Sometimes it’s hard to know if it’s all worth it. You’re out in the woodshed, slaving away on this thing you love, night and day. But does anyone else care?Will anyone else care?

At times, you may be tempted to pack it in. You’d like to return to normal, to the way things were before this new way of life came along.

The problem is, what’s really normal? And would you really be happy if you gave up now?

Sometimes it’s OK to pack it in and move on. That’s what most people do, most of the time. But how do you know if giving up is the right choice?

Thankfully, there’s a simple answer.

You know when you think about the future. When you look ahead and ask yourself what it’s all about. “Self,” you ask, “Do you really want this more than anything else? Are you really willing to stick it out here in the cold woodshed to make this thing that may not go over well?”

And this is how you’ll know.

If the answer is no, it’s not worth it, and it turns out you don’t really care anymore, then that’s OK. No need to feel guilty, and no need to keep slaving away in the shed on something you didn’t actually love after all. Just move on. It happens to all of us.

But.

If you give the opposite answer—if you determine that it is in fact worth at all—then you’ll know in your heart what to do.

One way or another, you’ll need to stick it out. You’ll need to find a way to make it happen. You’ll need to head back to the shed, for as long as it takes, and regardless of the results on the other side. Screw the outcome; it’s all about the process.

That’s how you’ll know.

Oh, one more thing. Once you make your decision, stick with it.

Everyone experiences doubt, but never allow doubt to determine the direction. Giving yourself over to doubt is a sucker’s game, and you’re no sucker.

Full speed ahead, or give up and move on. Those are the only options.

Comments here.

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Image: Yllan

In thinking through how to make some changes in my business, I’ve been thinking about identity in general.

One of the strongest drivers of our behavior is to comply with the person we believe ourselves to be.

If you want to do something different, you have to adopt the identity of the kind of person who would do that thing.

What would that person focus on? How would they think? How would they behave?

If you want to quit smoking, for example, you have to take on the identity of a non-smoker. You have to tell yourself: “I’m no longer a smoker … I’m a former smoker. I don’t conform to that behavior any longer.”

If you tell yourself that you make healthy choices more often than not, you’ll begin to feel differently when you make less-than-healthy choices.

Thinking this through, I can see that in some ways I’ve used this kind of thinking intuitively. During the times when I’ve been more physically active, I haven’t had a problem with exercising regularly. Most of the time, I make myself exercise because I know I’ll be glad I did later.

But I’ve never really been very good at applying this perspective to my business work.

I’ll be busy with other projects for the next 45 days, but I’m still taking the time to think things through in advance of doing the work. I’m asking myself, how would someone who owns a business instead of someone who does everything himself behave?

What kind of different choices will I need to make to stop doing everything myself? How will I create structure out of disorder?

Note: it’s not really disorder. Everything I do makes sense to me, but the problem is that it doesn’t make sense to anyone else. Clarifying how things work in a way that is understandable to others I work with is an important early step, I think.

That’s the idea, I think. It’s a process, not a quick fix, but this is the path I’m preparing to go down.

How about you? Are you making any changes?

Comments here.

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P.S. After Monday’s post I received 100+ resumes and application letters… but I’m not actually hiring yet! If I want to accept public applications, it will be later in the summer, and I’ll post it here on the blog to be fair to everyone.

Image: Yo

Once upon a time I lived in the small country of Togo in West Africa. I was based on a hospital ship docked in Lomé, the capital, and the team I worked with had a project three hours’ north in a village.

One of our team members needed to be there during the week, but not over the weekend. Because we had a lot of projects competing for transportation, we couldn’t allocate a vehicle specifically to her. She could have stayed in the village over the weekend, but life in the village gets old after a few days. What to do?

I solved the problem by offering to drive her both ways for as long as she needed. “That’s crazy!” someone said. “You can’t drive six hours round-trip twice a week for three months.”

But that’s what I did. It wasn’t that hard. All I had to do was… drive.

Week in and week out, I drove a Land Rover three hours north, dropped off our team member, then drove back on my own. On Thursdays I’d make the return trip, picking her up and delivering both of us back to the ship.

To me it seemed simple enough: something needs doing, I don’t see another way to do it, so I’ll just do it myself.

Just F—ing Do It, Already

I’ve had this attitude all my life, and it’s helped me accomplish a lot of things. Whenever I wanted something done, I’d find a way to make it happen.

I dropped out of high school and went straight to college. In college I learned I could take 40 credits a semester by simultaneously registering at four different institutions, instead of the 18 credits students were limited to at any single university. I liked the challenge of it. The biggest problem wasn’t passing the tests, it was trying to keep track of where I needed to be at any given time.

When I started writing, I didn’t want to spend years writing for no one without getting paid, so I figured out how to make a decent living in 279 days.

Part of the reason I went to all 50 states (and all 10 Canadian provinces!) on my first book tour was because my publisher didn’t believe I would really do it. Of course I will! It can’t be that difficult, right?

And it wasn’t difficult—just like driving up and down the country of Togo, week in and week out, on the original book tour all I had to do was go to state #1, then state #2, and so on. I had some help along the way but it was largely an independent effort.

These are the kinds of things I’m good at. I don’t question my ability to execute or implement on my own. Over the past year, though, I’ve realized how terribly limiting this ability can be.

I’m making a big mistake! And I need to correct it.

As I look back over the past few years, I can see a few big successes and a few clear failures. Short-term failure is nothing to be ashamed of, but it’s important to avoid making the same mistakes over and over.

I can also see a pattern: I build a business to a certain level and then leave it to do something else. I work as hard as I can for a short period of time, and then I experience a certain amount of initial success, and then I lose my motivation for it. It’s happened over and over.

On the surface, there’s nothing terribly wrong with this pattern. It worked for a long period of time as I was hopping from project to project. It’s just … no longer … acceptable.

It’s not only a personal failure; it also affects other people.

Perhaps I could accept this weakness if it was merely a personal limitation. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses, and I’ve always been better at the solo game. If you wanted someone to drive you around Togo for six hours a day, I was your guy.

But the bigger problem is that this weakness now affects far more people than just myself. I’m letting down the community! There is so much around here that doesn’t live up to the standard that readers deserve!

Last year when I was on tour for The $100 Startup I received dozens of invitations to visit other groups and cities. The co-hosts were able and willing to put things together… but I was too busy to sort it out.

Meanwhile, other people wanted to host their own meetups—a brilliant idea, since I wouldn’t need to be there for them and they could happen independently. But again, I was too busy to create a plan, so the idea floundered.

I’ve seen this pattern in most businesses or projects I start: lots of initial enthusiasm followed by a lack of good follow-up on my part. There are a couple of exceptions that keep things running, thankfully, but the clear pattern is that I start things and then move on without taking the time to create real structure that will allow the project to grow further.

It’s time to make some changes to that pattern.

The Plan (Now hiring! Or at least, soon…)

Since I wrapped up the final country in April, lots of people are asking “What’s next?”

I’ll have a new quest that starts in 2014, focused on travel and community. I’m very excited to begin… but not just yet. What I do over the next six months will allow the new quest to be fruitful and sustainable. Priority #1 is sorting this whole thing out later in the year.

The next few months are locked down tight, and I’m doing very little travel. We have 3,000 people coming to town for the biggest WDS ever in less than a month. Thankfully, we have a great crew for that, as it’s one of the few things I’ve created that I feel is somewhat sustainable.

I’m also writing a book and working with our new members of Adventure Capital (Thanks to everyone who signed up during last week’s soft launch. Everyone else, yes, you can still join.)

These three projects are big, but not overwhelming. What’s overwhelming is everything else! All the little and not-so-little things. That’s why I need help.

For the first time in forever, World Domination HQ will be hiring. My feline assistant can no longer keep up, and her sleeping hours are highly problematic.

Normally it’s good to start small, but I’d prefer to get it right. Later this year we’ll be bringing on several people to oversee much of our little corner of the world. I’ll continue to write, travel, host events, and create projects… but I won’t be the one emailing people from Senegal when they can’t find their PDF or need to change their password for something.

Most of these roles will be part-time, but they will be serious positions with profit share, an opportunity to set an independent schedule, and room to get as involved as people want to be.

I’ve long said it’s ridiculous that bloggers have interns, but I’ve been doing this for five years now, so perhaps it’s time to make some changes.

This is my goal for the second half of the year: actually create some better systems and practices in the overall operation, and get in a better place for 2014. Watch this space. It’s going to happen.

Have you ever struggled with trying to do everything yourself? If so, what did you do about it?

Comments here.

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Image: Mirgo

What if learning wasn’t confined to a rigid program in a university? What if you could begin learning now, without going back to school?

The One-Year, Alternative Graduate School Program was one of the more popular parts of the original AONC book, in the same chapter where I compared the value of my graduate school degree to my career as an independent writer. I’ve since heard from a number of “students” of all ages who implemented this practice in a variety of forms.

The point isn’t to disparage traditional education, but to provide an alternative for different kinds of learning. You never have to put off learning, and higher education isn’t the only option.

***

The One-Year, Self-Directed, Alternative Graduate School Experience

• Subscribe to the Economist and read every issue religiously. Cost: $97 + 60 minutes each week.
• Memorize the names of every country, world capital, and current president or prime minister in the world. Cost: $0 + 3-4 hours once.
• Buy a Round-the-World plane ticket or use Frequent Flyer Miles to travel to several major world regions, including somewhere in Africa and somewhere in Asia. Cost: variable, but plan on $4,000.
• Read the basic texts of the major world religions: the Torah, the New Testament, the Koran, and the teachings of Buddha. Visit a church, a mosque, a synagogue, and a temple. Cost: Materials can be obtained free online or in the mail—or for less than $50 + 20 hours.
• Subscribe to a language-learning podcast and listen to each 20-minute episode five times a week for the entire year. Attend a local language club once a week to practice. Cost: $0 + 87 hours.
• Loan money to an entrepreneur through Kiva.org and arrange to visit him or her while you’re abroad. Cost: Likely $0 in the end, since 98% of loans are repaid.
• Acquire at least three new skills during your year. Suggestions: photography, skydiving, computer programming, martial arts. The key is not to become an expert in any of them, but to become functionally proficient. Cost: Variable, but each skill is probably less than three credits of tuition would cost at a university.
• Read at least 30 non-fiction books and 20 classic novels. Cost: approximately $750 (can be reduced or eliminated by using the library).
• Join a gym or health club to keep fit during your rigorous independent studies. (Most universities include access to their fitness centers with the purchase of $32,000 in tuition, so you’ll need to pay for this on your own otherwise.) Cost: $25-75 a month.
• Become comfortable with basic presentation and public speaking skills. Join your local Toastmasters club to get constructive, structured help that is beginner-friendly. Cost: $25 + 2 hours a week for 10 weeks.
• Start a blog, create a basic posting schedule, and stick with it for the entire year. You can get a free blog at WordPress.org. One tip: don’t try to write every day. Set a weekly or bi-weekly schedule for a while, and if you’re still enjoying it after three months, pick up the pace. Cost: $0.
• Set your home page to http://wikipedia.org/random. Over the next year, every time you open your browser, you’ll see a different, random Wikipedia page. Read it. Cost: $0.
• Learn to write by listening to the Grammar Girl podcast and buying Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott. Cost: $0 for Grammar Girl, $14 for Anne Lamott.
• Instead of reading the entire Encyclopedia Britannica, read The Know It All by A.J. Jacobs, a good summary. Cost: $15.

TOTAL COST: $10,000 or less

*The total cost of the self-directed, alternative graduate school program does not include housing or food, but neither does the tuition for traditional school programs in the U.S. and Canada. Freedom and independence, however, are included at no extra charge.

***

By following the alternative graduate school program, you’ll gain the rough equivalent of what tens of thousands of other students regularly spend tens of thousands of dollars on. In return, you’ll have gained approximately the same amount of knowledge (if not more) you’d receive in a general social science or humanities program.

Naturally, if your field of interest varies, the program can be suitably modified. If you love literature, read one-hundred books instead of fifty. If you’re interested in computer programming, learn more than just how to blog.

Now that universities are listing course materials online, in some cases you can even go through the same courses that paying students do. Download the syllabi for the courses you’re interested in and listen to podcasts by professors.

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Excerpted from The Art of Non-Conformity, available on Amazon.com or your local bookseller.

Image: Roig

Whenever I release a new product, I always get questions from people wanting to know if they should buy it. For years I never knew how to answer this question—I just said, “Sorry, I’m not good at providing personal recommendations on products. If you’re uncertain, skip this one and read the blog for free.”

I said that for a couple of different reasons. First, I never want anyone to feel any kind of pressure to sign up for something if it’s not an amazing fit for them. I like product launches, but I also like to sleep at night.

Second, what I said was true—I’m honestly not good at determining whether a particular product is good for someone or not! Everyone’s situation is different.

But after hearing the question over and over, I now have a better answer, and I think it holds true for more than just the few things I produce that are for sale. I think this answer holds true for anyone buying anything. Here’s the answer.

When you look at something new and wonder whether you should buy or not, review the materials carefully and ask yourself a few questions:

Does this resonate?

Does it make sense on an intellectual and emotional level?

How do I feel when I think about buying this or not buying this?

If the answers are yes—it resonates, it makes sense, and you feel good about the purchase, you should buy it or sign up or whatever you need to do. Don’t sit on the fence! Take action! The adage is true: we regret the things we don’t do far more than the things we do.

If the answers are no—it doesn’t make sense to you, or you’re just not excited about it, you should skip it and not worry about missing something good. Maybe it just wasn’t right for you, or maybe you just didn’t need it—and that’s fine too.

Resonance is important because you shouldn’t follow the crowd and jump off the bridge. You should make your own decision based on your own needs and situation.

***

Adventure Capital: Sign Up Now! (Or not)

Last week we relaunched Adventure Capital to the world… but we didn’t do much in the way of shouting it from the rooftops. Unconventional? Definitely.

Lately I’ve been thinking about the kind of business I want to have. Part of this involves being more intentional about the kind of customers who are ultimately served.

In the past we’ve had launches that took in thousands of people a day, sometimes for several days. Because Adventure Capital is a higher-end, more thoughtful experience, I knew we wouldn’t be welcoming the masses, but I did (and still do!) want to welcome the right kinds of people the year-long course.

Here’s what you should do if you’re trying to decide. Read through the website. Understand who it’s for. In this case, Adventure Capital is for two groups of people:

1. You have an idea, but you need help getting off the ground.

You’ve heard of the microbusiness revolution… how thousands of people are opting out of the traditional system of work. It sounds great, but you need help.

2. You have an existing business, and you want to increase sales.

You’re ready to ramp up! You just need to know how to do it, with limited time as you manage your business and all kinds of other responsibilities.

Do you fit in either of those groups? If not, there’s an easy answer: no pressure! Sit this one out and keep reading the blog for free.

If you do fit, great. Proceed to step 2: Think about it. Do you have a plan to systematically grow your business over the next year?

If you’re ready to work, Adventure Capital can give you help you do this. For the next three days, we have a special offer: join now and get the third month free.

This is the last time we’ll include this bonus, and it disappears forever on Wednesday night at midnight PST.

Sign up now! (Or not.)

–>More info here.

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Image: Library of Congress

A funny thing happened on the way to San Francisco. I was headed down on a super-quick trip (just three hours!) to do some filming for a friend. I’d leave PDX in the morning and be back in the early evening. No big deal, right?

Tuesday morning I grabbed my laptop bag and headed to the airport by taxi. The whole time I was en route, something felt weird: I didn’t have my usual carry-on bag. I take that bag everywhere, even for a single overnight trip, and am never without it while traveling.

Except this time. Who needs an overnight bag when they’re just commuting for an interview and then coming home the same day?

The thought crossed my mind: wouldn’t it be random if today was the day I got stuck somewhere? I don’t have my stuff! I don’t have any other clothes!

Funny Story About That

At PDX I set up shop at Starbucks and got an email alert. My Alaska Airlines flight was delayed 30 minutes. Hmmm, that’s not great. I had a tight window for the filming in SF. There was a buffer of about an hour, but not much more.

You probably know what happened next. Thirty minutes turned into an hour, then ninety minutes and finally two hours. The whole time I was working on my laptop while considering alternatives. What to do?

I was going down to SF to see Ramit Sethi, an expert on negotiation and psychology. Ramit and I have known each other for a while, and he asked me to film a segment in his studio for an upcoming course.

I should explain now that Ramit and I, along with Jonathan Fields, have the habit of calling everyone dude, regardless of their age or gender.

I texted Ramit:

Dude, flight delay up here. What should I do?

He wrote back:

Dude, hold on. I’m busy counting stacks of money!

Just kidding—Ramit didn’t actually say that. He was busy filming someone else, but I heard from his assistant and we quickly looked at the schedule together.

Could we adjust the studio time? Yes. Would I make it back home in the afternoon? Nope. Could I get home later that night? Maybe.

I was already at the airport and the studio had been rented, so we decided to go for it. The flight finally boarded. Off to SF!

***

The whole time I was trying to get down to California, I was working with our small team on another project: the release of Adventure Capital, our new course. When was that supposed to be?

Oh, right. It was YESTERDAY. As in, the day after my “super-quick trip” to San Fran.

Hmmmm.

Things were tight all around. Several of us have been busy planning for the upcoming World Domination Summit (happening in 35 days! OMG!), and the product launch plans had come down to the wire as usual.

Earlier this year I fell into a bad habit of delaying things. Prior to that I had been fanatical about meeting deadlines. If I was five minutes late to a lunch meeting, I’d be upset with myself.

But then things started slipping. I missed an earlier deadline for the beta launch of this course, and then another—before finally getting it out last month.

Being late isn’t a good habit to be in, so I’ve been taking steps to correct it. No more deferring! Ready or not, we were going to move forward.

Not Even Alaska Airlines Could Hold Us Back

I decided that even if I was stuck in another city with only the clothes I was wearing and a credit card in my wallet, we’d persevere.

Yes—not even Alaska Airlines could prevent this project from getting off the ground.

I started making plans. If I had to stay, I’d book the Hyatt at Fisherman’s Wharf, asking them for a toothbrush. I’d go to a drugstore and buy contact solution. The great Chipotle was right around the corner—I could hit it up for dinner and then work from my room. We could do this!

I got to town, rushed into another taxi, and hurried to the studio. Ramit was great and his crew was professional. We jumped right into filming and completed a full hour segment.

Then I had to make some decisions. Stay? Try to get back? I called Alaska Airlines, then called again.

It was touch and go for a while, but then the late flight opened up. I could make it!

I headed back to the airport (again!), had a large bottle of sparkling water and a small glass of cabernet, and finally boarded my homeward flight after 9pm. I’d be getting home super late, but at least I’d be home. And whether I was home or stuck in San Francisco with no clothes, I knew we’d be proceeding with the launch either way.

But First, Two Contest Winners!

Last week we held a contest with hundreds of entries, offering a full scholarship to the new course. As usual, it was tough to choose the winners.

Some people made video entries, others wrote poems, and others brought vanilla bean scones to my doorstep. Actually, no one did that and I’m glad—please don’t show up on my doorstep. I’m not always home.

Many of the people who entered the contest had great stories and ideas. I love reading comments and hearing what you guys are working on. In fact, over the next few months I’ll be working on something that will allow more great people in our community to share their own stories.

More on that later; for now, the winners!

Winner #1: Jim in New Zealand

Jim wrote:

I import several important products and in terms of their social implications, they need to be successful (hemostat, UV protection). I’ve sought out business mentors, but few are understanding of a non-traditional company structure here in New Zealand.

Having a group for ‘back-up’ as well as an external kick in the pants will help. I’m self directed, but I wonder if what I’m doing is ‘correct’. I am not interested in reinventing the wheel, only helping people live safer, healthier lives… I’m also someone who would actively pay it forward and look to help others with non-traditional business models here.

Winner #2: Andrew in Spain

Andrew wrote:

I worked as a freelance English language tutor for two years before taking the plunge last year—renting premises and employing another teacher. $100 Startup was super helpful at this point.

We’ve had an OK first year, currently running at about 100 students and I think we’re at a really good point to push on. The Adventure Capital scheme could be great rocket fuel on the fire.

***

Thanks to everyone who entered. I hope you display the same enthusiasm at growing your business, whether or not you end up in Adventure Capital.

I finally made it back to PDX just before midnight, taking yet another taxi home. The next morning I got up and flipped a few switches. There it goes! Adventure Capital is now live and ready!

And then I did a funny thing: I didn’t tell anyone about it.

Why? Well, things had been super busy… and I wanted to make sure everything was working as it should.

Also, our members from last month’s beta launch are now able to promote the course on their own, and I wanted to give them a head start before I kick things into gear on my side.

While I was frantically working on things at the San Francisco airport, I saw this tweet from Scott Belsky, another friend.

I liked that idea, and since I hadn’t done much to promote the new course in the morning, I decided to stick with it throughout the day. It was kind of … quiet. But also nice.

Adventure Capital is out to the world, some of the original beta members are writing about it, and I’ll say more next week.

If you’d like to join, you should join. It will help you grow a small business and make more money. We’d love to have you around for the next year.

If you’re not interested, then… don’t join. Life is short and you should spend your time on things you’re excited about.

For now, I’m glad to be home!

Question: Have you ever been stranded on the road? What happened?

Comments here.

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Image: Tomas

This morning we reopened Adventure Capital for general admission! It’s been nearly six weeks since our initial beta launch, and we’re now ready to welcome a wider group of members.

–>Check out the site over here, or read more below.

Adventure Capital is an intensive, 12-month series of modules. Each month you’ll receive a new module focusing on specific strategies and tactics you can apply in your business.

I want to help a special group of people over the past year with this project. It’s definitely not for everyone, so check it out and see if it’s for you.

A number of our partners are promoting the course today, so I don’t have much more to say about it for now. I’m thrilled that it’s out, and if you’re one of our readers who hopes to grow a business over the next year, this course can help you do it.

If not, I’m still glad to have you around and I’ll be back tomorrow with a full post.

Happy Wednesday to all!

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It’s a holiday in the U.S. today. If you’re not working, this is a great day to catch up.

The chance to build something for yourself is greater than any holiday you could ever have.

Are you building something? Are you making regular progress?

A few things happening over here:

*I went to Seattle for Chase Jarvis Live, a great program. I love all of Chase’s work (see this amazing campaign for an example). He’ll be one of our featured speakers at WDS this year.

*I’ll be in London next week to speak at LeWeb.

*I’ve been reading A Curious Man, the strange-but-true story of Robert “Believe It Or Not!” Ripley.

*On Wednesday we’ll be releasing my new course, Adventure Capital, for the first time in six weeks. Stay tuned!

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Image: Kirsten

Four weeks ago, we launched Adventure Capital to a small group of beta members.

We’re now gearing up to launch it more widely… next week! Wednesday, May 29 is the day when our initial group will be available to refer new members, and a few special partners will be writing about it as well.

But first! In the spirit of adventure, we’re giving away two full scholarships to the entire year-long program.

Win a Full Scholarship (Short Version)

It’s very basic. Adventure Capital is all about helping new business owners increase income by taking deliberate action over the course of a year. To enter, simply comment in this post about what kind of business you’d like to start, improve, or grow.

We’ll choose two winners on Sunday night at 6pm PST.

–>Enter the contest here

Win a Full Scholarship (Longer Version)

The two winners will receive the entire 12-month series of course modules, along with all the case studies and additional resources that everyone else receives. We may have a live event for A/C members at some point. If so, the scholarship winners will also be invited.

If entering the contest, you must commit to work on the course regularly! A/C is all about taking regular action over time to create your own freedom and independence through entrepreneurship. This has to be a core part of your life over the next year.

Hint: It doesn’t actually take that much time to grow a business step-by-step—but the time you spend has to be devoted to the right things. This is a key component to all of the lessons and action plans we’re creating with our members.

You must be willing to share the results of your progress with everyone else in the group. A/C isn’t a forum—the focus is on taking action, not on telling people about it—but we’re rolling out a new series of case studies for our members starting next week. If chosen for a scholarship, you’ll need to agree to being a case study, sharing lessons and results with other members.

You don’t need to write a long essay to enter the contest. A few concise sentences saying why this opportunity will help you will be fine.

Oh, it’s probably a good idea read the introductory material so you understand what we’re doing in the course and why it matters.

There are no other requirements. Our biased judges will select two winners based on their own bizarre and twisted logic.

Over to you!

UPDATE: Entries are now closed! See this post for the winners.

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When you were a kid and wanted to do something your parents or teachers didn’t like, you may have heard the question, “If everyone else jumped off a bridge, would you?”

The idea is that it’s not good to do something stupid, even if everyone else does it. The logic is think for yourself instead of following the crowd.

It’s not bad advice, even if it’s sometimes used to exert control more than to support independent thinking.

Then, you grow up and suddenly the tables are turned. People start expecting you to behave exactly as they do. If you don’t conform to their expectations, some of them get confused or even irritated.

It’s almost as if they are asking: “Hey, everyone else is jumping off the bridge. Why aren’t you?”

The irony of this is lost on everyone who is busy lining up to take the leap. The logic shifts from independent thinking to groupthink. If everyone else is doing it, it must be right.

I began this site five years ago to help bring the childhood message up to adulthood application. Ignore those people jumping off the bridge. Make your own decisions. Live your own life.

Asking why? to everything like a three-year-old is helpful in making sure you don’t jump off the bridge. Whenever confronted by a request or obligation, ask the question:

“Why should I do that?”

When the answer comes back, “Just because,” or “Because that’s what everyone does,” you know you’re looking over the bridge again. In any given day, you’ll confront this issue at least once. This fact is somewhat unavoidable. Whether you jump or not, however, is up to you.

The counsel you received at a young age was correct, even if the people giving it to you weren’t that great at following it themselves.

Why jump off the bridge just because other people do?

***

I told this story in 63 cities on my first book tour long ago. The message still holds: think for yourself! Live for your own choices.

You can do good things for yourself and for others too—it’s not a false choice.

Comments here.

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Image: Troy