Lead a life of adventure, meaning and purpose--and earn a good
living.
"Thoughtful, funny, and compulsively readable, this guide shows how
ordinary people can build solid livings, with independence and purpose,
on their own terms."--Gretchen Rubin, author of the #1 New York Times
bestseller The Happiness Project
Still in his early thirties, Chris Guillebeau completed a tour of every
country on earth and yet he's never held a "real job" or earned a
regular paycheck. Rather, he has a special genius for turning ideas into
income, and he uses what he earns both to support his life of adventure
and to give back.
Chris identified 1,500 individuals who have built businesses earning
$50,000 or more from a modest investment (in many cases, $100 or less),
and focused on the 50 most intriguing case studies. In nearly all cases,
people with no special skills discovered aspects of their personal
passions that could be monetized, and were able to restructure their
lives in ways that gave them greater freedom and fulfillment.
Here, finally, distilled into one easy-to-use guide, are the most
valuable lessons from those who've learned how to turn what they do into
a gateway to self-fulfillment. It's all about finding the intersection
between your "expertise"--even if you don't consider it such--and what
other people will pay for. You don't need an MBA, a business plan or
even employees. All you need is a product or service that springs from
what you love to do anyway, people willing to pay, and a way to get
paid.
Not content to talk in generalities, Chris tells you exactly how many
dollars his group of unexpected entrepreneurs required to get their
projects up and running; what these individuals did in the first weeks
and months to generate significant cash; some of the key mistakes they
made along the way, and the crucial insights that made the business
stick. Among Chris's key principles: If you're good at one thing, you're
probably good at something else; never teach a man to fish--sell him
the fish instead; and in the battle between planning and action, action
wins.
In ancient times, people who were dissatisfied with their lives dreamed
of finding magic lamps, buried treasure, or streets paved with gold.
Today, we know that it's up to us to change our lives. And the best part
is, if we change our own life, we can help others change theirs.
This remarkable book will start you on your way.