Author and speaker Jon Acuff has created quite a remarkable career for himself, much of which he’s documented on his blog and in multiple New York Times best-selling books. To read his work is to read through his life: In Quitter, he quit his corporate career to follow his dream; in Start, he launched his own business; in Do Over, he learned from some of his mistakes.

Acuff’s refreshing, funny and often unapologetic perspective provides real-life lessons to people aspiring to live their own dreams as authors or speakers or entrepreneurs. Read his five tips to creating your own dream career on success.com.