Get Out of Your Own Way cover art

Get Out of Your Own Way

A Skeptic's Guide to Growth and Fulfillment

 Preview
Try Premium Plus free
1 credit a month to buy any audiobook in our entire collection.
Access to thousands of additional audiobooks and Originals from the Plus Catalogue.
Member-only deals & discounts.
Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Get Out of Your Own Way

By: Dave Hollis
Narrated by: Dave Hollis, Rachel Hollis
Try Premium Plus free

Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $21.99

Buy Now for $21.99

About this listen

The idea that you could be more but got in your own way should wake you up in the middle of the night. Dave Hollis used to think that “personal growth” was just for broken people, then he woke up.

When a looming career funk, a growing drinking problem, and a challenging trek through therapy battered Dave Hollis, a Disney executive and father of four, he began to realize he was letting untruths about himself dictate his life. As he sank to the bottom of his valley, he had to make a choice. Would he push himself out of his comfort zone to become the best man he was capable of being, or would he play it safe and settle for mediocrity?

In Get Out of Your Own Way, Dave tackles topics he once found it difficult to be honest about, things like his struggles with alcohol and his insecurities about being a dad.

Offering encouragement, challenges, and a hundred moments to laugh, Dave will help you:

  • Discover the way for those of us who are, like he was, skeptical of self-help but wanting something more than the status quo
  • Drop negative ideas about who we are supposed to be and finally start living as who we really are
  • See our own journeys more clearly as he unpacks the lies he once believed—such as “I Have to Have It All Together” and “Failure Means You’re Weak”
  • Learn the tools that helped him change his life, and may change your life too

Get Out of Your Own Way is a call to arms for anyone who’s interested in a more fulfilled life, who, along the way, may have lost their “why” and now wonders how to unlock their potential or be better for their loved ones.

 Fatherhood Gender Studies Marriage & Long-Term Partnerships Parenting & Families Personal Development Personal Success Relationships Social Sciences Inspiring Self Growth Self Leadership

Critic Reviews

'Dave Hollis packages his own vulnerability in an impactful but fun way to empower readers. This is a wise, introspective, and purposeful guide to anyone looking to break free of fear, ego, and blame.'
'Dave's first book is vulnerable, authentic, and earnest, written from the perspective of a friend on the journey with you. What started as a collection of stories to illustrate the masculine point of view turned into something that will help both men and women struggling to reach for more.'
'In Get Out of Your Own Way, my friend Dave has identified an important truth: believing certain lies about ourselves keeps us skeptical that we can ever change the trajectory of our lives. Thank goodness in this great book! Dave also shares with us the tools that helped him change his own life so you can change yours too.'
'In his compelling first book, my friend Dave Hollis shares his path to change with candor, humor, and humility in a way that will inspire you to take charge, change your habits, and lay a foundation for living the life you always dreamed of.'
'In this life-transforming book, Dave Hollis inspires us to take a good hard look at the lies we tell ourselves and flip them into reasons for real growth. It's a witty, vulnerable, and truly thought-provoking work from a skeptic who became brave enough to change. A must-read in personal development.'
'To improve you have to confront yourself and your ways of thinking. Dave Hollis's book is an important guide for any man--and woman--who wants a better life.'
'Get Out of Your Own Way is a testament to one's ability to take control of your own life by freeing yourself from the lies that hold us back. Dave's approach to max out his life will inspire readers to do the same!'
'I love Dave for a million reasons, but one is because I relate to him. I get the impulse to side-eye the whole personal development movement from a comfy perch on my couch like a real Sideline Critic. So his straightforward, funny advice on how to get out of that self-defeating rut hits me right between the eyes. This book is for anyone who wants to figure out how to start showing up for their life.'
All stars
Most relevant
I loved every moment of this book and I know the knowledge it has given me will benefit me for my entire life

I can’t thank Dave enough

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Loved it so much, got the physical copy. Now to highlight and take copious notes.

Amazing

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Couldn't put it down... now that is a good book! So many helpful pieces of advice with snippets of insight as to why I behave like I do and why I need to just sort my shit out. I kept thinking of so many others who would benefit by reading this book too. Love how he gave so many examples and stories to help me get the most out of learning about ways and behaviors . I am going to buy the hard copy now to highlight pieces that I found worthy of looking into in a deeper level 🙏

Loved This Book - Highly Recommend

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Kudos to you, Dave Hollis; such a powerful recount of what a path to get to the starting line of a fulfilling life of growth looks like, and acknowledging those seemingly little (but actually gigantic) things that stand so cleary in your way when you have the courage to do the work, ‘see’ them, and ‘move’, even when you don’t feel like it. It is an absolute honour to have seen you rise in the last two years, and read the tale in your compelling and powerfully simple book. A must read for anyone wanting to create a fulfilling life, and reach for more. Kudos.

Powerful in its simplicity of message and acknowledging what stands in your way

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This is a self help book written by a very well off and successful person who used book writing as a vice to help himself through a rough period.

There are large periods where it feels very much like he's attacking his audience, some of which could be in a vulnerable position. Lots of "My life is great, I work out, sleep with my wife and donate lots of money to charity. If you don't do this, your life must suck."

The conclusion to this book was unbelievably painful to get through. Overly judgemental, unhealthy and unhelpful advice.
It also falls very flat, with his advice on how to live healthily and romantically with your spouse when you learn some unfortunate information about his life after this book was published.

Yes you might gain a couple of helpful insights, but this is not a good motivational book.

Not good

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
was hard work by halfway through. the author has good intentions but I personally think that the context is a bit forced. It seems like a pretty average story/ experience doesn't mean you need to write a book about it just because your wife did. Some should stick to their day job. I wish I'd donated the money to charity instead of listening to half of it.

Not a good read to me

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.