Posts tagged with blogging

I’ve been blogging for over a year, and it’s about time that I finally shipped a product.

HBYBS is that product. This is my first step.

I created this e-book in order to give regular readers and newcomers alike a gist of what I advocate here on the blog. Feel free to share this short, 21-page tome with your family and friends. This is my gift to you.

What’s this e-book about?

These are 101 maxims on how to be your best self and reach your full potential in a society that forces you to conform. This e-book reminds you that you don’t have to be a worker bee. You have the power to be whoever you want—all it takes is a little motivation.

This book is not for people who refuse to change who they are. It’s not for people who accept the “American Dream” as one of material abundance and corporate ladder climberism. I don’t recommend this e-book for people can’t believe in the impossible.

Download the free e-book, How to Be Your Best Self.

I hope you enjoy it. Your support over the past year is what’s made starting this movement worthwhile. Don’t hesitate to comment below, on Twitter, or by e-mail if you have suggestions/thoughts about the e-book.

I love hearing your opinions.

Special thanks to Chris O’Byrne for the superb editing job. I owe you one.

If you liked this e-book, please spread the word. Also, consider opting to receive free updates via RSS or EMAIL.

On Friday, I received this email:

“Saw your post at Brazen Careerist, and was immediately turned off when you stated you’re not going to reply to comments there. If I feel this way, I’m sure others do as well.

Take Care.”

At first, I didn’t mind much, seeing as I stated an alternative on Brazen Careerist (a well-known site for networking/connecting/working with employees, employers, or just nice people, online) to come to the site and leave a thought on the original post.

Eventually, I admitted to myself that the ‘comment thing’ has been picking at my conscience for some time.

I have addressed comment/response policies in passing on previous blog posts. When this blog was much younger, I even said that I would reply to every comment within 24 hours.

I’ve been wishy-washy throughout this blog’s entire life cycle with comments, just devouring articles on when to reply and when not reply, on whether to keep them up, or on whether to take them down, and loosely referring to how I’ll respond and how I’ll not respond.

It’s time to, finally and forever, squash this issue:

- First of all, I’d like to say that I enjoy reading what you guys have to say. Keep the comments coming.

- I read every single one. No joke. No one gets left behind, young or old, long or short, big or small.

- I don’t, however, respond to every single one. I simply can’t respond to every ‘thank you’ or ‘nice post’ that I get. It takes away too much from the time I spend learning new things and getting inspiration for what you guys comment on in the first place: the blog post.

- In fact, if you want to share something personal, you want to send me hate mail, or you just want to say hello, shoot me an e-mail. You’ll get a response within 2-3 days, usually.

- Comments are necessary for community. No matter how many or how little I get, I don’t plan on cutting them off.

- Bashing other commenters or just contributing to an overall negative atmosphere isn’t cool. Don’t do it.

- Just because I don’t reply, it doesn’t mean I don’t care.

At the end of the day, it’s the people that matter. This blog wouldn’t be where it is now without you. It’s come pretty far in just one year. Maybe not as far as other blogs (due to the initial lack of purpose) and maybe not as profitable (due to not shipping a product as early as I should have), but the progress is still astounding.

Rest assured that I’m grateful to you for making me feel that my voice can make some sort of impact and some sort of difference.

Comments or no comments, this movement matters.

Creative Commons License photo credit: s h a r i :}

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It’s been quite a while since I’ve had an interview with a remarkable online creator, so I’m very happy to welcome to the blog, best-selling author and minimalist blogger, Leo Babauta!

This interview has been a really great experience, because Leo’s first blog, Zen Habits, was one of the very first blogs that got me into personal development and simplicity. I’ve learned a lot from what he’s discussed here as well as what else Leo teaches on his many blogs.

Just so you can get a better picture of who Leo really is, I’ve stolen, augmented, and updated a bit of his info from his about page (I’m sure he wouldn’t mind):

  • Created Zen Habits and made it a top blog within a year. Today, Zen Habits has over 175K subscribers and was named one of the Top 25 blogs by Time Magazine.
  • Started a second blog, Write To Done, for writers and bloggers. It now has more than 16K subscribers and is one of the Top 10 blogs for writers.
  • Wrote the No. 1 best-selling productivity ebook, Zen To Done. Has been bought and downloaded by tens of thousands of readers.
  • Wrote a best-selling print book, The Power of Less. The book made the best-selling list on Amazon.com, and is in bookstores around the country.
  • Made a third blog, mnmlist, about minimalism. Has well over 6,000 subscribers already.

His teachings of doing more with less have started a movement across the blogosphere, resulting in a bevy of individuals becoming minimalists, freeing themselves from being overwhelmed by stuff and engaging in more meaningful experiences.

Right before his big move this summer to San Francisco, Leo shares his thoughts:

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John: Your teachings of simplicity and minimalism have spread far and wide across the personal development blogosphere. I just have to ask, how are you applying these teachings to your personal life? Do you try and get your wife and kids to follow them as well?

Leo: I’m applying them slowly, and thoughtfully. I don’t believe in drastic overhauls of my life — I do things a little at a time, and see how I like them. I reflect on the changes, and blog about them. Mmlist.com and Zen Habits are basically reflections on slow changes I’m making.

My kids and wife aren’t as minimalist as I am, nor do I try to force them to be. But I think my example gives them ideas and inspiration, and of course they give me ideas and inspiration as well! My wife amazes me — she’s become a homeschooling mom, given up most of her possessions (I think she’s down to 120 personal things), is running and eating healthier, and in general is as happy as ever!

John: Very nice. I totally agree that you should implement changes slowly, one habit at a time. I remember reading about your technique in an article that talked about mastering one habit a month. Have you been doing any experimenting lately (testing new “zen habits”)? If so, any examples you care to share?

Leo: Lately, I’ve been less focused on forming new habits than on reshaping previous ones. So while I have a fairly healthy eating habit, I’ve been making small changes — eating more real foods such as fruits and raw nuts as snacks, for example. My writing habits are constantly seeking new ground, trying to find a better groove without abandoning the good parts of the old groove. I’ve also been looking for a balance between long-form online reading and novel reading, two of my favorite forms of reading.

That said, lately, I’ve been doing short (5-minute) zen meditation sessions with my wife most mornings, and have really enjoyed that. It’s a beautiful way to start the day.

John: Any new projects/products that you’re working on? Anything on the horizon?

Leo: I’ve recently given up ads on Zen Habits, and am looking at other ways to support my family. Digital products and courses that I make myself are probably the way I’ll go. I was considering premium subscriptions for $5 and $10 — people could still subscribe to Zen Habits for free, but for a premium subscription they’d get additional content podcasts, and live webinars. But now I’m thinking of doing twice-monthly courses, where I teach people to do things I’ve learned to do. We’ll see!

John: What’s one of the craziest things you’ve always wanted to do that you’ve done since you’ve become self-employed?

Leo: Picking up and moving my family to San Francisco is pretty crazy, for me at least. We’re leaving behind our old life, our beloved family and friends, and starting from scratch. We don’t even know where we’ll live exactly, nor will we each have anything but a backpack full of clothing. Exiciting!

John: Who has inspired you? Any individuals you’ve just found out about?

Leo: Oh man, where to start? I’m inspired by so many people, there’s no way to mention them all. I currently love:

And many more!

John: Where do you see yourself down the line? Maybe in five years?

Leo: I have no idea — I just hope I continue doing thing I love. I’ve given up trying to plan or predict the future, and just focus on what I’m doing right now. If I do things I’m passionate about, and do my utmost, it’s amazing what often emerges — unexpected, wonderful, surprising things.

John: If you could give one very last piece of advice, what would it be?

Leo: It doesn’t sound like much, but Thich Nhat Hanh’s “Smile, breathe, and go slowly” is profoundly life-changing. Each one of those things can transform your life, and the more I explore them, the deeper this advice becomes.

John: Sounds great, Leo. Thank you so much for your time.

Leo has been such an inspiration and it’s been a pleasure having him share what he knows. If you want to get a deeper look into what minimalism is, I recommend you check out his book, The Power of Less, grab his e-book, the Simple Guide to a Minimalist Life, or visit mnmlist.com.

Don’t forget to follow Leo on Twitter.

If you liked this interview, share it across the web below.

8 comments

No Inspiration

I’ve once again fallen into the rut of writing for the sake of writing instead of writing for the sake of caring.

There are so many things I want to read and want to share with you guys.

Unfortunately there are too many distractions occupying my time. Namely school.

Thankfully, the school term’s about to come to an end in a few weeks. Another great end to another semi-interesting year.

On the plus side, I’ve made over $200 courtesy of my affiliate products. Thanks Chris Guillebeau! And thank you guys for supporting my blog and Chris’s work by purchasing his e-books. You’ll find that they’re worth the money. When summer starts, I’ll provide definitive reviews on all of the products that I’ve read and used.

Anyways, did you guys catch that? I made over $200 dollars (more like $278.56) online. I never thought that I could make any sort of cash through the internet. I mean, sure I believed that it was possible, just that I never thought it would happen right now. It always seemed like some sort of faraway accomplishment. Like my head was up in the clouds when I decided take on that challenge.

Now that I’ve achieved that goal, I feel like getting a full-time income from blogging is entirely attainable.

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When you have so many things going through your head each and every day, it’s hard to be really focused on one thing. It’s not difficult to find time to write, but when I stare at the screen for literally hours at a time not knowing what to write because my mind wanders to assignments that might be due or errands I have to finish, it gets frustrating.

I actually have a lot to say, but that ends up being a double-edged sword at times.

******

I’ve changed how I respond to comments. If readers ask me questions or leave comments that warrant a response, I’ll reply in full. If not, please understand that even if I don’t respond, I read all the comments (I even skim over spam). Rest assured your comment is being read by human eyes.

******

Some of my favorite blogs aren’t within the personal development sphere. I think I know why. Most of the personal development blogs that I don’t tend to come back to simply relay advice. Where’s the personality? The pizazz? The intoxicating oneness with the blog and the blogger?

I don’t want this blog to just be about “giving advice”. I don’t want this blog to be just like the other blogs. This is about inspiring people to achieve their dreams – in a creative way.

My personality must shine through.

******

I’ve always wondered why my most popular post of all time is “Blog Update: The Road Ahead”. Now I think I know the answer.

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I’ve noticed some bloggers have left the blogosphere. We (including everyone you have affected with your writings) will not forget you. We’ll always have Facebook and Twitter… even long after they merge into Twitterbook.

******

I hope you found this post as useful to yourself as it was for me. I just needed to clear my head for a bit.
Creative Commons License photo credit: Vince Kusters

I’m guessing a lot of you who read this blog also read other personal development blogs as well. From the minimalist teaches of Leo Babauta, to the “live anywhere, do anything” philosophy of Tim Ferriss, it’s no surprise that self help blogs are very inspiring and incredibly informative.

From these blogs, we can understand these five things:

- Their teachings constantly reinforce the fact that anything is possible if we put our minds to it

- Cashing in on your passion (in the immortal words of Gary V.) can be done

- All it takes is a little direction to fix the problems you have

- Anybody is willing to help you if you just give them a chance

- This information is free for anyone to grab

It just shows that, literally, all the information that’s being given, all the advice being solicited, and every question being answered is right there waiting for you.

Nobody’s problems are unique to themselves. Somewhere on the net, someone has the solution to what you need fixed. We no longer have to sit and complain about our distraction issues; there’s a solution around every corner.

Nonetheless, I still get the feeling that something’s off. I understand people want to hear inspirational words and calls to action because it makes them feel good; I do too.

But how many people are actually implementing the advice they’ve been given?

I like to hear about someone’s success and how he/she did it as much as the next guy, but it’s utterly pointless if just take advice that you’re never going to use.

1. Look for somebody who’s already solved your problem

2. Write down what they did to solve it

3. Test it immediately

That’s why in this post, I’m giving you the top 50 Twitter tweets from 50 personal development all-stars. Here’s the advice that you read on blogs everyday.

In no particular order, without further ado:

@stevepavlina – Successful people have a bias for action.

@jonathan mead – Reminder: whenever you attempt or approach something, it might not be as hard as you think.

@zen_habits – It turns out life’s purpose is quite simple: it’s love. Deep, profound, moving, unshakeable, upending … but simple.

@mary_jaksch – Zen tip: Next time someone talks to you, listen without thinking about what you’re going to say next.

@joshua_becker – Don’t waste today.

@rowdykittens - So far so good. No car, no TV, limited clothing, etc. But I’m far from perfect. :)

@pamslim – Stand for something.

@henrijunttila – “Action will remove the doubt that theory cannot solve.” – Petryl Hsieh

@themindfullist – What’s that one thing that, if you got it done today, would make you smile with satisfaction as you lay your head on the pillow?

@chrisguillebeau – Entrepreneur = someone who will work 24 hrs a day for themselves to avoid working 1 hr a day for someone else

@jeffreyftang – Legacy: “No man is truly great who is great only in his lifetime. The test of greatness is the page of history.” – William Hazlitt

@lance02 – You are awesome!

@StevenAitchison – “We find it difficult to change because we haven’t seen the new road we have to travel – If we see the road first – change becomes easier.”

@mrjWells – Our communication with ourselves is how we program our minds and results.

@upgradereality – Goodnight all. Remember…As you think, You will become :)

@getinthehotspot – Are you totally focused on one true goal?

@marsdorian – true. And the more passionate you are, the more you divide the crowds that judge you!

@deepakchopra – In any situation where there are many different points of view there is promise of great potential and creativity

@evbogue – “What does education often do? It makes a straight-cut ditch of a free, meandering brook.” – Thoreau

@charliegilkey – The distance between where we are & where we think we are is one of the exciting & frustrating parts of life. :)

@skooloflife – “The fruit of your action will come of its own accord” -Echkart Tolle

@corbettbarr – It always feels great to get some serious work done. Makes me wonder why I procrastinate.

@jetsetcitizen – “This is not a recession, it is a reset.” from John Hope Bryant’s book

@Armen – If you are one of those folks that keeps moving and doesn’t get stopped much by distractions, consider that a valuable asset.

@arvinddevalia – “Your own Self-realization is the greatest service you can render the world”.

@viperchill – Thought of this while getting my hair cut: Life isn’t about striving for perfection. It’s about finding happiness despite imperfection.

@aboundlessworld – Do something out of line.

@lionslinger – Do you want to increase your chances of success? Then master time.

@jonathanfields – It is not 10,000 hours, It is 10,000 hours of deliberate and focused practice that makes people great.

@sivers – “Work is love made visible.” – Khalil Gibran

@colinismyname – Yup :) I take a few hours a day to read. My ideal lifestyle!

@tmfproject – Today is a day to make moves. Oh yeah.

@carlosmic- Don’t see the world as it is, people won’t like you. And don’t even think about telling them what you see, people will hate you.

@codymckibb – Of course your opinion matters. I don’t know where you got any impression it woudn’t?

@theboldlife – Hello World. Happy Monday. Wake up and smell the day!

@livetorque – The beauty of LIFE does not depend on how happy you are, but how happy others can be because of you.

@suziecheel – “Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.”- Abraham Lincoln

@tferriss – “A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is brave five minutes longer.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

@workhappynow – “People only see what they are prepared to see.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

@positivityblog – “As I grow older, I pay less attention to what men say. I just watch what they do.” ~ Andrew Carnegie

@scotthyoung – Most passions strt as interests. So “finding yr passion” is better stated: “find an interest & then work yr ass off at it.”

@celestinechua – “Example isn’t another way to teach, it is the only way to teach” – Albert Einstein

@zeenatsyal – “You alone have the power to get over your fears, your insecurities, your addictions, your negativity…”

@mattchevy – The less you say, the more you’re judged. Funny how that works out.

@daviddcain – My habits they are a-changin’

@tinybuddha – “We may have all come in different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.” ~Martin Luther King Jr.

@timbrownson – Multi-tasking in a physical impossibility yet so many people seem to think they can achieve it.

@dragosroua – Don’t give too much attention to what happens to you, but rather to what you can make happen.

@daniel_richard – “Excellence is a habit.”

@ratracetrap – “If you can give your son or daughter only one gift, let it be enthusiasm.” — Bruce Barton

Here is your advice. Take it. Use it. Test it. Do something amazing with it.

Everyone is here supporting you. All you have to do is act.
Creative Commons License photo credit: Shishberg

I figure I could be doing more than just writing about what I know. A lot of other web artists have learned amazing life lessons, so why not hand over the spotlight to them for a bit?

That’s why, today, I’m highlighting a 28-year-old artist who goes by the name of Monty Oum. If you take a look at his work, you just know that he’s passionate about what he does. For over six years, he’s been making CGI animation videos, slowly rising to become a prominent computer graphics artist within the videogame industry. I myself discovered him just two years ago, and I love his stuff.

A few months back, I stumbled upon a very intriguing blog post of his that I think you guys will find valuable. I hope you can pick out the nuggets of gold in his wise words:

Words to Live By

“I continually hope that someday I’ll get a chance to pass on everything I’ve learned. There hardly seems a moment considering living by my words only means having absolutely no time to say them. So at least I can take a moment in slight to utter in passing.

Never let anyone tell you that something is impossible.

I lived by that when it sparked in me the possibility of achieving something despite everyone telling me it being impossible otherwise. People have always told me it’s impossible, that it’s been tried. If you know what I’m talking about then your already on your way. What I will say to you ignore those who’ve been defeated by what they call “experience.” Keep going and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

I know this might sound familiar even, never give up etc. But it’s how I live my life even currently as there still are more “experienced” people who will criticize that I’m doing it wrong. It’s the human spirit that’ll keep us alive. This rings true to the events of my life, when I started Haloid. I didn’t do it because I wanted to get a job in games, or that I wanted to become famous, or what have you. I did it because I knew it could be done, and that the road to finishing it was imperfect and difficult. What finishing it yielded me was only more steps on the path to pushing forward in what I believed in.

My life lacks much, I’m broke, my car is in horrible shape, my apartment is a mess, I spend 3 days in a row at the office regularly and sleep on the couch only when I need to. I’m helplessly antisocial. I see my girlfriend 3 times a year.

I come from an impoverished family of Cambodian civil war refugees. It been a long journey between being so incredibly poor that I didn’t have paper to draw on when I was little, to where I am now. It wouldn’t have happened if I didn’t dive headfirst and take a risk, and continually risk it all to keep going forward… Heh, success? They thought it was impossible.

What is the greatest reward for living in such difficulty?..

I hope you see it someday too, Cause the world looks very different, when you’re pushing yourself every second you’ve got.”

Monty Oum

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Here’s some of his art in motion. Keep in mind, he created the entire video himself. He is remarkable in every sense of the word.

(Warning! You must be 13 years or older to watch – normally I don’t advocate random, bloodless violence, but this is art):

Watch it here if you’re interested.

Creative Commons License photo credit: Letcombe

Have you yourself been living passionately, pushing yourself every second you’ve got towards what you enjoy doing? Discuss.

Please share this post through your preferred medium below.

Since I’ve announced my decision to become a minimalist some time ago on the blog, I’ve made a few small changes to my lifestyle.

Take into account that there are some activities I already gave up before I announced being a minimalist on the blog. These particular actions will be noted below.

Other things that have aided in me recently becoming a minimalist:

- I don’t have an income and the little money I make freelancing a blog post every two weeks has only added to my savings.

- Ran out of money that university gives us to spend (flex dollars).

- As a college student, I embrace frugality anyway.

10 Steps Towards the Minimalist Lifestyle

1. I’ve slowly ceased using my cell phone as both a watch and communication device

2. I tend to use and reuse white shirts as everyday clothing and as sleepwear

3. I already walk everywhere

4. I haven’t used my debit card in months

5. I’m moving into the smallest room in my apartment for the cheapest price

6. I’ve long since stopped watching television

7. I’m reading more than ever before

8. Gradually focusing less on blog stats and more on blog content and community

9. I’m able to function on less than 5 hours of sleep

10. Starting to eliminate needless conversations in favor of reading (harsh, but it’s pointless to debate about issues that will do little in solving problems anyway)

Things I find myself doing that are problematic:

Unblocking sites that are supposed to be blocked – I’m going to start password protecting my website-blocker add-on

Checking email several times a day – It’s going to take a lot of willpower to adhere to my ‘three-times-a-day’ rule

Reloading Twitter to check for status updates, retweets, and responses – Limit of ten minutes of Twitter, 3 times a day starting tomorrow.

More updates to follow soon.

Creative Commons License photo credit: feverblue

If you haven’t already met him, I present to you the young internet entrepreneur, blogger, creator of PluginID and ViperChill, Glen Allsopp! He started on the road to internet masterdom at the age of 15, when he began making websites from scratch. Since then, Glen’s become a successful internet marketer (he’s marketed for Hewlett Packard and Nissan), a kick-ass world traveler, and the creator of one of the top ten personal development blogs in the world.

Now, at 20 years old, he continues to lord the net by aspiring to make a multi-million dollar website. I’m really glad he’s taken the time out from his busy schedule to come share his experiences with everyone.

Live from Cape Town, Glen Allsopp speaks his mind:

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John: Hey Glen! Really happy you’re here on the blog. How’s life been treating you? I’ve heard good things from across the grapevine :) .

Glen: Life is awesome. I’ve been back in South Africa for over two months now and I’m really enjoying it. Cape Town is going to be a great place when the World Cup starts in June. ViperChill is also growing much quicker than I expected and my other projects are really starting to take off. It’s an exciting time.

John: Awesome, Glen. Now I know you’ve been working like to crazy living life and traveling the world, but throughout all that adventure, what’s the funniest moment you’ve experienced thus far?

Glen: I can’t think of one thing specifically, though I’ve had lot’s of crazy adventures. I took a few months out at the end of last year to go traveling around Europe with Diggy from UpgradeReality. At one point, we went out 36 nights in a row to all of the hottest clubs, so we have some out-of-control (probably not blog-friendly) stories from those.

There was a time in Belgium when we were heading to Paris and got on a train going in the completely opposite direction. We weren’t too worried as we didn’t have to arrive at a certain time, but things got pretty tricky when not one person on the train spoke English. Diggy speaks Dutch (which is very similar to the Belgian language, Flemish), but nobody could understand him. We somehow used our broken French to get off the train and start heading the right direction.

That day was hilarious, but also pretty nerve-racking.

John: Ha ha ha, sounds like quite an experience :) .

It’s great that you’ve been loving your life, but I’m sure that initially, life wasn’t as easygoing. How difficult was it for you to achieve a lifestyle that allows you to travel and have lots of adventures?

Glen: It takes a lot, but it doesn’t have to feel like it. I worked out the other day that I wrote over 200,000 published words in 2009. That’s a huge amount, especially when I don’t spend most of my days writing and I took 5 months to go travel throughout the year.

Though I have worked a lot, it doesn’t actually feel like I have. I put in the hours when needed and do what needs to be done, but I only focus on what I need to do each day.

For example, to build a popular blog, you’re probably going to have to write 3-4 great articles every single week (for your own blog and others) for a year to see a great return – depending on your industry. Looking at it over the course of a year, that’s a lot of work. Yet, if you focus on what you have to do today (write one article) then it’s not such a big task. I break down my focus and it tends to make things seem a lot easier.

There’s no doubt, though, that you really do sometimes just have to sit down and push yourself to work. No thoughts are as useful as one moment of action.

John: I feel that you’ve inspired a lot of people on your unconventional journey. Who inspired you to become the person you are today?

Glen: I would’ve said Seth Godin, as I love his work, but recent email encounters with him have let me down. Darren Rowse of ProBlogger is a big inspiration to me, not only because he managed to build such an impressive online portfolio, but because he is someone who really puts in the work. Every day, he’s managing new articles and posts for his site, even when I’m sure he has more than enough money to never have to work again. His work ethic is admirable.

Steven Snell of Vandelay Design is also someone who inspires me with his web projects. Myself and Steven were both ‘nobodies’ (I still am, compared to him) at the same time, and I watched him hustle through guest blogging and building other websites to the point where he runs a very impressive online network.

Really, I’m just inspired by people who clearly put in the work and are genuinely out there to help people. That aligns with me a lot.

John: Interesting, interesting…I feel the same. It seems that our generation has been given unprecedented opportunities to really become remarkable creators and actually change how the world works. Would you share a few thoughts about people who are trying to solve new problems (getting more out of life) with old solutions (still thinking that working 9-5 is the best way to make a living in this generation)?

Glen: Good question; it’s something that I’ve thought about quite a lot. On one hand, I sometimes want to tell people to quit college, hustle as much as possible so you can do what you love, and then start living the life you want. On the other hand, I know that degrees are important. The way society operates, it really needs people to get degrees and follow the typical path.

If you’re making money online, for example, then you need someone with a degree to do your accounting .

If you crash your Ferrari, you need a highly-skilled mechanic to fix it.

Sadly, we live in a world where not everyone can do what they love. Fortunately, I believe there are lots of opportunities for people willing to put in the time and effort to get to do what they love and be rewarded handsomely for it. I know people are addicted to games and actually make them for a living, and they wouldn’t want any other job in the world.

My mom loves what she does, even though it’s an underpaid job and she’s getting paid by the hour.

That’s the long answer. In short, I don’t think many people who push the ‘live on your own terms’ and ‘be who you want to be’ messages realize that college is necessary for a lot of people. Many people do end up getting to do what they love from that. It’s not a terrible path to take, it just wasn’t for me; it doesn’t have to be for you.

John: What’s one piece of advice that you could give to young people that who have dreams they want to achieve, but are discouraged from doing so?

Glen: Realize that consciously or unconsciously, people will hold you back when you start to grow. This isn’t because people don’t want to see you do well, it’s just that some people don’t want to see you get your hopes up and be hurt when things don’t go the way you want them to. Accept this is going to happen, don’t judge people for it, then continue to move forward. This was a massive realization for me and something I think every young person should remember.

There are tens of thousands of people who are alive today that came from poor backgrounds or had little opportunity in life and really carved something out for themselves. You are not cut from a different cloth than they are.

There’s no reason you can’t do the same.

John: Finally, do you have any regrets? Anything you wish you could’ve done differently?

Glen: If anything, I regret that I didn’t stick to just one project sooner and make it a success, rather than trying lots of different things which I heard could make me money. However, now that I’ve went through this struggle myself I can really relate to other people doing the same and help steer them of that path via the blog. So, I don’t really regret anything.

I can’t when it’s all helped me come to the position I am today.

John: I can’t thank you enough for being here, Glen. Good luck on your journey! The million-dollar site you seek will soon be within your reach.

Glen has quickly become a rising star within the personal development and social media community, showing that with hard work and tireless dedication, you can really reach your dreams.

I highly recommend checking out his most recent e-book, Cloud Living. In it, he divulges what he has done to make money online.  Also, be sure to follow this guy on Twitter, as he offers lots of information from his site, ViperChill.

If you liked this interview, please share this post below.

It is my pleasure to introduce you to the up-and-coming minimalist blogger, Everett Bogue! Ever since I first came to his blog, Far Beyond the Stars, a little while ago, I’ve become even more of a believer in the fact that we can achieve the lives we want and the goals we desire.

In just 6 months, Everett has used his blog to create a sustainable income of $30,000 a year so far. An advocate of minimalism and productivity, he’s able to live anywhere and do what he most desires.

I just had to have him here for an interview to share with everyone. I hope that you can take with you a few nuggets of wisdom from this talk. Enjoy.

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1. Everett, it’s such a pleasure to have you here. How has life been for you this past year?

Thank you, John!

The last year has been exhilarating. In August of last year, I left my day job with a simple question: how can I apply minimalism to live and work anywhere? This led me to an expedition across the United States in search of this answer.

I lived in Portland, Chicago, and wandered back to New York. During this time, I was able to grow my income online to support myself completely through my blog, which was my goal!

It’s all happened far sooner than I anticipated, and I believe everyone can make this move, if they’re interested in the journey. It’s certainly not easy, but it’s so much more exciting than working a 9-5.

2. Now I’m sure you faced much criticism since you became location independent. Who stood behind you on your decision to embrace your own reality? Were you surprised by the people who were against you?

Initially, honestly, a lot of people said it was impossible. For people that grew up in schools and taught us that we would have nice safe, cushy jobs waiting for us when we get out of college, it’s hard for them to imagine that everything has changed.

How did I count all of the hostility? By not listening to anyone. If you try to govern your life by the consensus of your peers, you’ll be constantly trying to fit in and won’t ever do anything remarkable.

Everything has changed. I believe we need to re-imagine our civilization as an interconnected network of people who own less and live free. The Internet has made this life possible, and the benefits of living free are enormous. Why not take the jump?

3. What would you like to say to the naysayers who didn’t believe in you?

I’m perfectly fine with having people who don’t support my goals and my work. The simple fact is that every movement exists on the fingers of society. Seth Godin talks about there not being a tribe gathered around the status quo. Goethe talked about the idea that art only exists at the fringes of culture. Everything else is normality, which is what many people want.

Location independence and minimalist freedom aren’t going to be a mainstream reality for a really long time, because there will always be a large section of society that isn’t ready to embrace new things.

There’s nothing normal about being free, apparently.

4. How easy is it to become location independent and live the life you want?

To be honest, it was a lot easier than I thought it would be. That being said, becoming location independent isn’t for everyone, and it’s certainly not a walk in the park. There are a lot of elements of having a normal job that might make that life more desirable for many people.

When you start working for yourself, you’re ultimately responsible for yourself.

There is a lot of money to be had online, but you have to work for it. You have to learn the tools, and how to present information in a way that interests people.

This is why I bring minimalism to the table, when I’m teaching people how to live this life. The reason for this is simple: it’s so much easier to work for yourself from anywhere if your spending is less. There are so many people living over-extended lives, and it’s really hard to start your own business when your life-overhead is so high.

Reduce your life expenses to the basis of existence, and you’ll have a much easier time making the transition.

5. Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?

Wow, 5 years. I have no idea, hah. I don’t think much about the past or future, I’m mostly focused on the present moment. The first week of May, I’m headed Boulder, CO for a weekend, and then out to San Francisco Bay on the 15th.

I’m working on a new e-book, called Minimalist Business, which will focus on teaching the skills that I learned in order to start a minimalist business. There is a great deal of automation technology that exists in order to make an online business essentially run itself with limited input. This way you can focus on what’s important to you. For me that’s doing yoga, cooking great meals, writing and reading.

It’s turning into a great collaborative project as well. Leo Babauta has contributed a short article on running a minimalist business which is absolutely spectacular. Adam Baker is doing an interview on how he runs his minimalist business. I’m incredibly excited. I’m not sure about the release date yet, but it’s more important to me to create a resource that helps people as much as possible.

6. If you could give one very last piece of advice, what would it be?

I’ve been thinking a lot recently about my own impact on the planet. I think we’re at a moment in time when we’re dangerously close to destroying everything — I also think we’re at a moment that will be seen as a breakthrough point, when we stopped consuming and started focusing on having experiences, being healthy, and creating human civilization that will be here for the future.

I believe our own personal freedom is deeply intertwined with the health of the planet. To pursue one goal is to pursue the other.

That’s a pretty remarkable state to be in.

Thanks for the interview, Everett.

Thanks so much for the opportunity, John.

I really support what Everett is doing on his blog, so I highly suggest you subscribe to it. Start implementing what he teaches, giving away value, and working towards the life you desire. Follow him on Twitter.

If nothing else, check out his FREE e-book, How to Create a Movement. Despite the fact that it’s free, this e-book contains a TON of value that I’ve been implementing daily ever since I read it.

And if you really liked this interview, don’t forget to share it below.

“The moment one gives close attention to any thing, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself.” – Henry Miller

Significant chunks of my childhood are retold throughout the entire book; it’s like Neil Pasricha (the author of the blog, 1000 Awesome Things) knows me. Or really, it’s like he knows all of us. He knows that, even though we don’t act like it, we all have similar habits and we’re all living together exploring the same things in this gigantic universe. This books teaches us that, maybe, we’re not so different after all.

I’m not going to say that “this book is…AWESOME” (I’ve said that enough on Twitter). Instead, I’m going to say that this book does an excellent job of creatively elaborating upon the awesome things that we do and encounter in our lives everyday.

I get a kick out of pushing those little buttons on the soft drink cup lid. It’s awesome that I get a rush from peeling the film off of new gadgets. And EVERYBODY loves licking the batter off of the beaters of a cake mixer.

More of my favorite AWESOME things straight from the book:

  • Tripping and realizing no one saw you
  • Hanging your hand out of the car window
  • Locking people out of the car and pretending to drive away
  • And many, many more

You’re also going to get a lot of “Hey, I thought I invented that” or “Wow, I thought nobody understood that, but me” moments. There were also plenty of times when I just started laughing out loud. My favorite line has to be how we sometimes “pop farts beneath the covers”. Hilarious.

Don’t come into the book thinking that this is going to be an epic tale of the human condition. The fact is, it’s not trying to be epic. It’s trying to shine a mirror on you. It has the balls to say what many of us are too afraid or self-conscious to say. And this formula just works.

Even though I’ve already finished the book, I’ll be coming back to this righteous read long after the credits have finished rolling. Heck, maybe my future kids will read it one day. I hope they enjoy it as much as I did.

Pre-order your copy today! “The Book of Awesome” by Neil Pasricha releases this April 15.

image courtesy of 1000AwesomeThings

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