received this book for free in exchange for sharing my honest review. All opinions are completely my own.
March 15, 2021
At its core, this is a book about productivity from a Christian perspective. Perman couches production with the problem of “being stuck.” Although being stuck is rather illusive throughout the book, it doesn’t hinder the reader from benefiting from the book. Perman’s suggestions are helpful, but brief in some areas. I think he goes for too much at times. The book is really well researched with an extensive notes section. Perman is benefitting from Covey and Stanley in this work. In some ways, the work is a summary of their principles. Covey’s executive principles + Stanley’s Christian principles = Perman. This isn’t a negative for me. I appreciate his synthesis and believe all would benefit from this helpful resource.
May 27, 2018
As a follow-up to “What’s Best Next?” this new work from Matt Perman is a great success. As a stand-alone book on productivity, it is very helpful in its own right. I highly recommend this book to anyone that wants to break through common roadblocks and obstacles in productivity. If you want to go beyond efficiency, and achieve effectiveness in your work, hobbies, ministry, and other areas of life, then pick up “How to Get Unstuck.”
April 12, 2022
I can totally identify with the concept of being Stuck, which is exactly what Matt Perman goes after in this book, "How To Get Unstuck." One of the most attractive elements of this book is that Perman gives a Biblical worldview of motivation for why we do what we do, why we don't do what we don't do, and why we should live life for the purpose for which we were created. I read "How To Get Unstuck" while I was also pedaling my way through "Eat That Frog," by Brian Tracy, and a book titled, "Deep Work," by Cal Newport. Each of them had their strengths, yet it is Perman's book that resonated mostly with me, and that is because of the worldview that Perman holds to. When reading Tracy and Newport's books, I kept wondering, "This is all well and good, but why?" I need something much deeper in motivation for doing what I do besides success and a better self-esteem. Thankfully, Perman gives a biblical basis for our pursuit.
The content of the book was practical, insightful, and helpful in many regards, in relation to breaking free from the many barriers/hurdles that squelch one's productivity. I think it would be reasonable for people in business (and possibly ministry) to utilize this book with workers. It's a book that I could reasonably encourage others to read and it was good to read it.
The content of the book was practical, insightful, and helpful in many regards, in relation to breaking free from the many barriers/hurdles that squelch one's productivity. I think it would be reasonable for people in business (and possibly ministry) to utilize this book with workers. It's a book that I could reasonably encourage others to read and it was good to read it.
April 24, 2019
The book is a great starter for people. It has awesome tips and ideas but for those who are well read in the area of production and self efficiency, it will be a lot of repeated content. This is a must read for college students and new professionals.
February 18, 2021
This was a helpful, easily read book. Many “duh” moments, and opened my eyes to a sort of “holistic” view of productivity. Recommended.
May 21, 2025
Pretty good insights in here but wayyyyy too long. Could have cut off about 100 pages and been more effective.
December 31, 2021
Productivity and time management are topics that I wish were emphasized more in formal education. Fortunately, there are authors like Matt Perman who have read widely on the topics, thought deeply about the material, and filter it down to provide wisdom for improving in these areas. Unstuck is Perman's follow up to his book What's Best Next in which he lays out the importance of character and worldview when approaching productivity as well as principles for creating a personal mission statement, prioritizing and delegating, and developing a workflow.
In Unstuck, Perman addresses what happens when we encounter barriers to our productivity. He begins by saying: "The key to time management at the end of the day is simple: you need to know where you are going, and you need to focus on the things that will get you there.” According to Perman, there are three primary reasons people get stuck: lack of vision, lack of planning and execution, and obstacles in the way. Perman refers to this as the "unstuck cycle": try hard; gain momentum; get stuck; call on God, persevere, and apply personal effectiveness; get unstuck; regain momentum; help others get unstuck without judgement. Over time, going through this cycle will create greater levels of personal effectiveness which Perman defines as "the skill of leading yourself every day to get the right things done in the right way, for the right reason, and in the shortest possible amount of time."
Another helpful section of Unstuck covers the personal management process which consists of: analyzing and consolidating time, determining the chief areas of your job, creating a time plan, creating a task management system, making decisions consistent with your priorities, and flourishing. When we are able to manage ourselves better, we create more margin and better steward the time and resources God has blessed us with.
Unstuck is a great book to read with others and then discuss with them to uncover ways they've been able to get unstuck from roadblocks that you may face also and to create plans together on how to improve your personal effectiveness--and then hold each other accountable to them.
In Unstuck, Perman addresses what happens when we encounter barriers to our productivity. He begins by saying: "The key to time management at the end of the day is simple: you need to know where you are going, and you need to focus on the things that will get you there.” According to Perman, there are three primary reasons people get stuck: lack of vision, lack of planning and execution, and obstacles in the way. Perman refers to this as the "unstuck cycle": try hard; gain momentum; get stuck; call on God, persevere, and apply personal effectiveness; get unstuck; regain momentum; help others get unstuck without judgement. Over time, going through this cycle will create greater levels of personal effectiveness which Perman defines as "the skill of leading yourself every day to get the right things done in the right way, for the right reason, and in the shortest possible amount of time."
Another helpful section of Unstuck covers the personal management process which consists of: analyzing and consolidating time, determining the chief areas of your job, creating a time plan, creating a task management system, making decisions consistent with your priorities, and flourishing. When we are able to manage ourselves better, we create more margin and better steward the time and resources God has blessed us with.
Unstuck is a great book to read with others and then discuss with them to uncover ways they've been able to get unstuck from roadblocks that you may face also and to create plans together on how to improve your personal effectiveness--and then hold each other accountable to them.
March 4, 2023
Had to read this for my doctoral colloquium. I was not excited about it, given my past in reading alot of these business/leadership/self help books in my early adulthood. They are all the same after awhile.
While most of that genre are non-believers, Buddhists, etc... I appreciated that Perman was clearly positioning Christianity. Although this made his target audience seem a bit blurred. He frequently gives instructions just for pastors, but at other times is talking to CEOs. I think that is too broad of a of an audience, and we should not treat these groups as similar. In addition, I was reading this as preparation for academic studies, which became even more confusing in terms of a target audience.
A large chunk of the book was rehashing concepts written about by others (Drucker, GTD, Stanley).
I was surprised to see the frequency of non-Christians cited in a positive way (Andy Stanley, Seth Godin,Steven Covey). There was also not a lot of Christians from the management world cited (Drucker being the exception). Lots of psychology and self-help vibes from this book. I believe that the way for us to get unstuck is for us to be externally motivated, not internally motivated.
Perman appears to mostly cite John Piper from the Christian side (and by extension Edwards as Piper talks so much about Edwards). While he asks his readers to get unstuck by digging deep into spiritual matters, I have to ask... is John Piper, a popular level author/mega church pastor, "digging deep"? Again, I am not sure Perman flushed out the alignment in his objectives.
Overall, it is helpful. Would have been more helpful if I had not already read most of the books he cited both on the business and Christian level.
While most of that genre are non-believers, Buddhists, etc... I appreciated that Perman was clearly positioning Christianity. Although this made his target audience seem a bit blurred. He frequently gives instructions just for pastors, but at other times is talking to CEOs. I think that is too broad of a of an audience, and we should not treat these groups as similar. In addition, I was reading this as preparation for academic studies, which became even more confusing in terms of a target audience.
A large chunk of the book was rehashing concepts written about by others (Drucker, GTD, Stanley).
I was surprised to see the frequency of non-Christians cited in a positive way (Andy Stanley, Seth Godin,Steven Covey). There was also not a lot of Christians from the management world cited (Drucker being the exception). Lots of psychology and self-help vibes from this book. I believe that the way for us to get unstuck is for us to be externally motivated, not internally motivated.
Perman appears to mostly cite John Piper from the Christian side (and by extension Edwards as Piper talks so much about Edwards). While he asks his readers to get unstuck by digging deep into spiritual matters, I have to ask... is John Piper, a popular level author/mega church pastor, "digging deep"? Again, I am not sure Perman flushed out the alignment in his objectives.
Overall, it is helpful. Would have been more helpful if I had not already read most of the books he cited both on the business and Christian level.
February 11, 2025
Practical Read on Biblical Leadership
This is a great read for anyone interested in learning more about leadership. I was excited to read this because Matt Perman’s resume working for Desiring God caught my eye; he served at the executive level there for several years. He is very knowledgeable in the area of leadership, and he shares many insights here that are not often explicitly addressed by other authors because they are not Christians.
He seems to be using the terms “Unstuck” and “stuck” to represent a broad idea of being unproductive. It took me about 75 pages to understand that this was his meaning. That would be my one critique; it was used frequently and felt a little vague to me. However, I also think he does a good job of combining what he has learned and bringing it into a single volume. He talks a lot about another book he has written on leadership, which seems to be somewhat of a part 2 in some ways.
This is a great read for anyone interested in learning more about leadership. I was excited to read this because Matt Perman’s resume working for Desiring God caught my eye; he served at the executive level there for several years. He is very knowledgeable in the area of leadership, and he shares many insights here that are not often explicitly addressed by other authors because they are not Christians.
He seems to be using the terms “Unstuck” and “stuck” to represent a broad idea of being unproductive. It took me about 75 pages to understand that this was his meaning. That would be my one critique; it was used frequently and felt a little vague to me. However, I also think he does a good job of combining what he has learned and bringing it into a single volume. He talks a lot about another book he has written on leadership, which seems to be somewhat of a part 2 in some ways.
June 8, 2023
He's clearly well-read in the area and summarizes the principles from a lot of other books: keeps me from having to read all the other books!
As a negative, of course, it reads less like an original idea than a compilation; I appreciate that for what it is as it creates a good "review" of productivity habits as you evaluate your own method (my purpose in reading the book to begin with). The first 2/3 of the book was kind of review like this . . . the latter 1/3 was helpful in thinking through time management of projects in a different way. That's the best part of this book. It's a good "refresher" book if you are already familiar with productivity habits he talks about in What's Best Next.
As a negative, of course, it reads less like an original idea than a compilation; I appreciate that for what it is as it creates a good "review" of productivity habits as you evaluate your own method (my purpose in reading the book to begin with). The first 2/3 of the book was kind of review like this . . . the latter 1/3 was helpful in thinking through time management of projects in a different way. That's the best part of this book. It's a good "refresher" book if you are already familiar with productivity habits he talks about in What's Best Next.
September 10, 2024
Such a junk book. The only crowd I can see chowing this down with smiles is shallow cheesy Christian churches that bought for their staff to give them a “Christian productivity book” because the pastoral staff hesitated to give them a real book on These topics and afraid to really read the ancient texts for what they really say and mean.
If your biblical scholar, stay away unless you like being annoyed by Terrible forcing things from
Modern life and productivity falsely read back into biblical texts with claims that the “bible teaches this with utmost clarity” lol 😆
If your a productivity scholar or enthusiast save your money on good books about being unstuck
Plenty of detail to add but this book isn’t worth it
If your biblical scholar, stay away unless you like being annoyed by Terrible forcing things from
Modern life and productivity falsely read back into biblical texts with claims that the “bible teaches this with utmost clarity” lol 😆
If your a productivity scholar or enthusiast save your money on good books about being unstuck
Plenty of detail to add but this book isn’t worth it
January 13, 2025
Some good nuggets and helpful bibliography...
You can tell Perman has gleaned from others on his leadership and productivity journey. Any good leader is a reader. I enjoyed the book, but I definitely wrote down many of the primary sources he quoted to go read for myself. This book seems like a synthesis of his own journey toward productivity. So I appreciated it for that. There were some key takeaways that I will utilize. But it also reminded me of the gold found in many already existing books (i.e. The Effective Executive, Good to Great, Essentialism, etc…). A good ready for anyone interested in a behind the scenes on Perman’s personal productivity process and his influences.
You can tell Perman has gleaned from others on his leadership and productivity journey. Any good leader is a reader. I enjoyed the book, but I definitely wrote down many of the primary sources he quoted to go read for myself. This book seems like a synthesis of his own journey toward productivity. So I appreciated it for that. There were some key takeaways that I will utilize. But it also reminded me of the gold found in many already existing books (i.e. The Effective Executive, Good to Great, Essentialism, etc…). A good ready for anyone interested in a behind the scenes on Perman’s personal productivity process and his influences.
March 24, 2020
Not the biggest fan, though there were some solid points to this book. I loved the scriptural analysis of why it is important we work and work well, as well as some of his main points on the purpose of work. It seems like this is a rehash if Perman’s first book (which I haven’t read but was referenced very often). It also had an extraordinary amount of references to or quotes from other leadership/productivity books, to the point where it felt more like reference book. Great for picking up new reads in that area, but leaves you wondering about what is being said in *this* book from time to time.
October 18, 2022
3.5 stars. Very helpful, and refreshing to read a book on productivity/leadership written from an explicitly Christian perspective. Valuable in its summary of many different spheres of leadership/productivity, but will feel a bit derivative for those familiar with the work of Newport, Collins, Sinek, etc. who are frequently cited. Overall, a very helpful resource.
December 6, 2022
*How to Get Unstuck* is a Christianized regurgitation of books on habits and productivity. It is 256 pages long, which is too long.
May 11, 2024
Read this book for a seminary class and found it to be one of the better productivity books with helpful additions for applying it to the Christian faith.
May 1, 2018
If you enjoyed Matt Perman’s “What’s Best Next” or have an interest in being more effective in all areas of your life, “How to Get Unstuck” is a book you need to read. This book builds on certain parts of What's Best Next and goes deeper into how we can break free from specific barriers to productivity.
We all get stuck in different areas of our lives. It’s a sign that we are doing important things, things that matter. In a world that is increasingly busy and overloaded with information and options, it is crucial that we focus on those things that are most important in our lives.
In getting unstuck, we will be able to accomplish God’s purposes more effectively. Perman will help you understand that the key to getting unstuck is to center our lives on correct principles, including having a concrete mission and clearly articulated values. All too often, our productivity is focused on the urgent, rather than the important. By grounding all that we do in our mission and values, we will be able to say no to things outside of that vision and stay focused on the tasks that do.
Perman also provides some very practical ways to improve your time management, including analyzing your time and how to think about your task management system. That is the best part of what Matt Perman does with his writing, he brings together the spiritual and the practical and merges them into a cohesive system that helps you fulfill your God-given role in each area of your life. If you have ever been frustrated by the leading secular productivity methods, give Perman’s method a try – it has changed the way that I look at productivity and time management.
One of the things I appreciate most about Perman’s writing is the way he summarizes each chapter and provides additional resources for each topic. These additional resources include books by the best secular thinkers on time management as well as works by the great theologians of today and yesterday. If you want to know more about a topic, Perman will help you know where to look.
Time management is a topic that has gotten a lot of attention in the secular world, but has too often been neglected by the Christian world. While this book is for everyone, Christian and non-Christian alike, it is supremely important for Christians to have a biblical view of productivity and time management. One of the ultimate purposes of our lives is to help others and this book will help us be more effective with our time, hopefully to the benefit of others.
We all get stuck in different areas of our lives. It’s a sign that we are doing important things, things that matter. In a world that is increasingly busy and overloaded with information and options, it is crucial that we focus on those things that are most important in our lives.
In getting unstuck, we will be able to accomplish God’s purposes more effectively. Perman will help you understand that the key to getting unstuck is to center our lives on correct principles, including having a concrete mission and clearly articulated values. All too often, our productivity is focused on the urgent, rather than the important. By grounding all that we do in our mission and values, we will be able to say no to things outside of that vision and stay focused on the tasks that do.
Perman also provides some very practical ways to improve your time management, including analyzing your time and how to think about your task management system. That is the best part of what Matt Perman does with his writing, he brings together the spiritual and the practical and merges them into a cohesive system that helps you fulfill your God-given role in each area of your life. If you have ever been frustrated by the leading secular productivity methods, give Perman’s method a try – it has changed the way that I look at productivity and time management.
One of the things I appreciate most about Perman’s writing is the way he summarizes each chapter and provides additional resources for each topic. These additional resources include books by the best secular thinkers on time management as well as works by the great theologians of today and yesterday. If you want to know more about a topic, Perman will help you know where to look.
Time management is a topic that has gotten a lot of attention in the secular world, but has too often been neglected by the Christian world. While this book is for everyone, Christian and non-Christian alike, it is supremely important for Christians to have a biblical view of productivity and time management. One of the ultimate purposes of our lives is to help others and this book will help us be more effective with our time, hopefully to the benefit of others.
May 4, 2018
Whenever I am asked about resources for productivity and time management, my first recommendation has always been Matt Perman’s What’s Best Next. That book changed my life. He not only showed me how to effectively manage my tasks, time, and responsibilities but he did it all through a gospel-centered approach.
Since Perman’s first book was so influential for me, I was thrilled to see the announcement for his second book How to Get Unstuck: Breaking Free from Barriers to Your Productivity. My hopes were set very high. I’m glad to share that he did not disappoint!
How to Get Unstuck is so full of wisdom and practical application. Perman began the book with a section on the conceptual framework for what it means to be stuck and what it means to flourish. He covered concepts such as personal effectiveness, urgency versus importance, and the importance of character.
In part two, he moved to the area of personal leadership. One of the highlights of What’s Best Next was how Perman connected vision, values, and understanding roles to the practical steps of managing tasks and calendars. He did the same in this section as he built upon the foundation set in part one. The third section of the book was about managing time. This part was my favorite. Perman showed why people who achieve great things start with their time rather than their tasks, and they prioritize what is most important instead of tackling too much at once. In this section, he also covered the topic of deep work.
The final section of the book touched on several specific problems that get us stuck and laid out strategies for getting unstuck. He wrote on basic approaches to getting unstuck, being adaptive with time management, and getting projects unstuck. Every chapter of How to Get Unstuck concluded with “The Unstuck Clinic.” These final segments of the chapter would provide the core point, an exercise for applying the chapter, and further resources. I loved this book and wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who wants to escape average!
Since Perman’s first book was so influential for me, I was thrilled to see the announcement for his second book How to Get Unstuck: Breaking Free from Barriers to Your Productivity. My hopes were set very high. I’m glad to share that he did not disappoint!
How to Get Unstuck is so full of wisdom and practical application. Perman began the book with a section on the conceptual framework for what it means to be stuck and what it means to flourish. He covered concepts such as personal effectiveness, urgency versus importance, and the importance of character.
In part two, he moved to the area of personal leadership. One of the highlights of What’s Best Next was how Perman connected vision, values, and understanding roles to the practical steps of managing tasks and calendars. He did the same in this section as he built upon the foundation set in part one. The third section of the book was about managing time. This part was my favorite. Perman showed why people who achieve great things start with their time rather than their tasks, and they prioritize what is most important instead of tackling too much at once. In this section, he also covered the topic of deep work.
The final section of the book touched on several specific problems that get us stuck and laid out strategies for getting unstuck. He wrote on basic approaches to getting unstuck, being adaptive with time management, and getting projects unstuck. Every chapter of How to Get Unstuck concluded with “The Unstuck Clinic.” These final segments of the chapter would provide the core point, an exercise for applying the chapter, and further resources. I loved this book and wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who wants to escape average!
April 12, 2020
I found this book to be a terrific, fresh insight into some of the personal struggles that seem to plague my ability to be productive, positive, and effective. The aspirational purpose of this book is “to get you unstuck in your productivity in work and life...in the right way.” It provides counsel “about conquering busyness, doing great work, and escaping average for a cause greater than yourself — and doing all this in a holistic way that doesn’t sacrifice one area of life for another.”
The author calls getting unstuck “personal effectiveness” and describes the process and its principles in four parts: The problem of busyness; vision-based priorities; personal management; and laser application to specific situations. He summarizes personal effectiveness as “the skill of leading yourself every day to get the right things done in the right way, for the right reason, and in the shortest possible amount of time.”
While the author frequently cites and borrows the best of other productivity thinkers, he uniquely organizes this information by grounding it primarily in a Christian paradigm. However, anyone can benefit from his principles-based approach, and he purposefully invites non-believers to appropriate what he’s sharing. As he notes, “addressing paradigms is the key to increasing your effectiveness in the most efficient way.”
The author also fills in the details by providing practical discussion on the application of these principles in ordinary life, the common situations we deal with at work, home, and elsewhere. He regularly shows up with gems that give “aha” moments of insight into why we get stuck and how to address it.
The author calls getting unstuck “personal effectiveness” and describes the process and its principles in four parts: The problem of busyness; vision-based priorities; personal management; and laser application to specific situations. He summarizes personal effectiveness as “the skill of leading yourself every day to get the right things done in the right way, for the right reason, and in the shortest possible amount of time.”
While the author frequently cites and borrows the best of other productivity thinkers, he uniquely organizes this information by grounding it primarily in a Christian paradigm. However, anyone can benefit from his principles-based approach, and he purposefully invites non-believers to appropriate what he’s sharing. As he notes, “addressing paradigms is the key to increasing your effectiveness in the most efficient way.”
The author also fills in the details by providing practical discussion on the application of these principles in ordinary life, the common situations we deal with at work, home, and elsewhere. He regularly shows up with gems that give “aha” moments of insight into why we get stuck and how to address it.
April 24, 2018
I had high expectations for this book because of my love for Matt Perman's previous book, "What's Best Next", and I am so very happy that it didn't disappoint. I am an avid reader with a significant number of professional / business books on my shelf at home and work, and this is one of the few that I intend to re-read on an annual basis. Clearly Matt has extensive knowledge and experience with time management, effectiveness, purpose, and productivity, and this book is like a distillation of all that's good and useful in that area of personal growth.
In Chapter 10, he talks about preparation and the importance of gaining knowledge by reading, not just to gather information but to find the "central, governing idea of the subject." He recommends finding the best books on the subject, looking for the big ideas and overall framework while reading, and then reviewing the book after finishing to take some key notes that can be reviewed and put to use moving forward. This is that book for me - the best book on productivity and effectiveness that I have found to date (especially relevant because he deals with our current information overload as well as the constant demand for new skills to address new opportunities / problems). I anticipate that with each re-reading I will be challenged and encouraged again by this excellent book, and I recommend it to just about anyone - regardless of your roles and responsibilities, these are adaptable and highly applicable principles that will benefit everyone.
In Chapter 10, he talks about preparation and the importance of gaining knowledge by reading, not just to gather information but to find the "central, governing idea of the subject." He recommends finding the best books on the subject, looking for the big ideas and overall framework while reading, and then reviewing the book after finishing to take some key notes that can be reviewed and put to use moving forward. This is that book for me - the best book on productivity and effectiveness that I have found to date (especially relevant because he deals with our current information overload as well as the constant demand for new skills to address new opportunities / problems). I anticipate that with each re-reading I will be challenged and encouraged again by this excellent book, and I recommend it to just about anyone - regardless of your roles and responsibilities, these are adaptable and highly applicable principles that will benefit everyone.
April 30, 2018
How to Get Unstuck was an encouraging and enlightening read. As a Christian and productivity geek, most books on this subject while helpful, prioritize principles and goals that generally focused on self. How to Get Unstuck is different, like Matt Perman's other book "What Best Next". His focus and productivity system centers around generosity and the glorifying Christ through the Gospel rather than on simply building our individual success and value.
As a companion to "What's Best Next" I particularly appreciated the emphasis how to do decide between what is important vs urgent and how to apply leverage to specific things when you are "stuck". He addresses both being stuck on a specific goal or project as well as generally frazzled because your focus is scattered over many things.
I have already started to apply several things from the book. This includes determining my roles and responsibilities in a more clear way so that I can pick a specific one to prioritize along with a current project or goal, as well as beginning to schedule my time that leaves time to be generous but also make progress on those responsibilities that I can serve others by focusing on.
I strongly recommend this book to those who feel lost in their roles right now or who have a strong productivity system in place but are looking for principles that help them serve others and fulfill our higher calling beyond our personal success.
Check out the preorder bonuses at www.howtogetunstuck.com before May 1!
As a companion to "What's Best Next" I particularly appreciated the emphasis how to do decide between what is important vs urgent and how to apply leverage to specific things when you are "stuck". He addresses both being stuck on a specific goal or project as well as generally frazzled because your focus is scattered over many things.
I have already started to apply several things from the book. This includes determining my roles and responsibilities in a more clear way so that I can pick a specific one to prioritize along with a current project or goal, as well as beginning to schedule my time that leaves time to be generous but also make progress on those responsibilities that I can serve others by focusing on.
I strongly recommend this book to those who feel lost in their roles right now or who have a strong productivity system in place but are looking for principles that help them serve others and fulfill our higher calling beyond our personal success.
Check out the preorder bonuses at www.howtogetunstuck.com before May 1!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews