Chris Guillebeau's Blog, page 14
June 30, 2017
Announcing the Side Hustle Book: Coming September 19, 2017 (+ 100 City Tour!)
Friends and readers!
On September 19th, my new book, Side Hustle, will launch—and I can’t wait to share it with you! I’ve been working on it for more than a year… or perhaps more than two decades, if you count the whole time I’ve been making a living without a job.
After much debate, I can finally show you the book cover, as selected by a panel of readers who had a lot of strong opinions. 
June 29, 2017
The Movie of Your Life, Part II
I used to worry a lot about what people think of me. I felt that I could be damaged or even destroyed by someone’s words, or my failure to achieve an arbitrary level of success.
I tried to present the right image in each encounter. When something went wrong, I would run and hide.
I still worry a lot, of course. But now for the most part I worry about different things. If there’s anything good about getting older, it’s that I care much less about people seeing my faults.
Now—at least some...
June 20, 2017
The Myth of the Self-Made Man
Arnold Schwarzenegger on being a self-made man:
“I came over here with absolutely nothing. I had $20 in the pocket and some sweaty clothes in a gym bag. But let me tell you, I had this one little apartment and on Thanksgiving, the bodybuilders from Gold’s Gym came to my apartment and they brought me pillows, dishes, silverware, all of the things I didn’t have. None of us can make it alone. None of us. Not even me, who’s been the Terminator and went back in time to save the human race. Not e...
June 9, 2017
Escape for a Life-Changing Weekend or Build Your Small Business: Two Upcoming Events
As mentioned a few days ago, WDS 2017 is sold out, but you can still register for Academies. These are half-day workshops on a variety of topics, ranging from productivity to wellness and everything in between.
We’ve noticed that Academies are one of the most popular parts of the WDS experience. You’ll learn new skills and make new friends. Oh, and if you’re traveling in just for Academies, you won’t be the only one—every year there are a lot of folks who make the trek.
June 2, 2017
WDS 2017 Academies Are Open for Registration!
Our annual celebration known as the World Domination Summit (or just WDS if you prefer) kicks off again in just over a month! Tickets to the main-stage event are now SOLD OUT, and we’re excited to welcome back another remarkable group of attendees.
If you didn’t get a ticket, you can still participate in WDS Academies.
These half-day workshops feature some of our favorite alumni speakers and select WDS community members that are experts in their fields....
May 29, 2017
This “1-3-5 Rule” Can Completely Change Your To-Do List
Do you have a cluttered and crowded to-do list? Do you try to get everything accomplished, only to burn out and end up feeling further behind? If so, you’re not alone.
While reading The New Rules of Work, a new book by co-founders of The Muse, I stumbled on an alternative to-do list strategy that I thought was worth sharing.
Here’s the strategy:
On any given day, assume that you can only accomplish one big thing, three medium things, and five small things, and narrow down your to-do list...
May 20, 2017
This Canadian Woman Is Running a Half-Marathon Every Day for 70 Days in a Row
A few years ago I wrote a book about quests. It began as a way to chronicle my journey to every country in the world, then turned into a prescriptive message about “questing” itself. Here’s how I’d sum up the thesis:
Pursuing a “quest” (a big goal with a defined end point) can bring purpose and meaning to our lives. Striving is good for us!
In other words, I wasn’t just documenting a movement, I was trying to put forward an agenda: you need a quest. Since then I’ve heard from people every w...
May 15, 2017
The Best Productivity Hack Is to Care About What You Do
I’m heading out to speak at a tech conference this week. The conference will undoubtedly have many smart people in attendance. In fact, I don’t think it’s self-depreciating to assume that most of them are a lot smarter than me. It’s just true.
Continuing with the theme of “Is this really what it’s about in the world of productivity?”, a common question I get at these events is “Tell us about your productivity hacks.” This question usually comes from someone who’s not only smarter, but also...
May 10, 2017
Limited Time: The Happiness of Pursuit is Just $1.99!
This just in: the ebook version of The Happiness of Pursuit is on sale for $1.99 for a limited time only.
Book prices are set by publishers, not authors, so I don’t control when it’s on sale. But since it’s usually $12.99, this might be a great time to buy it. Note that this special pricing may not be available in all markets. (If you’re outside the U.S., see if you can buy it from a U.S. retailer, not your local one.)
Here’s a short syn...
May 7, 2017
”If You Can Invest in Someone Else’s Company, You Can Invest in Yourself”
On an upcoming episode of Side Hustle School, I tell the story of someone who obtained a patent for a special kind of mittens for runners. Unlike a $100 Startup, getting a patent is not an easy or cheap process. It look several years and more than $5,000.
Still, she stuck with it because she believed in the idea and was convinced of its value. When she asked one friend where she was going to get the money, he said, “Do you own any stocks?” She said yes.
“If you can invest in someone else’...
