Once in a while it really hits people that they don’t have to experience the world in the way they’ve been told to. – Alan Keightley
Chris Guillebeau, author of the popular website and recently published book The Art of Nonconformity: Set Your Own Rules, Live the Life You Want, and Change the World (affiliate link), will be visiting Dallas on a promotional book tour this Friday.
Here are the details…
When: Friday, October 22 at 7 pm
Where: Borders at 10720 Preston Rd. (Preston & Royal)
What: Informal gathering. While cupcakes are optional, they’re certainly preferred.
For more information, check out my guest post on iliveindallas.com.
If you’re in the area and you’re committed to finding your own unique path in life while doing remarkable things along the way, then I urge you to check out Chris’ work. I met Chris at SXSW Interactive in Austin earlier this year. He’s a very real, down-to-earth guy who’s work lives up to its hype, and he always seems to bring together a great group of people. In addition, Chris is donating 100% of his book proceeds to Charity: Water for each reader he meets.
A Voice for Nonconformity
Chris has created a writing career and a business (while traveling the world) around the idea that you don’t have to live your life the way other people expect you to. You can make your life whatever you want it to be, and you can safely ignore anyone who tells you differently.
Whether you’re climbing down off the corporate ladder, giving up the partner track, or challenging yourself to pursue a big dream in another way, the biggest obstacle is often mental, not logistical. Learning to ignore naysayers and giving yourself permission to do the things that really matter to you by giving up the things that don’t is often the first step. Even if those naysayers are mostly in your head. (But, what will “they” say??)
When I first came across Chris’ work, I was in the process of making pretty significant changes in my life. I had cut my spending significantly and was paying down pretty sizable credit card debt, added back calm and quiet to my life by eliminating any unnecessary noise, and even found a wonderful new home for my sweet dog when it became apparent that she needed more than I had to give in the little free time I had. But, even after all that I hadn’t been ready to change the most overwhelming piece of the puzzle – my job.
Chris’ voice was one of the voices that listened to as I gave myself permission to upend the one thing that felt immovable and as I completely rethought how I did my work. As a result, I’m at a new company creating a function entirely new to them – using only the good parts of what I used to do and discarding the others completely.
When you set your mind to making something happen, it’s amazing what ideas and opportunities come to light. Besides, if those things don’t add value to your life, then what’s the point?
Not in Dallas?
Don’t worry. This is no ordinary book tour. From September until the end of the year, Chris will visit all 50 states promoting his book and meeting informally with readers. Then in January 2011, he will visit all 10 provinces in Canada for a grand total of 63 cities on the book tour. It’s an epic itinerary, and it’s probably coming to a city near you. Check out The Unconventional Book Tour for more details.
