Author, Speaker, Showrunner
 

 My Book

break the wheel

Finding "Best Practices" Isn't the Goal. Finding the Best Approach for YOU Is.

Break the Wheel is a book about making better decisions, faster, in ways more conducive to your own specific situation. Embark on a quest across the business world to find surprising stories and empowering ideas for questioning best practices, honing your intuition, and doing your best work.

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“Jay’s work, lavishly illustrated with superb business stories, is a gem. At the heart of the book is a call to cultivate the skill of paying attention to the details and evidence of your particulate circumstance and to formulate the rules and playbook that make the most sense for YOUR specific context.”

- Unsolicited Reader Review (C-Suite)

 
 
 

 Featuring refreshing and insightful stories from:

 
 
MIKE BROWN: Owner & Operator, Death Wish Coffee"There are tons of people who are experts out there who think coffee should taste a distinct way, but you know, it’s all a personal preference."

MIKE BROWN: Owner & Operator, Death Wish Coffee

"There are tons of people who are experts out there who think coffee should taste a distinct way, but you know, it’s all a personal preference."

SUZY BATIZ: Founder & CEO, Poo Pourri"We’ve been taught to trust experts. It’s a social conditioning. We have to de-program ourselves out of that."

SUZY BATIZ: Founder & CEO, Poo Pourri

"We’ve been taught to trust experts. It’s a social conditioning. We have to de-program ourselves out of that."

TIM URBAN: Creator/Writer, Wait But Why"We’d all benefit from saying, ‘Why is the world like this?’ Then you realize, the world is like this because of something that happened in 1860 that doesn’t apply anymore."

TIM URBAN: Creator/Writer, Wait But Why

"We’d all benefit from saying, ‘Why is the world like this?’ Then you realize, the world is like this because of something that happened in 1860 that doesn’t apply anymore."

LISA SCHNEIDER: Chief Digital Officer, Merriam-Webster"This wasn't manufactured. This is just who we are. And the only reason it works is because it's who we are."

LISA SCHNEIDER: Chief Digital Officer, Merriam-Webster

"This wasn't manufactured. This is just who we are. And the only reason it works is because it's who we are."

DAVID CANCEL: Co-founder & CEO, Drift"Marketing has become about gaming the system. F*ck that. We’ve got to kill all those things."

DAVID CANCEL: Co-founder & CEO, Drift

"Marketing has become about gaming the system. F*ck that. We’ve got to kill all those things."

ALBERT EINSTEIN: Physicist*"The only real valuable thing is intuition."*Declined to interview for the book

ALBERT EINSTEIN: Physicist*

"The only real valuable thing is intuition."

*Declined to interview for the book

 
 
 
 
 

plus inside looks into: 

 
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Our world is flooded by advice, ideas, and experts, but we shouldn’t make decisions based on “best practices.”

Instead, we should do what works best for us. 

To build careers and companies with such clarity would lead to exceptional work, but first, we need to escape the endless cycle of stale approaches and trendy tactics that holds us back. We need to break the wheel.

In this quick-hitting, powerful book, we’ll forge our sledgehammers. With a diverse range of real-world stories, Break the Wheel offers a simple but powerful way to think for yourself when surrounded by conventional thinking. Along the way, we’ll uncover six fundamental questions to ask in any situation to start making the best possible decisions, regardless of the best practice.

Stop relying on generic advice. With this book, say goodbye to average work and hello to doing your best.

Are you ready to break the wheel?

 
 
 
 
 

 Who Cares What Experts Doing Me a Favor Had to Say?

Here's What My Actual Readers Shared

 
 
 
Book real reviews
Manage Teams? Read This:

“Jay is seemingly able to convert my sentiments into words that I can forward to my teams. He is an idealist in the best possible way. He says the things that many are thinking but are afraid to say for fear of disregarding the prevailing best practices.”

– Steve, a Vice President of PR from Pittsburgh, PA

Hate self-help formulas? For you:

“Jay’s work is for people that hate self-help formulas. His work is a display of case studies and creative challenges meant to spark your own genius.”

– Heather, a designer from Raleigh, NC

Love Stories? (Even if they aren't love stories?) Samesies

“I love Jay’s enthusiastic style, his big ideas, and his willingness to challenge and change the world. He’s not afraid to say what others won’t in a way others can’t. No one tells a story like Jay, and the lessons… OH… the lessons.”

– Andrew, an author and keynote speaker from Boca Raton, FL

Believe that work is about people? High five

“It feels like he’s talking directly to me. Every. Single. Time. His honesty is contagious and a reflection of his understanding people. It’s baffling, like some sort of sorcery.”

– Haley, a brand manager from Dallas, TX

Sucker for a great tone of voice? Well suck on this (err...uh)

“Every story feels personal, like we’re sitting around catching up over a beer. Jay has a unique voice and take that will get you thinking about your own work and life in ways you probably haven’t considered before.”

- Chris, an entrepreneur from Denver, CO

Jaded: bad Aerosmith song, worse feeling. Fix it.

“In a world where everyone is suddenly an expert, Jay isn’t trying to add himself to any lists. He breaks through the BS and helps unlock new ways to think about creative work. If you’re feeling stuck or uninspired or jaded, Jay’s writing will pull you out of your funk and get you excited about what you can do.”

- Lee, a managing editor from Valdosta, GA

Fed up with business BS? Get in line (or just get the book)

“If you’re tired of emotional pablum and lifeless marketing, give Acunzo a look. He’s not afraid to take a very different stance than 'the others.’”

- Stan, an agency President from Clearwater, FL

 
 
 
 

About the author

 
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My professional mission is to help more people find & share their voices to make work that matters. I’ve served as a digital media strategist at Google and held multiple leadership positions at high-growth technology companies, including HubSpot. After three years as VP of Content & Community for the venture capital firm NextView, I launched my podcast Unthinkable and helped over a dozen brands create original series focused on creativity-at-work and business-for-good. My ideas have been cited in the New York Times, The Washington Post, FastCompany, Fortune, Entrepreneur, and more. I live in Cambridge, Mass., with my wife, two adorable little kids, and one precious pup named for my favorite gelato.

 
 

Order your copy of break the wheel

 
 
 

Book Signings and Bulk orders

to accompany keynotes speeches

Discounts and signings available for keynote speaking clients.

To inquire, email speaking@unthinkablemedia.com

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2 Bonuses For You:

1. Hear One of the Book's Most Popular Stories Performed On My Podcast

...with the help of some friends, music, sound effects, and a whole lot of quirks.

Merriam-Webster's brand went from boring and bland to bombastic and brilliant. How did they do it? A trendy new tactic? Some expert advice? A best practice they were lacking? Nah.

What they did seemed unthinkable to others ... until you hear their side of the story.

2. Listen to the Spotify PlaylistS I used Writing the Book

While writing, I would arrive just as my favorite coffee shop in Queens, New York would open its doors each morning. They’d fire up the espresso machines, and I’d fire up one of these playlists:

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