Every so often I come across something brilliant that needs to be shared. Download this, read and learn, print it and wear it, but whatever you do, don’t pass it over…don’t tell yourself, “Oh, I’ll download it later,” because you won’t; just DO IT NOW and thank me later!

Chris Guillebeau’s 279 Days to Overnight Success:
http://chrisguillebeau.com/3×5/overnight-success

There are three reasons why I find this information so incredibly important:

1. I have been trying to sort out how to organize my schedule (i.e. life) around the new role of being a successful writer and social media expert. This information clearly spells out many of the “How To’s” and should help you get there faster.
2. Chris is a trusted source; I know from meeting him and spending time writing back and forth online that he is true to his word. He is NOT an egomaniac, only wanting an audience to self promote and sell, sell, sell—as many people in my field are (and I not so secretly loathe).
3. The steps are doable. Many times when I read a How To Download, I am overwhelmed and conclude that there is no way to pull it off. With this info, you are sure to get where you need and the reason WHY I’M PASSING IT ON is because I AM DOING IT, Too!

I have done my best to pull featured quotes and info from the download, but you will be best served to go through the original and pull out your own gems. Block quotes are taken directly from his article and the rest of the information I have pulled together to help you determine how to fit it into your schedule and actualize your road to success…

“For me, I relate money to happiness and freedom. Right now I spend
about 10% of my time on activities that are directly related to generating
income. The other 90% of the time I’m writing, connecting with cool
people, traveling the world, and drinking coffee.”

How did Chris get there?  By Taking Daily Action and writing to a Specific Audience.

Step 1: Determine Your Niche Market, Writing Topics, and What They Care About

Niche and Grow Rich—Part of Going Global is determining a Niche, or a specific audience that you can focus your time and attention to. Readers will immediately know if they identify with your information, or they will move on. This is why it is so important to pick who your audience is and make specific and direct posts.
Writing Means Nothing if You Have No Readers—Determine a few themes that your audience will care about and try to keep your posts specific to those topics. For example, in my blog, I focus mainly on Streamlining Your Business, Travel, Living Your Ideal Lifestyle, and Spiritual and Personal Growth. Chris recommends making sure the reader gets what they want by providing solutions.

“I try to think of only a few individual people and pretend I’m writing directly to them.”

What Do Your Readers Care About? Take time to interact with your readers to see if you are answering their basic questions of Why, What, and How. This ensures buy in, understanding, and steps towards a solution.

Step 2: Building Writing and Follow-up Into Your Schedule

I know as a business owner that your first concern is time. I have outlined some of the areas that Chris focuses on and recommend you actually BUILD TIMESLOTS INTO YOUR CALENDAR to make this happen.
When to Write—Chris writes daily. I really admire this philosophy and am going to work it into my schedule. Currently, I have been using the style of “Information Camel” where I think and muse on a topic for, um, ever, then I sit down and write four articles at once. I like the idea of building writing into a daily routine because it means you are taking yourself seriously as a writer.

How Much & How Often—On average, he writes about 1,000 words per day. This takes me about an hour and a half without editing, formatting, or tweaking in Word Press. All told, one blog post (for me) probably runs about 2.5 hours. Add an additional hour if research is involved. Chris posts two or three blogs per week. These also go out to subscribers through email or RSS feeds.
Following Up with Readers—I’m guilty of not doing this and it will change Now  Chris spends about two hours a day building and maintaining relationships online. Part of this is by reading other sites, welcoming new people, connecting and responding to other people. I love this one, and it is true:

He Answers Every Email.

Step 3: Growing Readership Through Social Networking and Marketing

Leveraging Social Networking—Many business owners I talk to are confused by social networking and it’s purpose. Generally speaking (and as a newcomer, myself) I see it as a great way to reach out to your niche audience by giving information, sharing tips, and connecting with people you otherwise would not have met.

” I do this mostly through Twitter, LinkedIn, site comments, 100+ emails a day, and occasional phone calls and in-person meetings
Writing my affiliates to discuss their marketing efforts
Building relationships with journalists — perhaps through Peter Shankman’s
Help a Reporter Out service or people I already know”

Chris’ Five Marketing Actions—

Almost every day, I try to take five actions that will help promote myself, promote a product, or otherwise bring in new readers.
…a selection of actions could include:

1. Publishing a “Daily Ass-Kicking,” passing on good information

2. Connecting with people through Twitter

3. Sending out review copies of my products and manifestos

4. Reaching out to other experts, colleagues, and readers

5. Scheduling and outlining a product launch

Step 4: Products and Final Thoughts

There is a good deal of information in the article about product creation, management, and (my favorite) promoting and releasing FREE INFORMATION. Chris suggests eJunkie, PayPall and using a “No Sell Philosophy.”  I love this approach… honest and not pushy, at all…

…actually I have nothing to sell to you. Sorry. I do have a few products on my site, and you can take a look if something suits you. I also have an anti-marketing policy, which means that you should keep your money unless you have a compelling reason to buy something from me.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations—As a business owner, consultant, and “Entrepreneur- Turns- Blog-o-preneur”, I have a few recommendations that will help you work these seemingly daunting ‘to-do’s’ into your schedule. If you were following the math of about how much time it takes to go this route, I added up approximately 22 hours/ week. This is only the writing, posting, follow-up, and some social networking. I would add more time if you are just starting to grow your readership, create products and learn new technology. With that, I’d like to answer your Inevitable Question:

“HOW AM I GOING TO FIT THIS INTO MY SCHEDULE?!?!?”

• Put new time blocks into your schedule for: writing, editing/posting, social networking, follow-up and outreach. I like to lump my tasks together so I can be efficient and stay in the same mode. For example, I write several articles at a time, post and schedule them all at once, and spend separate blocks of time on networking sites.
• Set a goal for How Much and How Often you want to write. Currently, mine is once per week until my readership grows.
• Set a Goal to Increase Your Readership through Twitter, LinkedIn, and other social media sites. I get a lot of comments by posting my blog links to Facebook. You can integrate and update all of these tools at once by using www.Ping.fm.
• Reach out to your contacts to Find Opportunities to Write and Publish your articles. You can write on other blog sites, contact journalists, and write to reporters. Helpful links can be found on the download.
• If your goal is go create a product (Book, eBook, or Workbook) I recommend spending time BEFORE you start to write and come up with a detailed outline for your writing topics. I advise my clients to have 10-12 topics and then bullet point 3 or 4 subtopics below. Each of the subtopics can become a blog post and it will help you immensely to have this organized for compiling, tagging, and finalizing your product. I am in the final stages of my products and know it would have taken a very long time to generate my work another way. BTW: stay tuned for my eBook releases:

Return on Life: Reclaim Your Business and Your Life
Spiritually Rich: Building a Business to Help Others

…and my Book and Workbook are coming soon, too!!

Be in touch if you need help with any of this and definitely check out and subscribe to Chris’ site. For now, I’ll end wit a quote I pulled from his article:

“Be yourself, because everyone else is already taken.” –Oscar Wilde

Got Questions or Comments? Don’t be shy, post ‘em below!!

As part of the inspiring force to help you ‘take the leap of faith’, we will be conducting mini interviews featuring global entrepreneurs who have become “Business Backpackers”. Because we are all busy travelling, working, and having loads of fun, it is a short list of questions that will hopefully give you a quick glimpse of others “Living the Life”.

Our first mini-view comes from Chris Guillebeau, author of the blog ‘The Art of Nonconformity’ and creator of the following products:

• Create Your Own Freedom: Break Out of the 9-5

• Fly More: Spend (Much) Less

• Become Your Own Travel Ninja: Go Anywhere, Anytime

At the time of this posting, Chris has visited 103 of 197 countries. We were lucky enough to meet up with Chris on his way thorough Bangkok. It was a wonderful evening of sharing ideas, thoughts, and inspiration about leading an ‘alternative lifestyle’. I hope you enjoy the questions and comments below and feel free to get in touch with Chris, details below.

How did you know you didn’t fit in to conventional society?

I tried to fit in but never felt comfortable. I always had the feeling that “there must be more out there.” Everyone agrees that life is short, but most people don’t take actions that reflect that belief. I wanted to join the club of people who are not only unsatisfied with the status quo but also brave enough to step out and do something about it.

What do you currently do & please describe a brief roadmap of the haphazard leaps of faith that got you here today…

I am a writer, world traveler, and social entrepreneur. I’m very fortunate that most days of my life, I pretty much do whatever I want. I work hard (30+ hours a week wherever I am) but on projects that matter to me, not things I do for a job. There have been many pitfalls along the way – I have to deal with insecurity and depression from time to time – but I know I’m doing the right thing. I’m glad so many other people are enjoying the journey as well.

Your most life changing travel place & why?

I don’t have just one place, but definitely the four years I spent in West Africa served as the foundation for my worldview.

Encouraging words you would pass on to readers: If you could have had someone there when you took the leap of faith, what would you have needed to hear the most?

Don’t be afraid. You don’t have to live your life the way other people expect you to.

Get In Touch With Chris…

chris.guillebeau@gmail.com

http://chrisguillebeau.com/3×5

http://www.twitter.com/chrisguillebeau

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Updates by Email

Comments, questions, other questions you would like us to ask? Please leave below…

As I approached the rock that loomed above me I smiled to myself, “It’s good to be back.” Railey Beach is a world class climbing destination in Thailand and can easily be recognized by the immense limestone outcroppings that dot along the coastline in perfect turquoise water. This distant paradise is one of my favorite places in the world and as I gear up with a group of fellow climbers I am thankful to have the opportunity to be here again.

Climbing is a sport that I have been involved with for a long time. I tried climbing for the first time in college and have climbed on and off for the past seven years. One would think that after seven years I would have some sense of mastery with the sport; but instead, I am continually humbled by the fact that anytime I have some sense of confidence in my ability, I am flung to the ground. Climbing kicks my butt. I think it is for this reason that I am strangely compelled to continue on in my journey in attempt to face my fears, learn new skills, and ascend to new heights.

However, this is never my approach. Because I am an overachiever, I struggle with the learning process that is natural and try to skip past all of the essential stages of being a novice. I want to immediately be great at climbing. This is why, in my enthusiasm, I sauntered up to the Ao Nang Climbing company and explained that I wanted to book a trip with them. I was introduced to Gob, who would be the guide, and explained to him that I had been climbing for about seven years and have even taught climbing before. I told him I’m living here because I want to get back into the sport and I haven’t been in quite some time, but maybe after I got back on track I could help them lead other climbers if they needed someone extra.

Out at the rock, I was suited up with shoes, a harness, and tied in easily into the familiar figure eight knot of the rope. Looking up, it was a difficult climb. I was wondering if maybe Gob had overestimated my ability because I would really liked to have started on something a bit simpler. “Belay on, Climbing” we exchanged and up I went. About half way up I realized that this was not the appropriate climb for me to start on. While I have spent some time on real rock, the bulk of my experience has been in climbing gyms. There is quite a big difference between climbing inside where the holds stick out from a flat surface with neatly marked colored tape and outside where the holds could be anywhere, your grip is not guaranteed and you cannot see your feet. I reached for chalk.

Taking a breath, I regained my senses and pressed on. Finally, I reached the top and was on my way back down. I realized my guide kept yelling something at me and from the height and with the impeding language difference, it was difficult to understand. “CLIP the ROPE,” he was yelling. Oh, great, I cannot just drift merrily down the climb, I now have to clip all of the quickdraws that I followed getting up here. These are carabineers that hook into the bolts in the rock and guide the rope as the climber ascends. However, I have never actually had to re-hook myself upon descent and wasn’t sure I was up to the challenge. I was traversing unsteadily sideways reaching out for the carabineer when I lost my footing entirely and went swinging off of the rock. Caught by my belayer and looking down I impatiently yelled down, “I can’t do it!”

Unsatisfied with my response, I received several more calls to “CLIP the ROPE!” After four more attempts, he finally let me descend and I clipped the remaining two on the way down. I untied, shook out my hands and walked off of the rock.
For my second climb, I got on the one they had set up for first time climbers. Gob states, “You not do this one, its too easy for you.” I am not sure he quite understands that I can’t do the next one up and really could use a confidence booster at this point. I smile and say back, “Other one too hard, need to do this one.”

“Ok,” he replies and I tie in. Thank God I could get on and have a successful time of it. I felt a bit ill from the first experience and needed to regain some sense of my ability, and it worked. I was able to get on the harder climb next.
With some struggling and effort I made my way up my third climb. Learning the type of rock and textures is always an interesting part of climbing on different rock. Because you can climb a variety of rock (granite, volcanic, limestone, sandstone) it is important to learn the different features, textures, and footing that is required in each case. The same rock can have a variance and on this climb it went quickly from big pocket holds to sharp cutting pebbly holds. Making it past the crux, or the hardest part, I was able to ascend to the top. I reached and half jumped with the last bit of effort I had to touch the ring at the top and looked down signaling that I wanted to be lowered.

Gob shouts back, “Touch the RING!”

Oh my God, didn’t he see me? “I DID TOUCH THE RING,” I yelled.

It was like something from Lord of the Rings, ‘Touch the Ring’,’ Don’t Touch The Ring’ – but he wasn’t understanding me ad I was getting very tired of hovering in the air uncomfortably dangling from 50 feet up and Froto was nowhere to be seen. Finally, he allowed me to come down and as I’m on the ground untying my rope, I’m catching disapproving looks. I try to state my case. “I touched at the top, did you not see me?”

Unimpressed, and shaking his head no, he answers, “you not beginner, you can touch ring.”

Oh my God. I then go on to try to explain to him that I’ve actually been injured and am coming back from not climbing, and yes, I did touch the ring. I opt to go to another climb and get belayed from someone a little less relentless. As I watch the other climbers go up and down the routes I’m struck by a feeling I’ve had often when I have climbed. I don’t know if it is just the nature of the sport or the people that are attracted to it, but there is always this unnatural urge to push oneself faster and harder than humanly possible. I really have had to work on this nature of the sport because it is so insatiable– just one more hold, one more throw, one more… and then the next thing you know, you have just one more injury. It is really easy to overextend yourself and have pulled tendons, cracked ribs, and broken limbs. I glance over at Gob, and probably picking up on my insecurities, he says, “Sorry, I didn’t see you touch the ring.”

I nod, “Mai pen rai,” it doesn’t matter. It shouldn’t matter. But somehow it does. I go into my next climb a bit thrown and can’t get up an easy crack problem and decide to come down.

Later, in my room, I sat trying to decipher this feeling that I was carrying around. I’ve had it before and thankfully I have the time here in Thailand to look at my feelings and actions. I have a mix of feelings spinning around ranging from the fact that it is hard for me to just be a participant on trips (I used to lead them) and that I didn’t feel acknowledged by my efforts. Everyone else was getting handshakes, high-fives, and approving words after each climb. I felt like I had let someone down. And somehow, that said, I felt like I had let myself down. But there was no reason to feel that way! I had a wonderful day climbing in my favorite place in the whole world, and then, suddenly it struck me.

I had set the whole thing up. I had started with an inflated ability to assume that I would be good at something I had never tried. Yes, I had been climbing, but not in a long time, and not on this particular rock. I assumed the role of trying to be a super-hero rather than a novice or amateur thereby creating unrealistic expectations from my guide, and for myself. Because I wanted to be good at it, I pumped myself up by sharing my enthusiasm (or goals) with others. This backfired and made me feel performance anxiety and left me wondering, “What if I can’t do this?” In my first attempt, I went Too Big and Too Fast, trying to skip steps and force myself to push through a learning curve. Exhausted, I realized on my second climb I needed to wind back because I was overwhelmed. I was left feeling worried and doubtful. Regaining confidence for my third climb, I was able to go Too Big and Too Fast again, having similar results. By the last climb my head was so distraught with emotions and feeling misunderstood and unsupported, I had completely lost all focus and could not even finish an easy climb. Of course, no one wanted to help me because I had come across as someone who already had it worked out, or could handle it. This was the defeat.

The defeat in the process, or cycle, that I have put myself in has not just happened in climbing. My initial excitement for wanting to become involved and lead, judging myself against super-hero standards, setting unrealistic expectations and subsequently going into periods of fatigue or burnout have all been a part of my overachiever cycle. While my intent is good, the result is that I work twice as hard and feel emotionally spent when I could have saved myself some time and effort.

Saving Yourself From Yourself

While I could have just chalked up this whole experience as something of a fluke, Gob played a perfect role in the perfect lesson I needed to learn. Sometimes we need to recognize our own behaviors so we can get out of our own way. Being a novice, taking things slow, and getting help from others are all very difficult for the single-minded, focused, independent business owners. In my experience (being one, and working with) I have found that most business owners are overachievers. While this drive and super-hero mentality has propelled us into being business owners, we also need to realize when we are setting ourselves up for emotional and productivity roller-coasters.

Here are some tips that I put together after my humbling experience of learning from the rock:

1. Triple the amount of time you think it will take you to do something. This includes learning a new task, a new skill, training someone, implementing a new project, et cetera.
2. Let yourself be a novice. Approach new activities from that angle and allow yourself to be vulnerable and in need of help.
3. Talking yourself into doing something by sharing your goals or knowledge can be interpreted by others that you are the expert. People are less likely to help you if they think you know more about something than them. Instead, allow yourself to experience the learning curve with others.
4. Setting yourself up with unrealistic expectations brings out the judge in others and in yourself. Try setting smaller goals instead and approaching others to help you along the way. Achieving smaller goals will further your success and improve your confidence.
5. Learn that by slowing down, you are actually speeding up your progress. I took the climbs in this order: 2, 1, 4, 3. Had I just gone through 1, 2, 3, 4 I would have finished, felt better, and probably attempted a fifth climb. I also would have had an entirely different experience emotionally which is what is really important in retaining our focus and energy.
6. Know when to follow. Being Gung-Ho is commendable, as is wanting to be a leader. But, the truth is we don’t need to push our way to the front of the pack. By learning to follow, we learn how to lead. Let yourself be last, be a learner, and be slow.
7. Trying to push through life simply doesn’t feel very good. It is like driving as fast as you can to hurry up and get home to relax. By the time you get home, you are a stress case and you feel awful- it simply doesn’t work. When you find yourself trying too hard, or fighting the forces of nature (or gravity) remember one thing: it’s ok to let go and come down. You’ve already touched the ring.

It is said in Thailand that “Climbing gives you Power” my hope is that this article will have the same affect on you.

My true love is travel.  I LOVE TO TRAVEL!! I started traveling before I can even remember.  We had a condo in Florida when I was growing up in Indiana and we would split the year between warm Indiana and cool beachy Florida.  My brother and I flew by ourselves between the two when I was seven.  I bought my first plane ticket when I was twelve.  I flew to Canada.  My next trip I saved for was New York City… and I was hooked.  Since then, I have led adventure trips all over the US, moved to Australia, Hawaii, Colorado and California.  I’ve traveled to scuba dive and climb in Thailand, snorkeled in the Bahamas, and toured and explored Italy twice.  I’ve dined at the finest restaurants from Vancouver to world class dining in London.  I’ve skied with the stars in Park City, Utah and camped on remote beaches to swim with the sea turtles.

The thing is, it doesn’t really matter where I am going.  I love to fly.  I love everything about it (well, except security checks).  I love packing.  I am one of those nuts that has everything packed and zipped up days before a trip.  I can’t even wait! I love going to the airport.  I love getting my e-ticket.  I love wondering who I will meet on the plane (and have made several new BFF’s just by sitting next to them for one trip).  But, my favorite part of flying is thinking about whatever local drama I’m involved in when I’m leaving the airport and as the plane taxies down the runway and begins to take flight, it all disappears like little bits of wispy clouds we part through.  My mind becomes calm, and I look out over the sea of clouds and see the beautiful sun and know, sometimes for the first time in years, that everything is going to be alright.

I get calm, and then I get excited for the journey and the destination.  I regain my SENSE OF SELF and I am finally able to drop any attachment to the world below and I let myself fly through imagination land where the sun is always shining above the clouds.

To me, travel is magical.  I am so alive when I go somewhere new.  I talk to strangers, ask people where to eat, and learn from the locals what I should do.  I try new food.  I fill my senses with new sights, smells, and people watching.  I feast on the art of life and try to soak it into every single pore of my very being, right into my soul.  I love every second of it.  Yes, moments come where I am confused, or lost, or dismayed, but then someone rides by on a unicycle and I burst out in laughter.  Or, a gorgeous Italian man says, “How can I help you, bella?” and my world is suddenly right.

The things that get me down when I am home melt away.  Suddenly, I have more than enough to wear, more than enough money, great hair, and perfect skin.  I think I must just float around glowing, for the most part.  I love it so much I want to stop time and just run around kissing everybody and thank them just for showing up on the street at the same time so I could have this moment of pure bliss.

The only problem that the traveler lifestyle poses is how to make a living while constantly on the go.  After a series of creative positions, I came to the conclusion that I needed a long-term solution for living the lifestyle I wanted to live.  My goal was to figure out how to help others, create multiple streams of income, and simultaneously work from anywhere in the world.  After years of reading hundreds of books on business, philosophy, and passive income strategies, I began to put all the pieces together.  In 2006 I finished my MBA and started my business consulting practice.  I created a “Sustainable Growth Model” that shows business owners how to put your business on virtual auto-pilot and exit to the lifestyle of your dreams.

After more than two years, I realized that my best clients were motivated by the same thing that I am:  freedom.  I also realized that there are those that have the same wanderlust spirit that I do, and they want to figure this out fast, so they can fund their freedom.  These wonderful people are excited about helping others and they realize that if it is done systematically—it doesn’t have to take all day!

The niche of the ‘Business Backpacker’ was formed.  These are my people.  They have been looking for solutions to their quandary of helping others and helping themselves all around the world.  They are interested in adventure and focus on freedom.  They love the ideas and opportunity that life has to offer and want to work on learning more and sharing it with others.  These lifestyle specialists are smart, savvy, educated entrepreneurs that want to live life unconventionally—they want to LIVE MORE AND WORK LESS.  And my favorite part of it all is that I get to help great people like YOU share your greatest gifts and give you the freedom to do what I love best:  Travel & Enjoy Life!!

Welcome to BusinessBackpacker.com!!  If you are excited about travel, business, and setting up your life to work anywhere in the world – this site is for you!  Looking forward to your comments, questions, and travel stories…