Image courtesy of Amazon.com
I was first introduced to Chris Guillebeau by Sarah Robinson at her Creating Irresistible Presence conference last fall. Sarah raved about Chris' book, The Art of Non-Conformity, so of course I had to have it (along with a host of others). Today I wanted to share this list of his that inspires me. I hope it does the same for you.
11 Ways To Be Unremarkably Average
1. Accept what people tell you at face value.
2. Don't question authority.
3. Go to college because you're supposed to, not because you want to learn something.
4. Go overseas once or twice in your life, to somewhere safe like England.
5. Don't try to learn another language, everyone else will eventually learn English.
6. Think about starting your own business, but never do it.
7. Think about writing a book, but never do it.
8. Get the largest mortgage you qualify for and spend 30 years paying for it.
9. Sit at a desk 40 hours a week for an average of 10 hours of productive work.
10. Don't stand out or draw attention to yourself.
11. Jump through hoops. Check off boxes.
I don't know about you, but I readily identify with several of these, especially # 7. What do you think? What would you add to this list? Any of these make you cringe? Who wants to join me in my journey to being anything but average? (p.s. you can buy Chris' book here!)
47 comments:
Here's mine: Don't do inner work; don't be self-reflective. Blame someone else - your mother, father, partner, boss- for everything bad that happens to you. Take all the credit for everything good. (PS I love Chris's work - and that book is amazing. Thanks for reminding me it's due for another read.)
Don't worry about planning for the future. Someone will always be around to take care of you.
Love this post and I don't want to be average either.
Um, yeah, I think the writing a book thing hits close to home. And that traveling thing---yes, I have fallen prey to the "travel safe" idea.
This book sounds awesome.
I have a card pinned to my writing wall that states - "In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different." - Coco Chanel.
I'm trying. I'm trying.
I've been to Naples, Italy and survived for Pete's sake! ;-)
Well OUCH Erin.. could you please not stand on my toes so hard. Well except for the travel part. I am not much of a traveler to speak of. I truly am a close to home body lol. I know BORING>.
I was JUST looking at this book on Borders.com. Seriously? The universe must be telling me something.
Yes please - I've even managed to do some of these many times over! I need a bit of encouragement though.
This really resonates with me! I struggle with this all the time because unfortunately the truth is, my nature/personality likes to play it safe. I am not a very adventurous person at all and yet there is a part of me that really wants to be! It is a constant struggle between not taking risks and stepping out little by little into something more. I don't want to live an average life! I want to make a difference in the world. Very inspiring, thank you!
If not me, who? If not now, when? Love the list.
I can relate to some of these and yes, it makes me cringe. Especially 6 and 7.
I would love to join your journey to be anything but average.
Good list. I'd add don't think about the future. Someone else will take care of you.
So many of these are me!
One of my favorites....wish I'd written it myself:
"To avoid criticism, do nothing, say nothing, be nothing. ~ Elbert Hubbard"
Excellent post, my friend! Sure does make me think. Even at my age, average sounds.........blech, average!
Terri
So glad you are inspired by my friend Chris. Rumor has it he may be at CIP '11 live and in person. Tracking down a source that can confirm. :-)
And just so you know, you never, on your worst day, be average.
xo-
Sarah
Here's the ones I want to resist:
Accept that you can't impact anything.
Believe that nothing really ever changes.
Accept that you can never overcome stereotypes.
What I like about your list is that it resists the idea that you have to be famous or rich to be something other than average. Taking risks, making wise choices, following your inner voice - these make you above average, even if your income and social status is "average" according to the world's standards.
Here's mine: Hold on to that novel until you think it's absolutely perfect because in reality, you're scared to death.
I'm not going to be average. 2011 is the year I start walking tall. Except for the traveling to safe countries. I'm to chicken to travel to the middle east or something like that.
Holy crap, I'm average! Time to step it up a notch. I can relate to just about all of this list and I don't want to!
This one:
4. Go overseas once or twice in your life, to somewhere safe like England.
I've been overseas a few times, and to other places, but I have so many places I want to get to and who knows if it'll happen. It's a sweet dream, and I hope I make it reality for me!
Unfortunately, I do see myself in a couple of those (or more...). Thanks for sharing the list. I turn 40 this year and I am trying to challenge myself more and this list reminds me of that!
:-)
Traci
#7 is definitely mine. I've been wanting to do that for a long time but never have even attempted. I still tend to think I don't have what it takes.
Wow. I always thought I was incredibly average!
Except I've done the opposite of all those eleven items. Which, in some ways, makes me a little suspicious of the list.
I question authority all the time; in fact, I've been in fights with "City Hall," in City Council Chambers.
I've been to Israel and Egypt.
I've studied seven languages, and can still work in two of them.
Except, I have a problem for number 7, maybe. (Does writing op-ed columns for a major newspaper over a series of years count as close to being #7?)
Talk about an eye-opener!
Really, I still think I'm pretty average.
But what does a Bear know?
P.S.
1. I like Mindy's thoughts, too, and some from others.
2. If you're looking for fellow travellers on your "journey," would it be OK for an old Bear to tag along?
Step off the edge, and find out that you don't fall, but that you fly!!
Team Us! Let's do it...xo
Sheeeeeit. On a good day I AIM UP for average.
Number 9. Thanks for reminding me about my plans of doing number 3 for the right reasons and then doing number 6. I'm excited for the changes in my life!
Yep, many of these sound familiar. I have a thing about not rocking the boat. Seeing that list does make me cringe and makes me want to get off my butt and change. Sometimes the boat needs to be rocked. Thanks for the reminder!
Oh geez, I'm a big fat fail at not being average. Eeks.
LOL, I've always been out of the box kind of gal. Never clicky. Mostly others are judgemental thinking I've got something up my backside but truth be told I'm just an original egg with lots of different ways to get from point A to point B. I'm comfortable in my skin and super glad I don't rank in the average. I always said 'normal' is a setting for a dryer not a person. LOL. Best!
Being too afraid to take a chance on anything is a big one.
Waiting around for things to happen instead of making them happen.
Great food for thought!
Thanks for just describing my whole life in a nutshell... off I shuffle to contemplate the list and get something unaverage done around here.
I know I'm working on courage this year...and here you are hitting me right in the face with it. (in a good way, not in a violent way)
Gut level honest. I kind of followed #3, didn't go when everyone else did. BUT...now I want to go more than almost anything, and I'm scared to death of it.
#7. Check!
#10 Check!
I'm am all about joining your journey with you. I love it!
(and I am adding this to my books to be bought/read list!)
Check off boxes hurts me. How will I know when things are done without that?
Yay! I'm not average! Yippee! I pity the people who are....
#3 and #9 resonate with me the most. I think a lot of people go to college just b/c they feel pressured to by their parents or society, etc. And then yeah, they whole 40 hours a wk at a desk? I can't imagine anymore... (used to do it though...)
You are most certainly NOT average my friend and I know your book will come to fruition. I just know it.
#12 Don't take risks for fear of failure. Yes, several resonated with me. Although several, made me go WooHoo, I don't do that anymore! So maybe it's a slow process? Just might have to get that book...
-Ally
#13 keep using the words normal, excellent, standards and accountability.
I usually don't comment, but had to here. TOO TRUE!
This is a different response than I initially planned. I changed it after reading the comments.
(1)This is only Chris's definition of average
(2)Average does not have to equate to bad/negative.
(3) Many days doing your/my best is being average
(4) I don't think anyone need feel bad because they're doing the things on Chris's list. Decide what's right for you. Chris is living an amazing life and there's no way I would want to be traveling and doing book tours in the way he is. Does that make me unremarkable average? If his life is the criteria then yes I'm unremarkable average.
(5) LOVE posts and comments that make me think so thanks to Chris, Erin and all commenters. Cherry
Oh Yes. Hell yes. #7. Meeee toooo. And how 'bout:
17. Hold onto anger and don't ever forgive anyone for anything. (I'm working on this one...a lot.)
Thanks for the great reminder.
I don't know that I can relate to many of these but I am a list maker/box checker!
You are taking steps to write that book!
Don't worry...you have lots of time to do all the things you dream of.
And yes, too many of these rang true for me.
P.S. Nice to "meet" you, stopped over via Jana at An Attitude Adjustment's blog.
Don't worry...you have lots of time to do all the things you dream of.
And yes, too many of these rang true for me.
P.S. Nice to "meet" you, stopped over via Jana at An Attitude Adjustment's blog.
I loved this! You have to read "Lynchpin". That is, if you haven't already. It will really inspire you to do #7.
Oy! Sounds like a life from hell. I'm signing up for your journey to be way better than average, as in truly remarkable. My end goal is to compile a book relating to my blog anecdotes... somehow. Remember, I'm an engineer, so this is a hell of a stretch. Thank you for helping me every step of the way.
I added this book to my list right before Christmas. Now I'm definitely going to order it. Off to the internet bookstore!
oh. these cut like a knife. and #4 made me laugh out loud! I'm following this plan to the letter.
I refuse to answer... I take the 5th. :)
DEFINITELY #7 for me too... and I've wanted to learn other languages for a while but haven't - BUT I bought a software package the other day to learn with my son! AND as you know - I redesigned my whole site towards writing and not business.... so I'm GETTING there... now for that overseas travel... Think Afghanistan would be nice this time of year JK!!
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