Chris Guillebeau hanging out with a friend in Thailand

NOTE: This book giveaway is now over, but you may be interested in my online course: “Fall in Love with Your Work” Click here to learn more…

If you’ve been going through life as a sleepwalker, it’s time to wake up.
The journey begins right now.

~ Chris Guillebeau
___________________

You’ve gotta love a guy who has made it his mission to visit all 193 countries on the planet before his 35th birthday and who’s got a cat named Libby (short for “The Liberator”) for his office assistant.

But Chris Guillebeau is also genuinely devoted to helping people succeed in bringing more freedom into their life, especially when it comes to work.

I first became familiar with Chris when I signed up for his “Empire Building Kit” two years ago. I can testify that experience made a huge difference in my life and it inspired me to start The Liberated Life Project. Later that year, Chris’s first book, The Art of Nonconformity, was published.

This month, Chris’s second book is out:  The $100 Startup: Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New Future. This new book is filled to the brim with all kinds of great information distilled from a survey that Chris did with 1,500 individuals who have built businesses earning $50,000 or more from a modest investment (in many cases, $100 or less). In Chris’s words, it’s a “blueprint for change and action.” And it’s getting rave reviews.

Chris was kind enough to give me an “interview-ette” to celebrate the launch of The $100 Startup and to share some of his thoughts about freedom and liberation.

Interview with Chris

Maia: Last month on the Liberated Life Project, we explored the idea of creating a “liberation-based livelihood,” which I defined as one in which your work is an expression of your core intention. Chris, what would you say is your core intention or your mission statement for your life?

Chris: I like your definition. For me, the core intention would be to live a life of grateful adventure. I want to challenge myself to learn, live, and give more. I want to love what I do and say yes to things that excite me. I want to be a part of something significant, and I want to create.

Maia: How do you define liberation or freedom in your own life?

Chris: Continuously improving myself. Making choices based on my own preferences and priorities, while also actively working toward something that makes the world a better place.

Maia: Back when you started up your first business, what were the biggest hurdles you had to get over — both internal (like your own fears or other thoughts and emotions) and external? How did you get beyond these?

Chris: Internal obstacles are always the most challenging. When I first started my own business, I didn’t know I was “going into business”—I just needed a way to pay the bills, and I wasn’t a good employee. So I was scared, yes, but I removed all other options. It simply had to work. When you shift to that imperative, funny enough, many of the obstacles are no longer relevant.

Maia: What would you say to someone who is now in that same position and starting on their own path toward more liberated work? What’s the most important thing you’ve learned about taking a first step toward a more liberating work situation?

Chris: Most people won’t be in the situation I was in, at least not at first. Most people are more like those who write in from a cubicle and say, “I hate my job but I’m afraid to leave it.” In those cases, my advice is, OK, fine–don’t leave it.

But if you really want to create your own freedom, spend your free time working on the business or liberating work situation. We all make time for what’s important to us, and everyone is busy. So if it matters, take those steps. Brainstorm your idea. Develop it into a specific offer as soon as possible. Get a one-page website up, even if it’s terrible. Just do something.

Maia: Thank you, Chris!

How to Win a Copy of The $100 Startup

UPDATE: As of Sunday, May 20th, we’ve got a winner… thanks to all who entered! Here’s the link to order The $100 Startup.

As Chris said, the first step toward a more liberated livelihood is to simply take that first step. And perhaps that’s entering this contest and getting this great book.

Here’s how it works. You can get up to three entries in this contest:

1) Write a comment below and let me know what your biggest question is about finding more freedom in your own work situation. Or just tell me how you think Chris’s book might help you.

2) If you want an extra chance to win, sign up to be a member of “Team Liberation”, and then leave a comment below to let me know you’ve done that. If you’re already a subscriber, leave a comment to that effect.

3) And if you want an extra-extra chance to win, tweet the following: RT @LLProject Win a copy of #$100Startup by @chrisguillebeau Enter here! http://wp.me/p1fuuV-Le And then leave a comment below to let me know you tweeted.

Contest deadline: Sunday, May 20, 6 pm (EST). I’ll choose the winner in a random drawing from all the comments below, and ship the book to you within a week. If you’re not a winner or if you’re eager to get the book now, you can order it here. Good luck!