So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservatism, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more damaging to the…
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Chris Guillebeau
Chris Guillebeau is an American nonfiction author, blogger and speaker. He is best known for The Art of Non-Conformity blog and book. He has also written guides for travel and small business topics under the brand Unconventional Guides. He organizes the annual World Domination Summit in Portland, Oregon. The Art of Non-Conformity blog discusses entrepreneurship, travel, and personal development topics; its traffic grew substantially after the online publication of A Brief Guide to World Domination in 2008. The site has an Alexa ranking of under 30,000 and is among the top 15,000 most visited sites in the United States. 2Early and personal life Guillebeau is a graduate of University of Washington and of Athens State University. He volunteered with Mercy Ships, a medical charity, in West Africa from 2002-2006. He cites that experience as a pivotal point in his life that led him to his quest to do community service and fundraising, topics featured in his writing. Guillebeau lives in Portland with his wife, Joli
There’s an obsession factor with many quests. When you wake up at night consumed by your idea, that’s when you’ve found a quest.
Your comfort zone may be more like a cage you can’t escape from than a safe place you can retreat to.
Don't be afraid to change.
A good plan allows for plenty of spontaneity and room for change - but without a plan at all, it's difficult to work toward something significant over time.
NOT EVERYONE NEEDS TO BELIEVE IN YOUR DREAM, BUT YOU DO.
Regret is what you should fear the most. If something is going to keep you awake at night, let it be the fear of not following your dream. Be afraid of settling.
It’s better to be at the bottom of the ladder you want to climb than the top of one you don’t.
You must believe that your quest can be successful, even if no one else does. You can deal with setbacks, misadventures, and even disasters as long as you still believe you can overcome the hardships and see your way to the end.
Lesson: When you sense discontent, pay attention. The answer isn’t always ‘go for it’ (though often it is), but you shouldn’t neglect the stirring. Properly examined, feelings of unease can lead to a new life of purpose.
If you could do anything at all without regard to time or money, what would it be?
Before beginning, take the time to count the cost. Understanding exactly what you need to do, and then finding a way to do it, makes a quest much more feasible.
I want to make my life worthwhile,’ one woman said. ‘I consider myself an instrument, and if I don’t put myself to work for the greatest possible good, I’ll feel like I wasted a chance that will never return.