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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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The Art Of Non-Conformity summary
Chris Guillebeau
Set your own rules, live the life you want and change the world
18 mins
Brief summary
The Art of Non-Conformity by Chris Guillebeau is a motivational book that encourages readers to break free from societal norms and live a fulfilling life on their own terms. It offers actionable advice for pursuing unconventional goals and finding happiness and success through non-traditional means.
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The Art Of Non-Conformity
Summary of 8 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 8
You break free from an unfulfilled existence when you find out exactly what you want to get out of life.
It’s an unfortunate fact: most people don’t know what they want from life. Instead they amble around without a larger life goal or a clear sense of purpose.
Sadly, not having a clear idea of what you want from life holds you back from greatness and often leads to an unremarkably average life where you do the same as everyone else because that’s what everyone else is doing.
There are many ways to be unremarkably average, but a typical example is sitting at a desk for 40 hours a week, for an average of ten hours of productive work, while getting the largest mortgage you qualify for and spending 30 years paying it off.
Such a life insulates you from challenge and risk. Common ways to ensure we avoid risky and uncomfortable encounters are by traveling to only English-speaking countries, or thinking vaguely about starting a business but never actually doing it. Playing it safe like this holds us back from achieving greatness in our lives.
On the other hand, deciding what you want from life – and taking this decision seriously – can change your life for the better, increasing your commitment to living a fulfilled life.
Consider Bernard Lopez, a former cubicle-dweller who quit his comfortable job to ride his bike across the United States. He’d realized that, regardless of the skepticism and discouragement around him, he needed to commit to his adventurous dream and act on it. The result? An unmissable adventure and a subsequent feeling of invincibility that encouraged him to begin a rewarding new career and experience the exciting possibility of traveling every summer. In short: a fulfilled life.
The nagging question, “Is this all there is?” is an indication that you are insulating yourself from greatness. So if you often catch yourself wondering if there’s more to life, you might start to think hard about what it is you want to get out of it.
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What is The Art Of Non-Conformity about?
Based on the author’s blog and online manifesto, “A Brief Guide to World Domination,” The Art of Non-Conformity (2010) deals with ways of pursuing unconventional living and offers tools for setting your own rules, succeeding with your passions and leaving a legacy.
Who should read The Art Of Non-Conformity?
- Anyone who wants to lead a more unconventional and fulfilling life
- Anyone who is interested in creative self-employment
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