Get ready to rebel
Courtesy of Perigee Books (2010)
Among many other things, Chris Guillebeau has traveled to 150 countries (and counting), been self-employed his entire adult life, and has now authored a brand new book called The Art of Non-Conformity. Here's the basic scoop:
Based on Chris Guillebeau's popular online manifesto "A Brief Guide to World Domination," The Art of Non-Conformity defies common assumptions about life and work while arming you with the tools to live differently. You'll discover how to live on your own terms by exploring creative self-employment, radical goal-setting, contrarian travel, and embracing life as a constant adventure.
"My writing offers unconventional ideas for remarkable people," Guillebeau adds. "I write through personal experience, including both failures and successes."
Recently, I asked Chris a few questions and his answers are below.
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Planet Green: How do you define "non-conformity"?
Chris Guillebeau: I define it as refusing to accept other peoples' ideas and expectations as your own, at least not without close examination. A key part of the message is,"You don't have to live your life the way other people expect you to." In the book's prologue, I write about the idea of bridge-jumping—how when you're a kid you hear the question, "If everyone else jumped off the bridge, would you?" But then you grow up and everyone around you is making the same kinds of choices, effectively jumping off the same bridge. Non-conformity is about questioning conventional wisdom and forging your own path. Non-conformity is deciding not to jump off the bridge, no matter who's doing it.
PG: How does travel fit into this definition?
CG: For some people it won't. But if you asked people, "What would you do if time and money were no object, a majority tend to say 'I would travel more.'" So if we can reduce barriers to travel, by making it both more accessible and more sustainable, we can help people do more of what they find most meaningful. I also like what Mark Twain said: "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness." It's impossible to travel to a truly cross-cultural place and not have your worldview enlarged. That's been the case for me, with 150 countries and counting.
PG: Why is graduate school overrated?
CG: It's not that education is meaningless. I have good memories of two years at the University of Washington. But I also paid $32,000 for a Master's Degree that came with little career incentive or even help finding a job. The problem is that graduate school, or really any kind of higher education, can become a form of life avoidance. If you're not sure what to do with yourself, grad school is a good way of effectively putting off the decision for several years. Meanwhile, you're racking up debt for something you're not sure will lead to the career track or life of your dreams. If that's the situation, why not invest more in yourself through travel and life experiences than investing in a university?
PG: How can Planet Green readers create a "legacy"?
CG: It starts with accepting this basic premise of legacy: that it's not something you think about toward the end of your life, when it's too late to make any real changes. Instead, legacy is something you think about as soon as possible. How will Planet Green readers change the world in a unique way? What do they want to be remembered for? How can they leave behind a positive impact? These are unusual questions, but the answers are worth pursuing. It's important to think about not only what makes us happy, but how our lives intersect with others and what we can do to contribute. That's what legacy is all about.
