Chris Guilllebeau, author of the New York Best Seller The $100 Startup: Reinvent the Way You Make a Living and the book The Art of Non-Conformity just launched his third book called The Happiness of Pursuit: Finding the Quest That Will Bring Purpose to Your Life. In 2013 Chris finished a decade long quest of visiting all 193 countries.
This book is not a travel book but an inspiration and guide to help you get off the couch and incorporate a little adventure into your own life. The book includes stories of ordinary people that woke up one day craving more out of life than the same old and ventured out on their own individual quests, many of them not travel related.
During his travels and interviews with hundreds of “questers” Chris discovered a direct link between pursuing a quest and long-term happiness and that fulfilling a quest can highly enrich your life.
This book is a perfect read for anyone wanting to get off the hamster wheel and Chris graciously agreed to an interview. Since Chris has been off the hamster wheel for a while I decided to tweak the standard “How did you leave the hamster wheel” questions to a few more related to “questing.”
Q: Adventures and quests often starts with an idea to do something “just because” and it may be hard to answer the “why.” Did you at some point during the quest visiting all 193 countries find a more defined “why” as to what drove you to do that?
A: That’s a great observation. Many of the people I talked to described their project as “just a crazy idea that wouldn’t go away.” The more they thought about it, the more they realized they would always regret it if they didn’t at least attempt it. This fear of regret and desire to with with urgency can be a powerful force.
In my case, I loved travel and was attracted to the “packaging” of being able to have a specific goal or end-point to it. And of course, I also liked the systematic nature of going country-by-country and seeing the world.
Q: What is your #1 advice or resource for people that don’t know where to start but would like to do add some adventure into their life whether that turns into a quest or just ‘getting themselves out of the comfort zone.”
A: Think about what you’re excited about. Think about what you’re bothered by. It’s okay if it’s something that other people don’t understand or appreciate—that’s actually quite common with quests and adventures. Then, find a way to create some structure about this thing. Robyn Devine in Omaha is a great example: she decided to knit 10,000 hats. Not just “knit a bunch of hats” but “knit 10,000 hats.” It will take her many years to complete this goal, but it’s something she was able to do without traveling or running 100 marathons or whatever.
Q: Even a natural non-conformist needs to draw inspiration from others to continue to push the envelope. Can you share a few activities you do or people you seek out for inspiration?
A: Sure. In my case I’m fortunate to connect with an amazing community of remarkable people from all over the world. These people changed the trajectory of my life and greatly influenced the project. One of the lessons of quests is that your friends and family may not understand what you’re doing. You don’t have to abandon them if that happens, but you do need a support structure of some kind.
I also read a lot. I’m constantly consuming books and articles by people who are smarter than me. I find inspiration through learning about the world and constantly being challenged.
Q: You financed your quest through travel hacking but also through blogging, writing and other projects. Did you ever feel that sharing your travels and quest with the world put negative pressure on you as your blog gained popularity and hence expectations increased? If so, how did you deal with that?
A: I can honestly say that I pursued (and eventually completed) the quest because of my own motivation and compulsion. I started it on my own, without sharing anything publicly. As the career aspect of things picked up, I sometimes struggled with falling behind on various projects. But I don’t think I ever felt pressured to quit, or felt like I was doing it for the wrong reasons.
Q: How would you want your eulogy to be read? And do you feel that you are living your life in a way that fits that?
A: Whoa! No pressure. 🙂
In one way or another, I’d hope that people said something about the fact that I helped others to make brave choices and live unconventional lives of their own design.
As to whether I feel I’m living the way that fits that, yes, I think so. But I also think it’s good to continuously evaluate. Asking yourself questions like these can be very helpful.
Between his books, awesome blog, the World Domination Summit and involvement with various non-profits Chris really walks the talk. He is living his life to the fullest while helping others, just as he wants you to.
I love what Chris is doing and in order to get you off the couch and get inspired I’m giving away two copies of The Happiness of Pursuit.
The rules? I really want as many people as possible to learn about Chris Guillebeau and his new book so I would be so appreciative if you shared this with your friends through social media or other means.
Then go comment below on what kind of quest you could see yourself doing. I will pick two winners on Tuesday September 23, 2014.
*This post contains affiliate links to Amazon.
Faith says
I’m a bit of an introvert but have always had such longing to do more and read so many books on non profits and missions, almost living vicariously through their stories. I would love a copy of this book and maybe some day prayerfully get to be on a quest of my own someday working with non profits in helping aid poverty and children in less developed countries.
Camilla says
That is an awesome quest to have Faith. The world needs more people getting involved with non-profits in less developed countries. I would highly encourage you to jump in with both feet and go for it so I hope this book (yes, you won a book) will give you that extra push to go do it. The happiness you will feel helping others is incredible. I will contact you via email so that I know where to send the book.
Faith Yates says
Yay!!! Love book giveaways, and thank you for having one!! I emailed you back. 🙂
Steve says
My quest is to quit my job and start a podcast!! I’ve started on both!!
AWESOME post!!
Steve recently posted…“You know, if you keep doing this they’ll expect that from you everyday.”
Amy Campbell says
I want to live an unconventional life – I think I am closer to this than the conventional ways, though mainly because I work for myself and from home. I did once work a week from Ireland in 2012 and not one client seemed to care. I travelled alone and had a wonderful adventure. I can’t remember when I felt happier or more spiritually connected to the flow in my life. I wish I could get back there – to that feeling but experiencing new places and maybe taking my now 12 yr old and new fiancé along to experience it. I wonder if the magic of it all was in the solo-ness of the adventure then? Hopefully, I’ll get a chance to find out that it wasn’t the solo trip but rather the mindset, the experience of freedom to work from anywhere with wifi and the embracing of the flow again in some new surroundings.
Camilla says
You are definitely closer to living an unconventional life working for yourself. As an entrepreneur you set your own schedule. Put a picture up on the fridge from Ireland reminding you about the freedom and flow you felt. We live in an incredible time when we can work from pretty much anywhere. Start by bringing your laptop to a coffee shop next town over. When was the last time you spent a day in a town nearby? Work part of the day then explore part of the day. Start those small day excursions. Before you know it you have ‘working away from the office’ down to a science and you can with confidence take off to faraway places like Ireland. When we surround ourselves with new vistas our mind opens up, even if that is just a town over, we feel and sense things in a different way than when we are at home.
nic says
My dream quests would be going on nerdventures: visit Legoland California, see the xenomorph gargoyles on Paisley Abbey in Scotland, explorer the Tatooine sets in Tunisia, attend a Comicon, spend a weekend in New Zealand’s Hobbiton.
nic recently posted…Have You Seen Me Lately?
Camilla says
You have some amazing things on your list! Love it. I actually didn’t know there was a Legoland in California until recently when a friend went. Thought the only one was in Copenhagen, Denmark. A weekend in New Zealand’s Hobbiton would be so much fun. Can’t wait to see you do all these! Cool places!
Scott says
Camilla,
You absolutely know my quest…to change the way people look at leadership, careers, and finances. To make people realize that being a good Steward is truly finding ways to serve others and through this grow.
Scott
Scott recently posted…Stewardship of Work
Camilla says
And a quest you are working hard at accomplishing! Love what you are doing. Now to take your quest up a notch it needs to have a deadline. How many people do you want to help in what time frame?
Karin says
I think I read about this book just a couple of days ago, sounds awesome!
Right now I am on a kind of “deep” quest to finding balance in life and really getting to the core of what I am meant to do here on earth. And them making my life simple enough to focus on what is really important to be able to go after what I found. Well it maybe dosen’t make any sense to anyone else, but right now this is my quest.
Camilla says
A quest do not need to make sense to anyone else but you. You are one of the most talented and creative people I know. Your food is amazing and the passion you have for that. I know you will find that balance and answer as to what you are meant to do.
Tammy Helfrich says
I want to encourage and empower people to live into who they are created to be. I want them to treasure each day and LIVE their life instead of coasting through it. Looking forward to reading this book!
Camilla says
I cannot think of anyone who is pouring so much inspiration and passion into that message Tammy. You truly walk the talk. The ‘make a difference right where you are’ is so powerful. I think of that daily. We truly need to treasure each and every day, we never know when it is our last.
Vicky says
You know, we just celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act – establishing Wilderness areas in the US. Between hearing the press about the Wilderness areas and reading Chris’s new book, I got thinking I would like to visit every one in the US. There are about 760 Wilderness Areas and it keeps changing as Congress adds more (Is that not an incredible accomplishment for 50 years?). That would be an amazing but highly improbable undertaking. But I’m thinking abut it…
Camilla says
Do it! That would be an undertaking but what an amazing time it would be to see all the wilderness areas. And now you got me thinking about doing it too…could be a great goal to add as I’m visiting all National Parks.
Julie says
My quest is to become an accredited genealogist and be able to help people with finding out more about their ancestry. Maybe even someday be part of a group (or lead one) that goes to Europe to discover where we have come from.
Camilla says
That would be so neat! I love genealogy and yes, we need more people like you helping to figure out where we come from. I can’t remember the name of the book that was written about where we all originate from but I guess we are all originating from seven DNA lines. It is incredible how DNA has opened the door for genealogy. Set a date when you will go to Europe and make it happen. Someday tends to be pushed further and further down the road. Go for it!
@Libbydoodle says
WOW! I just love LOVE these words. These make my heart beat a little bit faster. In the last three years I have felt my heart swell with a love of travel. I have actually thought all along these three years of various quests — anything from seeing all three space shuttles in their new museum homes (because I’m a space nut – and I’ve seen 2/3 so far!), to seeing a manned space launch (that’s tricky as they’re all out of Russia right now!), to quitting my job and becoming an artist or going back to school for engineering. I also have a personal quest to travel and hike in at least three national parks in the US — as a start. Man. I can’t stop thinking of quests now! 🙂
Camilla says
The Pursuit of Happiness…such a neat title. Accomplishing those goals do create happiness. I think you need to finish seeing all museums. I’m sending you a book to inspire you to finish your quest and create a few new ones. I know you will inspire others to do the same. I’ll be sending you an email so that I know where to send the book. 🙂