Chris Guillebeau's Blog, page 61
February 22, 2015
The “Crisis Text Line” Helps Thousands of Young People Each Day
The Crisis Text Line provides free support and “active listening” for teens through the method of communication that many people now prefer. Volunteers are available around the clock and communicate with thousands of users in need every day.
The organization’s quantified approach, based on five million texts, has produced a unique collection of mental-health data. C.T.L. has found that depression peaks at 8pm, anxiety at 11pm, self-harm at 4am, and substance abuse at 5am.
Counselors are traine...
February 21, 2015
Last Chance for $250 Statement Credit on SimplyCash Card (Ends February 24)
Link: AmEx SimplyCash Card
Years ago I earned a lot of different bank signup bonuses, running around to multiple banks and the occasional credit union to open accounts in exchange for a $100 (sometimes more) credit. Since it took an average of two hours per account, it was essentially a $50/hour job, only limited by the number of available offers.
My only problem was remembering where all the accounts were, and if there were certain requirements I had to meet before receiving the credit. Once...
Stop Marketing to “Millennials” or Any Other Generation
From time to time people ask my advice about marketing to Generation X or Millennials or any other group of people. When this happens, I always worry.
One research firm offered me $250 for an hour-long consultation on this exact topic. I said no, partly because I don’t like to trade time for money, but also on the principle of “What would I say?”
If forced to say something, I suppose I’d say that unless you’re selling diapers, it’s a bad idea to market to people based on what generation you th...
February 20, 2015
Bonus Miles from All 12 “Dining Dash” Visits Have Posted (AKA “Yes, It Works”)
Two weeks ago, the travel hacking crew and I went on our 2015 Dining Dash, an attempt to visit 12 restaurants in a day. As explained in the recap post, we did it!
And I just noticed that we really did it, because the miles posted up for all 12 of the stops. When I logged into my AA account this morning, I was greeted with these updates:
02/06/15 DINING REWARDS NETWORK CHURCH 50 0 50
02/06/15 DINING REWARDS NETWORK LA CALACA COMELONA 75 0
02/06/15 DINING REWARDS NETWORK TRIPLE NICKEL PUB 85 0 85...
February 19, 2015
“Adventure Is Anything that Puts Us Outside our Comfort Zone”: Notes from the Himalayas
Adventure photographer Cory Richards almost died in an avalanche while descending from a mountain in Pakistan, but he lived and the experience changed his life.
In this short (and amazing) video, he shares on “the richness that comes through struggle.”
“I’ve never been comfortable in the place that I’m in. I can’t stop and sit. It’s a constant engine that’s driving me to the things that are unknown to me.”
“When I realized I hadn’t died, I turned the camera on myself and took a picture, which...
Billy Ulmer’s Quest to Visit 10 Tiny Houses Across America
This is a quest case study. ( Read others or nominate yourself . )
When I heard about Billy Ulmer’s quest to interview people living in tiny houses, I couldn’t help but think of Dee Williams, one of the 2014 WDS speakers. Funny enough, she was one of his first interviews! Here’s Billy’s story.
Introduce yourself and your quest.
My name is Billy and I’m a writer and photographer from Portland, Oregon. In 2014, I completed the first phase of what has become an ongoing quest: I visited 10 tiny houses a...
February 18, 2015
How to Run a Business and Still Care for Your Family
I met a guy who was a busy executive at a startup in Silicon Valley. His family, a wife and three young kids, lived several states away. He lived in a hotel during the week, worked every evening, and flew home every weekend before returning to the office on Monday morning. Not a very dedicated family guy, right?
On the contrary. When I asked him about living in two cities, he admitted it was sometimes a challenge. But then he talked about what the weekends were like. “We do everything together...
8 Weeks of Business Training and 365 Days of Support: Now Available
Link: Sign Up Now for the 2015 B-School
Today’s the day! Registration for the 2015 B-School session is now open. You‘ll participate in an 8-week training session, and you’ll gain access to a wonderful community to support you well beyond the initial course.
Oh, and if you sign up from one of the partner links on this page, I’ll be part of your support team. In teaming up with Marie, I wanted to make sure that I’m also available to anyone who has a question or needs guidance in getting underway...
February 17, 2015
To Be Happier, Go to the Library
If you liked the Japanese tradition, here’s another one from this side of the Pacific:
“Older people often draw as much happiness from ordinary experiences — like a day in the library — as they do from extraordinary ones.
For people who have not saved enough or have broken into their savings because of lost jobs and health crises, the findings offer a glimmer of hope. If you can cover basic expenses, pursuing inexpensive, everyday things that bring comfort and satisfaction can lead to happiness...
AmEx Centurion Lounge: The Airport Oasis that Makes Domestic Flying Comfortable
Personal Link: The Platinum Card from American Express
Business Link: The Business Platinum Card from American Express
A couple of years ago, American Express made an unexpected move: they decided to create their own series of domestic airline lounges that are actually nice.
See, most lounges in the U.S. (and Canada, and honestly much of Europe as well) feature lounges that are better than being stuck in the terminal when your flight is delayed, but not by much. You often have a choice of stale...
