Posts tagged with productivity

9 comments

July 19, 2010

Be More Than the Average Person

The ones who do more than the average get extremely good results.

The man who works hard every single day gets the most compensation for his efforts, while the guy who works strictly on weekdays receives his standard pay.

The girl who dances without limits, who tries her very hardest, and instills passion in every twirl, jump, and hip movement will become a master of the dancing arts yet, while the competition practices at set times throughout the week, never straying from their schedules.

In our society, there are only people who do the standard affair and people who do much more than is necessary.

Generally, people aren’t comfortable being or doing more than they are. They will do as much as they can to keep from looking awkward, or weird, or self conscious. In the process, they end up looking like all of these things anyway.

Very few people are bold enough to be themselves. Those who are will do as they please, whistle as they walk, and throw paint on the bland and the dull to make it into art just because they feel like it.

As a result, these people are looked down upon. And it’s right that they should be, correct? I mean, how can they act so out of the ordinary and expect to be treated like everyone else?

And that’s just it. They don’t.

To be treated like everyone else is to be treated like jut another person. Just another worker bee. Another cog in society going where everybody else goes. This is why the bold decide to be different.

Because when at first they are ostracized, in time someone will say:

“Whatever you’re doing… that’s neat!”

And then another one will say that and then another. And another. And then, like magic, a movement is born and the one who is bold becomes the leader put in the front of it.

Why do you think the ones going against the norms are singled out? Why do you think they have an easier (or should I say, more fun) time getting to where they want to be?

Why do you think the ones who are different get extremely good results?

Because it makes them indispensable.

The world has enough people running around who are exact clones of one another. Those who have the guts to stand out and be different already realize this. And, inherently, the rest of us know it as well.

No one is born restricted

As children we are free to deem the world our oyster. But over time, we are given rules (through parental guidance or school training) that force us to obey. We are given orders to sit still and pay attention. Be quiet and draw within the lines.

Use the right colors for the right picture.

So as these rules are applied to the actions we do and to the way we live our lives everyday. Eventually it becomes a habit. And in the end, it becomes who we are.

But the few that break through this programming are the “glitches”. The individuals with a spirit that standardizing rules and behavior-management laws can’t control. These people are more than the average person.

How to be more

You too can be more than the average person. You don’t have to be another worker destined for corporate ladder climbership. You can create your own separate identity… an identity far more valuable than you ever imagined.

This is what you have to do.

1. Encourage breaks in perspective

Your perspective is your reality. When you see something happen that you never thought was ever possible, this is called a break in perspective. Find as many of these as you can. If you think you can’t do something because it seems way too out of the ordinary, assume you’re probably wrong. I would’ve never guessed that a mere child (Justin Bieber) would be the focus of the most popular video on a social networking site — and he’s not even that great of a singer. But what makes him stand out is that he’s different: he’s a child with a half-way decent voice discovered by Usher.

Look for the weird feats, believe in bold accomplishments, and aspire one in a million chances. You just might be able to pull one off.

2. Read the biographies of the indispensable

Do you think that you’re the only one pushing to be unique in a world of conformity? Countless others just like you are struggling to make the world their own. And through these struggles come amazing feats — the impact of which you should be taking advantage of.

With the “safety” of a consistent paycheck calling to you, it can be difficult to choose a path less beaten and control your own life. Fortunately, there are individuals who have already attained what you seek – a life that’s better than average – and you can use their accomplishments to fuel your desire.

3. Act with your own incentives

Average people have the typical incentives – marry so they can have kids, have kids because it seems like the next step, get a job so they can make money. Incentives that are taken up for little personal reason aren’t worth shooting for. Aim for incentives that are all your own and greatly improve your enjoyment of life.

Do you think the artist paints because art sells? No, he paints because he loves to do it. The extraordinary dancer dances because it’s her passion. From embracing what you enjoy, you gain personal fulfillment and acceptance.

So don’t be one who goes with the flow. Get a job that you love. Live a life that you’ll love. Take on challenges that inspire you to have them bested.

Act with your own incentive.

4. Infuse quality with time

There is no such thing as “closing time” on a mind motivated above the average. Even more so, there is also no such thing as working 9 -5 or any sort of set time line. If the work you get enjoyment from requires you to do a project that will take most of the day to complete, you wouldn’t complain. Because it’s your work.

You can never work too much or toil too little, as long as every minute is dedicated to quality. Long ago, time was perceived to be valuable. Farmers took great care in making the most delicious crops around. Owners took great pains to see their customers smile.

Now, we are in a time where quality is sacrificed for the sake of speed and efficiency. Just getting a product out matters more than creating quality. The average person values time over quality. The above average person values both.

The average person wastes time doing needless tasks. The above average person invests time in quality, understanding that value takes time to make.

You don’t have to be average

This took me a while to realize, being swamped underneath the delusion of “saving time” and “making deadlines”. While these things are vital tools in motivating you to do great work, never sacrifice yourself or your uniqueness just to get by and get things done. Chances are you’ve been “just getting by” your entire life. Doing just enough to pass on to the next stage.

Forget the next stage and forget about passing on. I used to always tell myself, “I can’t wait until this tedious period in my life is over, then I can do what I want”. Foolish words I know them now to be. If you can’t control your life now, then you’ll never be able to. This is something the average person already knows, but refuses to accept.

Until the day they die, they will live under the heel of someone else’s paycheck, most likely that of their boss. And when their social security checks come in, whether they’re currently working or not at the ripe, old, go-crazy-with-your-money age of 65, then they will know:

To live as average is to live a life controlled by others. You have to be more to be free.

Creative Commons License photo credit: Llima

If you liked this message, please share this across the web. Also, consider opting to receive free updates via RSS or EMAIL.

14 comments

July 1, 2010

The Truth Behind Doing Work You Love

The other night, while I was working on my e-book (details coming soon), I asked myself why I was doing this. Why go through so much pain for one e-book when I can spend my vacation basking in the sun or getting paid the traditional way?

Let’s sit on this idea for a second. It’s summer. There are jobs that I could’ve easily applied for and gotten hired to do. I know plenty of people who could recommend me for very good positions.

So, why am I busting my butt trying to get this e-book done instead of selling out and getting employed like the greater portion of college kids my age do? Why am I doing such hard work that’s so far been yielding me no payment?

I’m not going to get any sort of medal. Maybe a few thousand people will get to see the result of my hard labor. Even fewer will decide to purchase it.

It’s funny that when I’m in the thick of difficult work that I ask myself this. And then the answer came to me, as if I was struck by neural lightning:

Because I enjoyed doing it.

But in an instant, I had another conundrum. I already knew that I enjoyed it. But why is it so difficult? I thought doing what you love was supposed to be easy?

Then another answer came to me in my somewhat enlightened state:

For anything to be a success, hard work is necessary. Hard work is what separates the winners from the losers; the expendable from the indispensable.

A wake-up call already woken up to

Somewhere along the line, we’ve seem to have forgotten the adjective that goes in front of the word “work”.

All the time I hear the gurus say we should be doing “work that matters”. Instead we should be telling ourselves to do “hard work” that matters. I don’t know about you, but I get the notion that most of us think doing what we love is going to be easy.

That the four-hour work week is acquired by working for four hours of week from the get-go.

That doing what you love is all fun in the sun while you get to work from anywhere.

Unfortunately, when you actually test that theory, it’s proven that only the opposite is true.

Whether you’re pushing pencils, or striving to increase awareness about the impact humanity is having on the world. Whether you’re a famous actor on the stages of Broadway, or sitting at the desk in another one of those gray cubicles. Whether you’re doing what you love or doing what you hate.

It all takes hard work.

Hard work and passion go hand in hand

“When you live for a strong purpose, then hard work isn’t an option. It’s a necessity.” – Steve Pavlina

When you really care about something (maybe you want to start a movement and bring change) you can’t mull around expecting someone else to take the first step. Or rather, you won’t let yourself do that.

You already know, as if instinctually, that intention backed up by action makes things happen. As Steve says, hard work is a necessary element in order for your goals to be realized.

There are no shortcuts

“There is no substitute for hard work.” – Thomas Edison

There are no lottery tickets in life that will dramatically increase your odds of success. Hard work has existed all these years for a reason. It’s the only tried and true way to successfully doing what you love.

The only shortcut to hard work is less work, which in the end leads to a higher chance of you not succeeding.

Greatness is not obtained through a slack work ethic

“Unless you are willing to drench yourself in your work beyond the capacity of the average man, you are just not cut out for positions at the top.” – J.C. Penney

Alright, we know hard work matters and that it is necessary, but how much of it are we supposed to do? The answer is however much it takes to get where we want to be.

Anybody can do hard work for a few hours. Take a look at how many people work part-time. But less can remain dedicated for a few months. Even less so can stay hard workers for years.

This is why there are so few at the top. Not because they took shortcuts or free-rode on the backs of the more dedicated. But because they understood that hard work is what rules all.

The truth behind doing what you love

The truth is that doing what you love requires you to work much longer and harder than your employed counterparts for no pay whatsoever (at least in the beginning). The paycheck you seek is not coming at the end of every bi-weekly period.

But what matters much more than the time invested, the money lost, and the sweat put in is that you are doing what makes you happy and what others can enjoy.

Is this not what life is about? The pursuit of happiness? I can hear the naysayers already, telling me that this pursuit is imaginary and the “American Dream” was lost long ago.

I beg to differ.

Creative Commons License photo credit: Pink Sherbet Photography

If you liked this message, please share this across the web. Also, consider opting to receive free updates via RSS or EMAIL.

7 comments

June 1, 2010

Interview With Leo Babauta: Inside an Inspirational Minimalist

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:

———————————-

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.

21 comments

May 24, 2010

75 Life-Changing Truths Written While Lying on the Grass

Wrote most of these Saturday evening while (as the title already tells you) lying on the grass outside. They were compiled to get myself out of boredom and now I feel inspired again.

Enjoy!

1. Whenever you focus heavily on an outcome, you rarely ever get it

2. Ultimately, nobody really does care about you more than yourself

3. People love children more than adults because they’re so unpredictable (in other words, act like an adult, but live as a child)

4. It’s very hard for people to follow others’ advice, even more so their own

5. A mountain’s worth of effort will get you anything you want

6. Laying on the grass isn’t as bad as I thought it would be – it’s actually quite freeing

7. What people may think of you matters nothing compared to what you think of yourself

8. The stuff that people try to distract you with (their words, their praise, their criticism) – that is noise. Filter that out and find the true meaning within

9. Complaining alters nothing (or at the very most, alters very little). For maximum impact, physically do something about it

10. I’ve found that people don’t like hearing the truth. That’s why I have this blog. This way I won’t have to argue, plead, or shout to be heard. All I have to do is type

11. Television, movies, books, even blogs – they serve as an escape from reality. But that doesn’t mean you can’t take lessons from them to change your own reality

12. I’m almost certain that I would be happier as an animal than as a human. At least I’d actually live everyday as if it was my last

13. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with sex. Just be smart enough to know when and how to do it

14. Sometimes, you just need a break from your normal social circle. I’m lying in the grass instead of going to the movies. What are you doing?

15. If I can make $200 doing what I love (writing on this blog) then so can you doing what you love. Just prepare to work your ass off

16. You really don’t need as much as you think you do

17. Minimalism does not mean to be happy having absolutely nothing. It means being content with having manageable amounts of stuff

18. Placating others for them to like you is low-class behavior

19. I could’ve chosen to be miserable and bored, but instead I’ve decided to make myself happy and write. Are you listening? You can change how you feel in an instant

20. Don’t seek a reaction from other people. Do what you want because YOU want to

21. How can you [blank] another if you can’t even [same word] yourself? Nearly any verb will do

22. Appreciate all music. It is created from the raw emotion of a composer

23. School is only fun from grades Pre-K through 2nd grade. From then on, you have to start breaking the rules to keep from being bored

24. Learning isn’t really that much fun. It’s just interesting. Applying knowledge > witnessing someone else apply knowledge > reading/learning about it

25. The greatest pleasures in life are requited love and doing what you love

26. I used to get scabs all the time. They were the battle scars gained as children waging the war on boredom through play

27. Stories matter

28. Focus on the ‘why’ rather than on the ‘what’. Life instantly becomes more meaningful

29. Don’t let inspiration go to waste. Act on it, just as I’m doing right now

30. College focuses too much on memorization and grades than on what you actually learn to internalize

31. The teachers who have inspired me are the ones who I remember the most

32. Accept the fact that you can’t be the best at everything

33. Science rules the world. Even emotion (although metaphysical) is based in science

34. All emotions are contagious – enthusiasm, depression, anger, you name it

35. White lies are better than regular lies; at least you’re acknowledging the truth rather than completely disregarding it

36. Ignorance is truly bliss. Didn’t even know what racism was until I learned about it in school

37. Farting in public will always be hilarious, no matter how old I get

38. Sometimes it’s better to be a jerk than to be a nice guy

39. The happiest people are the ones who get paid for doing what they love instead of what they like or what they don’t really care much for

40. Everyone is judgmental. Deal with it. You cannot deny human nature

41. Cool, calm, and collected; that’s how you carry on business

42. Certain people will always try and find a way to show your success in a negative light

43. Where are your balls? The opportunities are right in front of you. Take them

44. Why do people keep on living when death would be so much easier? Because life is fleeting and death is forever

45. Doubt really sucks. It serves no purpose other than to keep you from trying something new (okay, and maybe keeping you from getting yourself killed, but still)

46. Public speaking is only scary when you don’t know what you’re talking about

47. Having superpowers wouldn’t make life that much easier. You’d just have a lot more crap to deal with

48. With great power comes a lot of people asking you for help

49. Men and women are actually not that hard to figure out, as opposed to popular belief

50. No lock is impenetrable. You just need to find the right key (never said it would be easy to find though)

51. If religion just feels like an extra set of rules to follow, don’t practice it

52. In fact, if a certain action is more trouble than it’s worth, cease and desist

53. You can’t choose who or what you’re attracted to. It’s a DNA thing

54. Being a skeptic of a traditionally-held idea is positively exhilarating

55. Push your creativity to the breaking point. Your best ideas will be just beyond it

56. Your reaction to a situation is more important than the situation itself

57. To be able to change your life, you have to be bold

58. The world does not reward those who expect things or feel entitled to outcomes

59. There is no point in fearing the things that cannot possibly kill you

60. Nobody knows what you’re thinking until you tell them (or show them)

61. People try new things (good and bad) because they’re bored

62. Your thoughts come through in your body language; if you’re confident, you stand tall or lean back. If you’ve got low self-esteem you slouch and flinch easily

63. It’s not worth it traveling to other countries if you’re just going to sight see. Actually, “live” inside another country

64. Hesitation, fear, and excuse-making are the things that keep the “right time” from happening

65. Without respect, no relationship can prevail

66. Boredom is death within life

67. Everything starts in the enigmatic properties of your mind. Your perception is everything

68. You cannot be completely neutral in this world. Pick a side on your own before peer pressure forces you to

69. Express yourself any way you can: laughing, living, writing, loving, drawing, blogging, singing, working, cooking, building… the list goes on and on

70. People will remember you for what you did more than what you said

71. There’s a reason everyone harps on aging; youth is the only span of time when your stamina, body, and mind are at their highest performance

72. Your problems are not unique. Somebody on this planet is sharing the same pain you are

73. On the flip side, with regards to #72, you could also say the same for accomplishments and joy

74. You think you are any different from the people that inspire others? You too have the ability to inspire

75. Everyone has gifts. It’s up to them to find the value in their own abilities, to find the light underneath their dark, to find the blessing within their curse

Creative Commons License photo credit: Gibson Claire McGuire Regester

If you liked this message, please share this across the web. Also, consider opting to receive free updates via RSS or EMAIL.

12 comments

May 20, 2010

The Do’s and Don’ts of Being a Self-Starter

Becoming a self-starter has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Sometimes I ask myself why I didn’t think of this sooner.

No longer do I blame other people for my own personal hangups – I take responsibility for them myself.

No more do I feel like I’m doing what I do just because I have to. Far from it, actually; it’s because I want to.

No further do I feel like the only people who can become self-starters are of a special breed… because I too am one.

What a self-starter does

- If he/she has a certain itch – just wants to try something new – the self-starter won’t hesitate to do it

- sees things through to the end, no matter how hard they may seem. Unless he is failing and making mistakes at a much higher rate than he succeeds, there is no reason for the self-starter to give up

- tries his best to wake up at the crack of dawn and works until the darkness of the night on the things he enjoys doing

- sees the value in constructive, but not destructive criticism (in other words, feedback that builds up from, not reinforces, mistakes that’ve been made)

- gathers insight and creativity from any and all things

- sees work and play as one and the same

- constantly tests assumptions

- takes responsibility for his own life and actions

- does whatever it takes to GSD (get sh%t done!)

- batches the little things while focusing in on the really tough tasks

- searches for the simple solution every time

- follows these rules:

What a self-starter does NOT do

- take no for an answer, when it comes to attempting something remarkable

- putting time and effort into things that aren’t aligned with his goals

- take breaks longer than he works

- give up

- obsess over the little things

- let fear rule over him

- watches television for extended periods of time

- make a plan to follow, a direction to stay true to

Why be a self-starter, you ask? Simply put, because anything YOU start is through your efforts alone. Nobody is forcing you to live up to some ideal, or follow some questionable creed. No one can claim it (your life, your self, your work) – no one but you.

Rebel’s Manifesto stolen from Lance’s awesome blog post at the Jungle of Life, and credited to Keri Smith of the Wish Jar.

Creative Commons License photo credit: stuartpilbrow

If you liked this message, don’t hesitate to send this message.

10 comments

May 9, 2010

How to Take Back Your Summer: Test Your Assumptions

Summer for most college students tends to consist of these four things:

- Traveling to another country

- Taking part in a more-than-likely unpaid internship

- Getting a job (like my roommates are doing)

- Or simply taking it easy at home

I could just as easily do any one of these. But, as per usual, I’m choosing a more interesting route.

Instead of staying at home, writing irregular blog posts, and working for my parents for the next three months like I’ve done every summer, I’m going to strike out on my own. I’ll be away from the lazy day doldrums of the suburbs and will remain in the thick of Chicago.

I’ll still be writing posts, but I’ll also be testing my assumptions:

  • Can I make money from the blog?
  • Can I get over 1,000 subscribers before summer’s end?
  • Can I have interviews with some of the best entrepreneurs on the net?
  • Can I guest post on Zen Habits?

The time of playing video games and watching TV during the majority of my vacation is long over. Those were the days of my younger years — now is the time to do something amazing.

Summer vacation will be a great time to experiment. A time to go on new adventures and walk down new paths. But what about you? I understand that you may or may not be in college anymore and vacations for you aren’t usually three months long because of your job, but isn’t it about time you just went out and did something about it?

Go on a vacation

I can guess your objections to this already. Maybe they’re pre-laid out excuses like mortgages/bills to pay, kids to take care of, and a job to get paid for.

Dump these as reasons for not living your life during the best season of the year. In reality, there are simple solutions to all of these problems.

You don’t have to travel to an exotic land in another country over the summer. Maybe it’s better to just get out of town and live somewhere new for a while.

Your kids aren’t going starve if you decide to take a break from working. Take them with you.

But really, it seems that the real issue with going on vacations is whether our not you’ll have enough money for it. Don’t worry, I’ve got that avenue covered.

Start preparing by considering these steps:

1. Sell things you don’t want/need

Summer is a great time to clear out all the stuff that you don’t use anymore, but instead of throwing it away, try selling it instead. Have a good, old-fashioned garage sale and watch the money roll in for stuff that you though nobody would even consider paying for.

This year, I’ve sold most of my old college textbooks and even my Ipod Touch that hasn’t been used for over a year.

2. Negotiate summer employment

Tell your boss (or plead with your boss, depending on his/her generosity) that you’d like to take a few hours off from working at the office. You may not be able to be completely free from your job if you really need it, but try and negotiate some sort of deal so you can still have money coming in and have time for other things you enjoy.

More information on how to do this here and here.

Thanks to money I’ve saved up from working for my parents, I will not have to worry much about employment…for now.

3. Start saving money

It’s easier to save up enough money to go on a three-month break than you think. All it takes is for you to consume much less than you normally would and keep an eye out for the best deals so you don’t have to spend so much.

Stop buying in bulk and only buy the amount you need.

Buy sweaters during the summer so you don’t have to pay more for warm clothes during the fall and winter.

See? Simple frugality.

4. Teach yourself something valuable

There are a lot of skill you can learn during your break that can prove to be very valuable. I myself plan on playing around with Photoshop, CSS, and HTML code so I potentially won’t ever have to pay for expensive web design.

Some suggestions:

- learn web design (like me)

- have conversations with random people to improve your social skills

- speak a new language

- practice writing stories to improve your writing

A lot of changes are already underway

After you finish taking these steps into consideration, just get up and go. Stop thinking about the consequences and just do it. This is the mindset I’m taking this summer. Nobody has asked me to do this. No own gave me an incentive to cultivate this lifestyle.

But I do it because I know it’ll make me happier in the end.

It’s the same with you. You can either continue on with the same summer you’ve had year after year, or you can start preparing right now and use your vacation doing something you’ve never dreamed of.

Just try it. The sun will be shining with not a cloud in the sky. What better day is there on which to take a chance?

Creative Commons License photo credit: seanmcgrath

–

If you liked this message, share it below.

3 comments

May 5, 2010

Minimalist Lifestyle Update: The Steps Taken Thus Far

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

20 comments

April 24, 2010

From This Day Forth, I Live As a Minimalist

Lately, I’ve been realizing that there are a lot of things I really don’t need that I used to think were everything to me. As I reminisce about my childhood, a ton of things come to mind. Actually, this is the perfect time to tell a minimalist story of my own.

Back to a past of abundance

I remember when my mother gave me and my older sister $300 each. This was because she had used some of the money we saved to take college courses, and she wanted to repay us in full. She allowed us to spend it however we wanted.

At the age of 7, having that much money in my possession blew my mind. During that time, I was incredibly obsessed with dinosaurs (which is kind of funny, since my last name is “Anyasor”).  So, in the spur of the moment, I decided to buy a lot of dinosaur toys (unfortunately $300 wasn’t enough for my sister’s telescope, so I had to give her some of my money).

At the time I thought it was the best decision of my life. Every few days, I would circulate between my favorites: my gray Allosaurus, my brown Tyrannosaurus, and my green Velociraptor, among others. I’d make believe they were stomping across our family’s tiny apartment building as if on a rampage. And for a while, I felt pretty lucky.

But after a few weeks, it became apparent that I was getting bored of them. My imagination was running a little dry. Even with all of these dinosaur toys, none of them were enough to satisfy me. There was only one solution…

To get more.

Fast forward to a life of minimalism

I’ve long since abandoned my love for owning these prehistoric trinkets — I realized that I kept getting more useless things without reaching the happiness I predicted myself to achieve.

Bloggers such as Leo Babauta, Jeffrey Tang, and Everett Bogue have had a part in making me realize that I really don’t need as much as I think I do. I’ve learned all of the things that I’ve been constantly buying more of (except for food and clothing) can simply be avoided altogether.

So, in order to start practicing minimalism, I will decrease my consumption of these items:

1. Video games

Don’t get me wrong; I love video games. Some video games actually move me the way art done right should. But there are way too many games that make me feel nothing at all. I buy games for their gameplay and story, if it has none of that, there’s no point in me spending money on it.

Expect me to do much less gaming as time goes on.

2. Clothes

I honestly don’t care for clothes. In the end, they’re just things keeping me from being naked. There’s nothing wrong with getting new clothes from time to time, but I don’t really need that much of them. A small variety of jeans, socks, shoes, and shirts perfectly suffice.

3. Other distractors

This involves whatever else distracts me. Email, Twitter, Facebook, etc. are a waste of time, in general. Constantly checking for updates can get to be a pretty intense habit.

These things are worth spending more time on:

1. Writing – This is something I love doing, so why not spend more time on it? First and foremost, I’m a writer, so it is imperative that I perfect this skill as much as I can.

2. Reading – I cannot stress this enough: we need to be reading more. There are a whole host of book’s I’m planning diving into this summer (mostly back into the Four Hour Work Week and all of Seth Godin’s books) so I’m really excited.

3. Learning – The learning process is also very important to me. It helps us grow and learn more about the world we exist in. I’ve always wanted to do is learn Spanish and Igbo (my native Nigerian language).

4. Living – I’ve barely even scratched the surface on this one. At 19 years old, I feel as if I should be living my life to the fullest. There are so many things I haven’t done. I’ve never gone overseas alone. I’ve never even been in love before.

More life experiences are a healthy substitute to the clutter of useless things.

It is at this point that I proclaim to live my life as a minimalist. I don’t think I’m ready to own just 50 things, since truthfully I haven’t counted everything I own. Nonetheless, I will embrace a life of less instead of an existence consumed by more.

I predict a lot more happiness following this path, so feel free to join in too.

How you can help

1. Buy a book – On the sidebar, you may have noticed new affiliate links to very great e-books that I’ve purchased. If you’d like to help me live a life of less, get these books through my links. They really offer a massive amount of knowledge that I’m putting into action as we speak.

2. Practice minimalism – How are you living a life made of less? Share your stories and share this message.

All it takes is a few clicks below.
Creative Commons License photo credit: joiseyshowaa

17 comments

April 12, 2010

Top Five Tips For Unleashing Your Creative Mind

Your creative mind is the most valuable thing in the world right now. Do you know why?

At our very core, everyone is born to create. From the yawns we produce in the morning to the final sleeping positions we hunch ourselves into as we crawl back into bed at night, we exist as makers.

With our prominence in the world, the last thousands of years have seen great inventions: the car, the airplane, the jet-pack (still pending commercialization), and the telephone. With our minds, there seems to be no limit to what we can do.

Sounds pretty epic, right?

Well, not to burst your bubble, but only a handful of people actually go above and beyond the perceived limits of their imagination to create great technological marvels such as those. Many other creators (you and me included) have tended to only create just enough to get by: we’ve written essays to get by in class, made up stories so we don’t get fired, and invented alternate routes if there’s too much traffic blocking our way.

Our curiosity seems to have left the building

Most people only create in the sense that it only feeds into mechanisms that have already been made. So that we can maintain the status quo instead of go beyond it. So we don’t have to deal with all the flack that comes with having a new idea.

So we don’t step on other peoples’ itty bitty toes.

I mean, who would have thought that a blog (initially perceived to be for just talking about everyday life) could explode into a platform for creating a movement?

Who would have believed that it’s entirely possible to make an entire year’s salary from digital distribution?

Who would have guessed that you could create several artistic masterpieces from just using sand?

It’s time to flex those creative muscles

To stand out from the common creator, you have to really unleash your mental creative potential; light up a spark, energize your mind, and lightning strike your psyche with creativity.

In no particular order, here are my top ten tips:

1. Watch other creative people work

Seeing someone is a state of creativity does wonders for helping others reach that state. In the link I shared above, this girl literally makes brilliant masterpieces from a few handfuls of sand. Just watching someone work can give you ideas to help you jump start your creative process.

You can also read interviews and listen to lectures showcasing the teachings of creative people. If you want to become an earthshaking creator, you might as well get inside their heads.

2. Start doodling

Brain barf all over the page to give your thoughts mass and range. Your mind is much larger than you think and simply containing it in your brain is placing a big limit on your potential. So go crazy. Draw anything. Sing with a voice that cracks glasses or lyrics that make no sense. Freestyle until you can stretch your imagination no more.

Write a completely incoherent story that would make even yourself scratch your head.  You have no boundaries and social stigmas holding you back. Doodle to the MAX, my friend.

3. Take a nap so you can free dream

Ever heard of free-dreaming? I think you have. It’s when you go to sleep with the FULL intention of dreaming. Now, most people have no control over there dreams, but it’s a great way to open the airways to creativity nirvana. About a half-hour to an hour is advisable.

If you’d like a more hands on approach to dreaming, try something called “lucid dreaming”. I’ve heard it’s pretty good, but since I’ve never done it, google it and see if it could be worth the experience.

4. Go to an art museum

You’re not the only one who has a unique sense of creativity. Art museums are a great way to check out what other people have created. It even adds a little shock value into the mix. Every time I’ve gone to an art museum, there’ s always at least one piece that makes me go, “How the heck is THAT art?”

5. Read (a lot) of good fiction books

Never underestimate the power of reading a good story. They tug at your heart strings, stoke your emotions, and best of all provide interesting takes on the same ideas. Best of all, there are TONS of books to chose from: anywhere from the light-hearted Harry Potter books to the controversial readings of Ayn Rand make for great reads.

Of course, you shouldn’t spent ALL of your time consuming. We’re creators, remember?

*Bonus: Get your own thinking space

When worse comes to worse and the tips above prove fruitless, the best thing you can do to unleash your creative potential, to get a nice spot where you can just think. Free from noise, friends, or any other needless distractions, a thinking space can increase your idea productivity by quite a bit.

Go out there and make the next great masterpiece

Your mind should now be free to grow and create! Go forth and unleash your potential unto the world.

———–

If you liked this post, share it on Twitter, StumbleUpon, or Facebook. It’ll do the both of us a world of good. Don’t forget to connect with me on Twitter.

Want more articles like this one? Subscribe for FREE email notifications. And hey! What are you waiting for? **Join my Facebook group!**


Creative Commons License photo credit: williamcho

16 comments

April 8, 2010

Are You Just Going Through the Motions?

As I pound away on my keyboard, my thoughts ablaze and my ambitions clear, I think to myself: Am I just going through the motions? Am I just taking life’s next logical step? Why am I doing ANY of this?

You’ve had the same thoughts before, I’m sure. Driving to work, from there and back; no variation in routine, no change in style. Doing the same thing everyday makes no difference in some people’s lives. They’re simply just going through the motions. It is a thought process I simply cannot understand.

Don’t get me wrong; routines rule

We cultivate habits and get into routines for a reason: because they help us to remain stable and live our lives for as long as we can. Our bodies are naturally accustomed to “growing into” routines. That way, we’re not under the constant stress of an unpredictable lifestyle.

That being said, some routines are definitely better than others. Habits that pave the way for a very ideal life ahead exist within all of our grasps. We just have to have the capability and awareness to choose which routines we should cultivate and which ones we shouldn’t, in order to get the outcomes we desire.

Let’s give it a try, shall we?

Ready to stop going through the motions and start making some changes? If so, you’ve just taken the first step towards living the life you want. Check out the top tips on breaking free from your current routine:

1. Find out what isn’t working

To change the routines you’ve already set up for yourself, you’re going to have to first find out what isn’t working before you can trade up for the things that do. Maybe reading for two hours everyday isn’t exactly a bad thing. Or maybe watching Seinfeld for an hour religiously is just something you enjoy doing (one of my guilty pleasures actually). Deciding whether a routine is giving you the most overall satisfaction is more important than simply “doing something different”. The best way to gauge the significance of an activity in your life is to…

1b. Ask yourself the three -INGs

What am I doING? – Sometimes actually addressing what you’re doing can force yourself to acknowledge how much of an investment or a waste of time your activity is.

What am I learnING? – What are you learning from what you do? Are you acquiring a new skill or have you been in the same routine for so long that everything you do has become second nature?

What am I gainING? – If your routine is in fact teaching you some new tricks, will these actually be useful in the long run? Could your time be better spend elsewhere?

2. Get rid of the ‘idiot box’

Some people (like me) can manage their TV time. When I get home from college, I tend to only watch an hour of Seinfeld a day, since television these days is hardly worth stomaching. But for people on the other side of the spectrum (you know, the guys that can devour hours of TV everyday) I suggest going cold turkey on the boob tube. The main reason for this is, you’re not really being productive. Unless you’re watching a bunch of documentaries that genuinely interest you or is relevant to a skill you wish to attain (see 1b.), TV is a HUGE time suck. Drop the routine now. You’ll thank me later.

3. Be smart with email

If you’re like how I used to be, email would be checked anywhere from ten to twenty times a day. Honestly, a couple clicks to check email doesn’t take a lot out of your time, but it does break your concentration. And it’s a just plain boring thing to do.

Solution? Check it only a few times a day: once in the morning, afternoon, and night. When the weekend hits, set aside an hour of your time to just deleting, replying to, and composing messages. Of course, this won’t work for everyone, but try to keep a cap on how often you manage email.

4. Do something completely out of the ordinary

If you know exactly how your day is going to play out and you’re not exactly enthusiastic about it, that’s a sign that it’s time for a change. Do you have something in mind that you’ve always wanted to try? Go for it! You don’t have to simply go through the motions anymore; you define your own motions.

Routine, shmoutine; take command of your life

Always have reasons why you do what you do. Just because you’ve been in a routine so long, doesn’t mean you don’t have the power to change it. Take a chance. Try something new. Be explosive when you’re supposed to be calm. To live everyday anew and to “unexpect the expected”: this is what it means to live life.

———–

If you liked this post, share it on Twitter, StumbleUpon, or Facebook. It’ll do the both of us a world of good. Don’t forget to connect with me on Twitter.

Want more articles like this one? Subscribe for FREE email notifications. And hey! What are you waiting for? **Join my Facebook group!**
Creative Commons License photo credit: TheeErin