Chris Guillebeau's Blog, page 27

How to Live in Fear

Are you tired of being courageous and fed up with bravery? Seeking an alternative to risk-taking?

Not to worry. Choosing to live in fear is both easy and safe. Simply follow a few simple guidelines, and you’ll live comfortably ever after.

Keep calm and carry on.

Beware of danger, true love, and real life.

Play it safe. Never charge down a mountain. Don’t run, don’t leap, don’t go too fast. Be wary of opportunities and new perspectives. Above all: stay the course.

If you must make a change,...

Just Because It’s Supposed to Work Doesn’t Mean It Will

Dan finished his education degree without ever stepping into a classroom.

After he graduated, he realized he didn’t like teaching and wasn’t good at it. The very first day of student teaching, where the goal was to serve as an intern before accepting a full-time position, he knew that this was not the career for him.

You’re probably thinking: hey, that’s life! He just had to stick it out, and then he’d be fine. And it’s true, sometimes there’s a learning curve on the road of purpose. We’re s...

Teaching by Example: A Father’s Take on Adventure and Giving Back

This is a reader profile. (Read others or nominate someone to be featured.)

Michael McManus tries to live his life as an example for his daughters. He chooses to fill it with family, adventure, creativity, and giving back.

Here’s his story:

I am first and foremost a husband and father. I’m also a photographer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist that has started M2 Photography, Gethrr and Poser Photobooth Co. I love creating portraits where my subjects interact with the chalk drawings. When I’m...

Huge Deal: Get Up to 75,000 JetBlue Points (No Credit Card Required!)

Hey travelers! A really great deal that will help a lot of people just launched this week. Here’s the one-minute, short version:

1. JetBlue will GIVE YOU up to 75,000 points, just for sending them a screenshot and taking a single round-trip flight before the end of August

2. If you have any number of Virgin America points, you’ll get them matched simply for completing the above task (up to 75,000 points in total; more on that in a moment)

3. If you don’t have any Virgin America points, it’s...

“The Success I’m Having Now Is What I Planned for Three Years Ago”

The other day I met with a small business owner. Her business is going well, she recently had a successful product launch that brought in a lot of funds and new customers. Awesome!

But what interested me the most is what she said about it:

“The success that I’m having now is what I planned for three years ago.”

Three years ago, she set out to build the kind of business she has now. She settled on an area of focus and said no to other opportunities. Then, she took the actions she’d determi...

“Traveling Taught Me How to Be a Parent”: On the Road with Christine Gilbert

This is a reader profile. (Read others or nominate someone to be featured.)

Several years ago, Christine Gilbert packed up the kids and hit the road. She and her family have been roaming the world ever since.

Here’s her story:

I’m a writer and photographer who was trapped for years in the Ann Taylor-clad body of a corporate manager, until one day I did something completely ordinary but entirely unexpected. I quit a very nice job and convinced my husband that we were moving overseas.

Since th...

4 Travel Hacking Tricks for Domestic Trips

I received a note from a reader who wanted to know about traveling domestically. I admit that most of what I get excited about in the world of travel hacking relates to international travel. I like flying around the planet and changing as many as twelve time zones at once, only to do it again a few days later.

But not everyone feels the same way, and besides—even if you travel far and wide, you still probably need to travel shorter distances from time to time too.

How can you benefit from tr...

How an Excel Spreadsheet Led One Woman to Change Careers

This is a reader profile. ( Read others or nominate someone to be featured. )

When even the unconventional life isn’t working out as you planned, how do you course correct to get on a more fulfilling track? Bethany Butzer broke out a spreadsheet and charted her way to a life more aligned with her values.

Here’s her story.

I’ve never really followed a linear path. I graduated with a Ph.D. in Psychology, turned down a job in academia to work in the corporate world, but very quickly realized tha...

Let the Wave Crash Over You: One Year Later

Orion image via Ryan Hallock

Readers: One year ago today I lost my brother, Ken. This difficult subject isn’t relevant to everyone, but for those who are interested I’ve written about it in a few different ways since then. Today’s post contains my one-year reflections. Like the first time I told the story, it’s written as a direct letter to him.

***

Dear Ken,

I’d say it’s hard to believe a year has passed, but the greater truth is that it’s hard to believe it happened at all. When I think of...

If You Have No Challenges, Maybe It’s Time to Change Your Life

Have you ever walked around endless airport highway ramps for more than a mile? When it’s after 10pm and you’ve got your carry-on bags with you?

Yeah, so I did that the other night. Short version: when you land in DFW and are staying at the off-airport Hyatt Regency, you’re supposed to take the SkyTrain to the C gates, and then hike through the parking garage to the entrance. I’ve done it that way before, and it’s not terribly difficult.

This time I was hanging out in the D terminal, workin...