After the lovely Interview I had with Leo Babauta, I am pleased to announce a new Ubuntulook Interview, with Chris Guillebeau.
Chris Guillebeau is a writer, traveler, and world dominator. His main site – Art of Non-Conformity – is a blog and a diary of his travel adventures in 100 countries and counting.
I have casually known Chris while reading Leo Babauta’s articles. What got me interested the most was his powerful attitude towards life. It really is the kind of person you would always love to meet.
PS. Twitter was crucial for this interview to come to life. So, guys! Here we go…
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David: What’s your idea about “simplifying” the way we live?
Chris: My thinking about simplicity is that it has nothing to do with the number of socks in our drawers, or how many other things we own. Rather, it’s about being clear on why we do the things we do. If more people lived intentionally, I think the world would be a better place.
David: Do you usually follow some routine to put yourself in a creative state of mind?
For many bloggers, one of the most inspiring things is the idea of writing articles over a sweet cup of coffee. What is your “ritual”?
Chris: I drink coffee too, but I don’t really have a routine. Mostly I try to do the things I’m motivated to do, and fortunately that includes a number of things that other people are also interested in.
David: Is it possible to find insipiration in minimalism?
Chris: Sure. I think it’s normal and good to find inspiration in other people and in a social movement like minimalism. But ultimately, I think it’s better to have your own ideas and live life the way you want to instead of by someone else’s preconceived idea.
David: Dreaming big. What’s your take on this?
Chris: I like it.
David: Needless to say, you are living a life of your own design. You are living the life you want, the way you want it. What is the most remarkable thing you have done in your life?
Chris: The most remarkable thing was probably having the courage to overcome my fear of taking action. Things got a lot better once I figured that out.
David: You talk a lot about inspiring thoughts/ideas and non-conformism. Could you suggest some inspiring books or persons in whose words you have found amazing ideas?
Chris: Sure. These books:
Man’s Search for Meaning
Mountains Beyond Mountains
A Wild Sheep Chase
Good to Great
A Million Miles in a Thousand Years
The Book of Awesome
As for people, I’m grateful to everyone who reads or otherwise participates in AONC. They have made the project much better than it would otherwise be.