Notes on Non-Conformity

Image courtesy of AONCI’ve been writing bits and pieces for the premiere “re-launch” post at Rock Your Genius for the past two weeks, as I searched to find just the right words to set the tone for the Imua Campaign.  That’s not possible, but I’m glad things turned out the way they did, because tonight made for a fitting start.

Chris Guillebeau of The Art of Non-Conformity came to New Orleans as part of his Unconventional Book Tour, and if I had to recommend one place to start your journey in overcoming “default living” and moving forward with purpose, his new book The Art of Non-Conformity is it.

My Start in Non-Conformity

I remember in eleventh grade first hearing the word non-conformist and knowing right away that there was a good chance it somehow described me.  That was the first year that I started forging my own path.  I would graduate a year early that year, which was unheard of in my area, and I caught more than a little flak for it.  I only remember one teacher saying, “Run with it,” and so I did.

Non-conformist kind of became my secret rebellious side, since I was always the one outwardly following the rules and doing things to make those around me happy.  My junior year started something.

Come to think of it, there must be something with me and junior years, because my junior year in college, I dropped out and started my own business at the age of 21, much to the disappointment of some of those around me, but I’ve never looked back (although it would have been interesting to see how I might have spun non-conformity and a biology degree - hmm, maybe more on that later).

Either way, I stumbled on Chris Guillebeau’s blog some time in 2008 and immediately knew I would stick around.  What can I say?  He had me at non-conformity.

Looking for Your Own Start?

If you’re ready to buck the system a little (or a lot), start with The Art of Non-Conformity.  You won’t be disappointed.  As he says early on in the book, his “motivation is to help people challenge authority and live unconventional, remarkable lives,” and the book gives a good bit of direction for doing just that.

Here are ten of my favorite quotes from the book to give you an idea of the inspiration you’ll find within it.

1. “Whatever your dreams are, start taking them very, very seriously.” -- a quote from Barbara Sher in Wishcraft (another great book I’d recommend)
2. “When you reach the convergence between getting what you really want while also helping others in a unique way, I call this ‘world domination,’ where you can live a life of adventure and focus on leaving a legacy that makes a radical difference for other people.” (I hope the Imua Campaign is that convergence for me, or at least, I intend for it to be.)
3. “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.  Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” -- a quote from Margaret Mead
4. “It’s not my goal to live the most optimized life possible.  The key is to avoid doing things out of habit or because I’m not brave enough to overcome my fear of change.”
5. “Every man dies; not every man really lives.” -- William Wallace
6. “The practice of abundance is all about embracing life to the fullest and ordering your life around a few key priorities.”
7. “The best moments in our lives are not the passive, receptive, relaxing times … the best moments usually occur when a person’s body or mind is stretched to its limits in a voluntary effort to accomplish something difficult and worthwhile.” -- a quote from Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi in Flow
8. “There are certain things that are fundamental to human fulfillment.  The essence of these needs is captured in the phrase ‘to live, to love, to learn, to leave a legacy.’  The need to leave a legacy is our spiritual need to have a sense of meaning, purpose, personal congruence, and contribution.” -- Stephen Covey
9. “Wherever you are in life, however old you are, begin thinking about every day as the first day of your life.”
10. “Be daring, be different, be impractical, be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers, the creatures of the commonplace, the slaves of the ordinary.” -- Sir Cecil Beaton

I’ll be talking much more about the book in posts to come, I’m sure.  I still have to go back through it and apply the suggestions Chris makes, and I know that, as I do, I’ll want to share some of his insights, as well as my own thoughts and new directions that result from his inspiration.

A special thanks to Chris for taking an unconventional route and encouraging the rest of us to follow suit (and also for being the real deal; it’s nice to come across folks in person who are the same as what they seem online).

More to come.

“You don’t have to live your life the way other people expect you to.”
-- Chris Guillebeau, The Art of Non-Conformity