Goals

Chris Guillebeau’s life is anything but routine! In 2002, he set out on a quest to visit every country in the world by age thirty-five, and he succeeded. 

In his latest book, The Happiness of Pursuit, Chris guides and ignites an inner fire in readers to undertake their own quest as a way of finding purpose and adding meaning to their lives. 

“Courage comes through achievement, but also through the attempt. As I worked my way through country after country, regrouping at one of the many stops along the way that felt like second homes, I become more optimistic about my chances of success. In the final year of the journey, I felt unstoppable. I can really do this! I realized this and the realization gave me strength and endurance.”

He shares his own story and stories of people far and wide who are abandoning their conventional lives and pursuing quests that involve walking, sailing and biking across countries and continents. 

“At meetups and coffee shops on five continents, I sought out people who were undertaking quests and heard their stories. Through a series of interviews and surveys, I pestered them about why they chose to focus on a specific goal for an extended period of time. What did they learn, and how were they changed along the way?”

A woman decides to hunt for and see as many bird species as possible in her lifetime. A fifty-four year old man runs three hundred marathons in more than one hundred countries. Someone walked every block (121,000) in New York City. 

A young mother with a culinary degree and a love for travel decides to cook an entire meal from a different country everyday in her kitchen. It took her four years to cook and share the recipes from around the world, but she did it!

An independent learner decided to tackle the four-year MIT computer science curriculum in just one year, publishing his test scores along the way. His quest was about oriented around learning and achievement.

These people are taking adventure to the extreme and are living a life of no regrets.

“Embracing new things often requires us to embrace our fears, however trivial they may seem. You deal with fear not by pretending it doesn’t exist, but by refusing to give it decision making authority. When you venture to new lands for the first time, it is a big deal.”

A quest is defined as a clear goal, a real challenge, and a set of milestones along the way. The freedom that an unconventional life and quest offers is thrilling and addictive.

Chris suggests that we ask ourselves difficult questions: Do I really want to keep my job? Am I in the right relationship? If I were free to do anything, what would I be doing? One year from now, what do I want to have accomplished? 

One thing is certain, by the end of a quest, you’ll be a completely different person.

Chris’s advice for the world changers and risk takers who want to plan their quest is this:

Believe in your dream. Find others who believe in your dream. Get beyond rejection. Don’t fear failure. Get comfortable with risk. Create structure. Keep a timeline. Connect your skills and interest with a challenge. Know the cost. Don’t wait. Just begin. Track your journey.

Since reading The Happiness of Pursuit, I have identified a quest of my own.

Many of my readers know that I married my boyfriend at 17 and at twenty-two was a mother to four daughters. I’m still married to their father! 

Raising our family was quite the quest. We didn’t travel very much and we didn’t have much freedom. Everything went into raising the girls. 

That didn’t stop us from dreaming and planning that one day we’d have more flexibility to fulfill our travel desires.

We decided when we were very young that, once the girls were out of the house, we’d leave the gray, cold and snowy weather of Michigan and move to the Southwest where the sun shines more than 300 days per year.

Seven years ago we finally did it. We sold nearly everything we owned including our cottage, home and my husband’s business. We moved and fulfilled our dream.

One of our daughters works for Southwest airlines and we travel more now than we ever did. 

We have visited some new places, but we mostly go back to visit our daughters and their families. Up to this point, our connection with them has always trumped new places and adventures.

I’ve attended Chris Guillebeau’s World Domination Summit twice. I’ve been enthralled by all the dreams, travels and adventures these young change-makers embrace. 

Because I married so young, I missed the years of freedom between high school and adulthood. I believe that’s what makes an adventuresome, quest-filled lifestyle so enticing. 

Things are different in my life now. My business is online and I work from home. I’m not tied to too many responsibilities. I also have a husband who supports and understands my zest for unconventional living (although he wants no part of it!). 

This year I missed the World Domination Summit. Never again!

That’s why I was thrilled when I was invited to review Chris’s new book. The day it arrived, I began reading it out loud to Hubs. I couldn’t stop. 30 minutes into it, he was helping me brainstorm my own quest.

My personal quest! 

My quest involves visiting every city that Southwest Airlines flies into. I will investigate who of my online friends lives in those cities and ask if I can stay with them during my visit. While there, I will find out-of-the-way places to eat, visit, hike and run.  

I will also do acts of kindness or service in each city. When I leave, each place will be a little different because of my visit.

A Big Commitment!

Currently, there are eighty-nine cities in the United States that Southwest flies into. They also fly to San Juan, Puerto Rico. In the Caribbean, they fly into Nassau/Paradise Island, Punta Cana, Aruba and Montego Bay. In Mexico the go to Mexico City, Cancun and Cabo San Lucas. 

I will give myself up to four years to finish my quest. I will blog about my journey on The Bold Life. 

If you want to shake things up in your life and live with no regrets, The Happiness of Pursuit is a must read! I dare you to be bold, find a challenging quest and simply begin. Join me as we live our adventures, pursue our hearts’ desires, and shake things up in our mostly quiet and routine lives!

“There’s an adventure waiting for you, too. Real-life adventure isn’t only about traveling the world (although many of this book’s stories do involve travel) nor is a quest always about leaving home (although it often involves breaking out of a comfort zone).”

In The Happiness of Pursuit, you’ll discover dozens of awe-inspiring stories. You’ll meet many amazing people and most are everyday people doing phenomenal things! 

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

My e-courses are available at over 70% off! You don’t have to spend a ton of money to get beyond your fear. Grab one and begin now!

My best work is my course, 30 Days of Bold: Feeling Excited And Ready. Check it out. Today is the best time to begin something new!
____________________________________________________________________

About the Author

Chris Guillebeau is an entrepreneur, traveler, and New York Times bestselling author. Recently, he completed his quest to visit every country in the world before the age of 35. Host of the World Domination Summit, an international gathering of creative people, Chris is focused on encouraging individual quests while also “giving back.” His main website, ChrisGuillebeau.com, is visited by more than 500,000 people per month. 

We have it in our power to begin again. 

Tragedy happens. People die. Relationships end. Jobs are lost. Parenting feels like a thankless job. The life you have may not be like you expected it to be.

Pain, loss, setbacks and disappointment are a part of life. You feel paralyzed by fear.

Life isn’t always smooth sailing.

Sometimes, when things get tough and the pain feels unbearable, you only need to take the step in front of you.

Be courageous. Decide to take one step at a time. Move through your fear. Choose to begin again.

One step at a time is enough for the path in front of you to become clear. Eventually the light will shine again. I can promise you that.

____________________________________________________________________

My e-courses are available at over 70% off! You don’t have to spend a ton of money to get beyond your fear. Grab one and begin now!

My best work is my course, 30 Days of Bold: Feeling Excited And Ready. Check it out. Today is the best time to begin something new!
____________________________________________________________________

Begin again when:

You lose a friend or two. Things change, they move on. You’re cut off. Mourn. Make new friends. Begin again.

You lose a job or get laid off. You make a bad investment and you’re drowning in debt. Reinvent yourself. Begin again.

You end a relationship or your spouse files for divorce. Your adult children won’t speak to you. Forgive everyone.  Include yourself. Begin again.

You fail. You mess up a project. Nobody cares. You lose your time, energy and money. Learn from it. Begin again.

You are angry. You were overcharged. You lost your receipt. The line is long. You’re kicking yourself. Let it go. Begin again.

You feel distant from people. You ignore the ones you love. You meet your friends for a drink. One turns into five. Stop drinking. Get help. Begin again.

You get sick. A friend gets cancer. Your pet is aging. A parent dies. You question the meaning of life.  Be kind to yourself. Begin again.

You are exhausted. Your sink is clogged. The car is in the shop. You’re behind in your house payments. Make a plan. Begin again.

You gain weight. You’re too tired to exercise. You are unmotivated. You’re dying inside. Take a deep breath and one tiny step. Begin again.

You cannot quit crying. Your son is on drugs. Your purse is missing. You feel like a failure. You hate life. Reach out. Begin again.

You cannot calm down or get it together. You isolate and sleep too much. You feel like a mess. Make a plan. Begin again.

The difficult times are the very ones that can break us open and help us blossom. ~ Elizabeth Lesser

Here’s how to begin again:

Surround yourself with people who care. Allow yourself to lean on someone. You don’t have to suffer or struggle alone. Receive the kindness that others offer you. Simply say thank you.

Sit in silence. Don’t numb you pain. Get quiet. Let it bubble up. Breathe. Lean into it. Keep breathing. It will pass.

Change your perspective. Replace your fear with love. Commit to love. Love is an attitude. Love is a verb or a way of life. Love is an activity. Participate in it. Your world will change.

Surrender. Don’t hang on to anger. When you feel like you are being unfairly treated or when you feel like you’ve been left behind, surrender. Trust the process.  Life has an ebb and flow. This too shall pass. It always has. It always will.

Take good care of yourself. Go to the gym. Eat right. Get enough sleep. Pamper yourself. In difficult times be your own best friend.

Get help. Find a support group. Hire a coach. See a therapist. You may want someone to help you sort things out. You can’t see the whole picture. You may not know how to start over. Reach out.

Take responsibility. It’s up to you to be strong and keep going. It’s up to you to make a plan. Nobody is coming to save you.

Help others. There is always someone who needs help even more than you do. Being of service will leave you with a natural high. Look around and find someone who needs you.

Find joy and lightness. Look for a reason to smile. Notice beauty everywhere. Take long walks. Watch small children play. There is meaning and beauty to be found even in the midst of pain. 

The wonderful thing about life is that you can begin again anytime you wish. You can wipe the slate clean. Get back on the horse. Carry on. Again. And again. And again. Isn’t life grand?

We’re all inventors. We all have the power to create something bold, something new. We can choose to create something amazing, joyful and beautiful. We can birth something that will bring meaning into the world and enhance the lives of everyone. 

Yes, we have that much power. We are inventors. 

I’ve recently been inspired by my friend Jodi Chapman to create a new habit. In May, I’m going to begin each weekday with 90 minutes of writing. I’m crazy excited about the idea. 

I’ve also fallen in love with video-making. It’s a wonderful way to have fun, share, and connect with others on a deeper and more personal level. 

I challenge you to create something new. Invent for yourself and invent for others. Make your inventions inspiring, wild and creative. Make them simple, helpful and available. 

The sky’s the limit for our inventions. 

Don't allow your doubts, fears and failure stop you from taking action. If you don’t know where to begin or if you’ve been struck by inertia, help is available. 

The following tips are designed to help you take action and invent something new.

That is what we are supposed to do when we are at our best—make it all up—but make it up so truly that later it will happen that way. ~ Ernest Hemingway

1. Choose a project. What is one thing that would change your life? Make it something that lights your fire and keeps you awake at night. Make it useful and bold. This is your baby!

Goals in writing are dreams with deadlines. ~ Brian Tracy

2. Set a goal and make a plan. Create a vision. Define the end result. Make a plan. You need to know how you will do it, what it will take and the deadline that you’re aiming for. 

No dream can come true until you wake up and go to work. ~ Anonymous

3. Create action steps.  Working from your plan, write down actionable steps in chronological order. It’s essential that the steps are clear and you know exactly what needs to happen.

Fear is a great inventor. ~ Proverb

4. Flip the switch on your fears. Write down the fears that you have around this project. Use your personal power to shift your perception about each fear.  Decide how you can turn each fear into a motivating action.

A mantra can make the impossible possible. ~ Dr. Gautam Chatterjee

5. Create a mantra. Guy Kawasaki suggests we choose a 2-3 word mantra. Put it in your phone. Write it on a sticky note. Repeat it throughout the day. My mantra’s are “writing 90/5” and “videos are me.”

We were always dreaming of how it was going to be. ~ George Lucas 

6. Tell others.  Tell trustworthy family and friends about your dream. Ask for support.  Build an excitement and energy around it. Make it so amazing that they want to line up to help you.

The ability to be in the present moment is a major component of mental wellness.  ~ Abraham Maslow

7. Be single focused.  Do one thing at a time. If you want to write, write. If you want to read, read. If you want to study, study.  If you need to research, research. Give your full attention to the task at hand.

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you've imagined. ~ Henry David Thoreau

8. Ignore the unimportant stuff. Don’t spend time playing games or watching mindless TV or videos. Don’t be distracted by constantly checking social media or email. You choose how to spend your time. Make everything count.

I use my mind to solve problems and invent things. ~ Temple Grandin

9. Focus on the positive. Make a mental movie of your desired result. Imagine yourself in the scene. Create a feeling of success and add it to the movie.  Dwell on the scene and feelings for a few minutes. Do this anytime you find yourself in a negative state.

If we all did the things we are really capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves.  ~ Thomas Edison

10. Clear your head. Still stuck? Change your energy. Go for a short walk or run. Listen to music. Meditate or write in your journal. Then get back to work.

The world is moving so fast these days that the man who says it can't be done is generally interrupted by someone doing it. ~ Elbert Hubbard

11. Track your success. Keep a daily action log. Use it to see what’s working and what’s not. At the end of every week, reward yourself for your progress.

Results? Why, man, I have gotten lots of results! If I find 10,000 ways something won’t work, I haven’t failed. I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is often a step forward. ~ Thomas Edison

12. Plan to fail. Perfection isn’t an option. Failure is an opportunity to learn and grow. Once you reframe failure, you’re free to begin again.

I invented adventures for myself and made up a life, so as at least to live in some way. ~ Fyodor Dostoevsky 

13. Be you. Don’t chase fame. Don’t try to be someone else. Allow your uniqueness to shine. Celebrate who you are. Put your own spin on your creations. Be true to yourself.

We have to continually be jumping off cliffs and developing our wings on the way down. ~ Kurt Vonnegut

14. Believe.  Is your faith in, “I can” or “I can’t?” Drop your disbelief and continue to move forward. Put your energy into expecting the best. If you don’t believe in yourself, why should anybody else?

I'm going to enjoy every second, and I'm going to know I'm enjoying it while I'm enjoying it. Most people don't live; they just race. They are trying to reach some goal far away on the horizon, and in the heat of the going they get so breathless and panting that they lose sight of the beautiful, tranquil country they are passing through; and then the first thing they know, they are old and worn out, and it doesn't make any difference whether they've reached the goal or not. ~ Jean Webster

15. Enjoy the journey. Success is found in the journey not the destination. Choose to feel good and do good every day. Appreciate the here and now. Count your blessings. Help others get what they want. It’s not all about you. It never was.

What are you inventing these days? Please share your thoughts below.

Please consider sharing the inspiration on Facebook and Twitter! I appreciate your support. 

In a world that moves at a rapid pace, it’s easy to feel fearful. It's easy to feel like you’re being left behind while others are succeeding at making their dreams come true. 

Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal. ~ Pamela Vaull Starr

It can be tempting to give up or give in and live a life without meaning, purpose or happiness. Don’t! 

I grew up number six in a family of 10. I struggled to keep up with my brothers and sisters and I struggled to get my parents' attention. I found a way to survive and even thrive.

I married and started my family when I was very young. I struggled to make time for myself. I struggled to make my dreams come true. I never gave up. 

It took me nine and a half years to get my bachelor's degree while raising my four daughters. I earned my master's degree in less than three years. 

When I was young I decided that I would permanently move to a warmer climate someday. Twenty years later I finally did it. I never have to drive on ice or shovel snow again! I will grow old in a warm climate. 

What if you really knew in your heart, mind and soul that you could succeed? What would you do? When would you begin? 

It doesn’t matter how long it takes. It only matters that you begin. That you never give up. 

If I can do it, so can you! Be bold, be committed and be determined to get where you want to go. Begin today! 

Read on and discover how to get where you want to go, starting today! 

1. Ask for help.

It's not the load that breaks you down; it's the way you carry it. ~ Lena Horne

Find the people who can and will support you. If someone says no, ask somebody else. When someone ignores your request or tells you no, move on. Don’t take it personally. Keep asking until you get what you want.

2. Empower yourself.

The winners in life think constantly in terms of I can, I will and I am. ~ Denis Waitley

Gather the knowledge you need. Do the research. Ask others for the necessary information. Read books. Attend a class, a seminar or a webinar. Knowledge greatly increases your chances of success.

3. Get a mentor.

I did not give in because he would not let me give in. ~ Thomas Wolfe

Graduate school was difficult for me. I found a mentor and I met with him every Sunday evening. I couldn't have made it through a statistics class without him. He mentored me again when I wanted to establish my private practice. 

4. Join a mastermind group.

It takes a community to maintain a human. ~ Earon Davis

Allow others to inspire and teach you. Support others as well. When you’re part of a strong group you increase your confidence and learn quicker. Your chances of success skyrocket. 

5. Make time for your dreams.

Don't count every hour in the day. Make every hour in the day count. ~Unknown

Eliminate television, surfing the net, excessive social media and other bad habits. Dedicate your free time to doing what you love. 

6. Decrease your anxiety.

Smile, breathe and go slowly. ~ Thich Nhat Hanh

Meditate, practice breathing deeply and spend time in nature. These actions steps will help you clear your mind of doubt and worry. 

7. Let go of paralysis, hopelessness and helplessness. 

It's better to take many small steps in the right direction than to make a great leap forward only to stumble backward. ~ Chinese proverb

Begin small and go slowly. You will feel less stressed and overwhelmed. You will gain the courage to do things you never thought you could do. You will learn to take and manage risks. 

8. Keep a success journal. 

The answers have always been inside of you. ~ Jodi Chapman

Each morning write down one small success. Write down the things that went right in the last 24 hours. This one step will help motivate you every day.

9. Be happy now.

There are some days when I think I'm going to die from an overdose of satisfaction. ~ Salvador Dali

Don’t wait until you succeed to be happy. Happiness comes from within. It’s not dependent on anything external. Success doesn’t bring happiness. There are a lot of miserable but wealthy, successful people. 

10. Sleep, eat and exercise well.

Take time to relax, when you don't have time for it. ~ Unknown

Oftentimes when you are struggling, making changes or working on a big project, these are the first three things to go. Know this need not be! 

11. Focus on your vision and your success.

Create living pictures of the end result in your mind. It will keep you from being distracted by outside events or circumstances. 

12. Remain mindful of what you are thinking, saying and doing.

This isn’t just “another day, another dollar.” It’s more like “another day, another miracle.” ~Victoria Moran

Think with intention. Speak positively. Take action with enthusiasm. It will make all the difference in the world.

13. Commit.  

Commit yourself to quality from day one… it's better to do nothing at all than to do something badly. ~ Mark McCormack

Decide that you will do everything you need to do. Don’t give up until a task is finished. Focus on the task and actions that will move you in the right direction. Release everything that will not. 

14. Learn to delegate.

Surround yourself with great people who you can trust.

Hire someone to do what you can’t do or what you don’t like to do. Stop buying expensive coffee, unneeded gadgets and other stuff you don’t need. Use the money you save to hire somebody! 

15. Choose positive mental states. 

The great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do. ~ Walter Bagehot

Enjoy the journey. Develop patience, love, compassion and empathy for others. This will bring you inner peace. Success without inner peace is meaningless. 

16. Be kind. Help others.

Kindness, like a boomerang, always returns. ~ Unknown

When you succeed, remember the people who helped you along the way. Pay it back or pay it forward. This will show how authentic you really are.

17. Learn to serve.

How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world. ~ Anne Frank

18. Drop any thoughts of entitlement.

A man wrapped up in himself makes a very small bundle. ~Benjamin Franklin

Success doesn’t mean superiority.  Your possessions, money, job, travels or awards don’t make you better than others. Don’t ever forget this. 

19. Practice being grateful.

Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us. ~ Albert Schweitzer

Appreciate everything, especially the fact that you have the opportunity to follow your dreams and live in freedom. Other people are walking miles for their water, begging for food and fighting to stay alive. 

20. Stay strong. 

Never, never, never give up. ~Winston Churchill

When something isn't working, change your direction. Learn to get up when you fall down. Again and again and again. 

21. Keep your relationships a priority. 

One should never neglect his family for business. ~Walt Disney

The quality of your life depends on the quality of your relationships. Keep the people you love at the top of your list. Don't lose what matters to you the most along the way. 

22. Take responsibility. 

The price of greatness is responsibility. ~ Winston Churchill

You are not a victim. Don’t whine. Don’t complain. Don’t blame. You are the creator of your dreams. Nobody will do it for you. Nobody is coming to rescue you.

The choice is yours.

Choose to begin today.

Choose to overcome your fear and follow your dreams. 

Choose to make the world a better place for everyone by offering your gifts and talents. I'm here to support you!

Are you willing to let go of fear and follow your dreams?

Check out my new Kindle book: It's FREE through Thursday! It's #2 in the Kindle Store!!!