The $100 Startup: How to Build a Real Business with Almost No Money
How to start a real business with $100 or less. The philosophy behind the bestselling book, the core principles, common myths, and how to take the first step.
The Art of Non-Conformity
Posts from Chris Guillebeau
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Time Anxiety: What It Is, Why It's Hard, and What Helps
Time anxiety is the persistent worry that you're not using time right. What it is, how it differs from FOMO, why it hits harder for neurodivergent people, and what actually helps.
Definition of Insanity: Why Doing Things Differently Isn't Enough
The definition of insanity quote is usually attributed to Einstein—but he didn't say it. Here's where it actually came from, and why just doing things differently isn't enough.
Regret is an Unreliable Emotion
I have long believed that thinking about regret is a powerful motivator for action.
36 Ways to Live Differently
To live better means that you’ll live differently—somehow, you’ll make some kind of change. Your life will be different tomorrow than it is today.
Change Your Future to Rewrite the Past
“People think that only the future can be changed, but in fact, the future is continually changing the past. The past can and does change.
NeuroDiversion
NeuroDiversion is a home for neurodivergent humans, an annual gathering in Austin, and a year-round source of resources for living and working differently.
Out Now: My Book, Time Anxiety ⏳
Friends and readers, I’m thrilled to announce my new book: “Time Anxiety: The Illusion of Urgency and a Better Way to Live” is out now.
Different Is Better: Your Personal Invitation to NeuroDiversion 25
Yes, you are invited! Get tickets to NeuroDiversion 25 (March 27-29, 2025) 🎟️ Dear friends and readers, NeuroDiversion is coming up in just one month!
Time Anxiety and Neurodivergence: How ADHD Shapes Our Relationship with Time
Why time anxiety hits differently for ADHD and other neurodivergent minds, and what helps. Time blindness, executive function, and the limits of standard productivity advice.
The View from Prcanj, Montenegro
I think a lot about distant places, but to be honest, I’ve never really given much thought to the small country called Montenegro. I’m not sure why– after all, it is the world’
New Posts on Mental Health and Purposeful Productivity
Greetings! Depending on how we’re connected, you may or may not have heard much from me lately.
Announcing: A Year of Mental Health 💚
Happy New Year! Big announcement time: For all of 2024, I’ll be writing three times a week on a new newsletter hosted by Substack.
2023 Annual Review: Back in Action, Big Changes for Next Year
*Big news: I’m making some changes! Starting January 1, a new yearlong project will take the place of the weekly newsletter.
Annual Review Coming Up! (2023 Edition)
This week I’m heading off-the-grid for the 2023 Annual Review trip. It’s a tradition I’ve held mostly without fail every year since way back in 2006.
Choose a Life Purpose (Any Purpose Will Do)
The lesson of this post can be condensed into ten words: having a life purpose is better than not having one.
The Real Risk Is That You Don’t Change At All
Last week I posted a message on Facebook and LinkedIn about how working for yourself is less risky than working a regular job.
How to Pay Attention
Paying attention is harder than it looks. Standard advice—mindfulness, reducing distractions—helps sometimes. Here's what to do when it doesn't.
How Hedonic Adaptation Can Raise Your Level of Happiness
Have you ever noticed that some people are unhappy all the time? No matter what, they find a reason to be negative.
Going Back to a Strange, Familiar Place
Once in a while, you walk into a place and experience an odd sensation. What is this feeling?
Gonzo Capitalism
Gonzo capitalism is the economy where people are getting paid for things that didn't exist five years ago, on platforms that didn't exist five years ago, on terms nobody's parents would recognize as a job. An entry point to the topic and the book.
Lessons Learned from Writing Gonzo Capitalism
Two months ago I published my first book in three years, the longest gap I’ve had since I began this career.
The 5-Minute To-Do List
A quick idea for you today: keep an alternate to-do list that consists entirely of things that can be done in 5 minutes or less.
How to Know What to Do Next
I once wrote a post titled “Being able to ask ‘what’s next?’ is a sign you are happy in your work.” My point was that when you’re doing good work, you enjoy
Playing It Safe Is Dangerous
Being too cautious can lead to the exact opposite of the outcome that you’re hoping for. Sometimes, the safest choice you can make is the aggressive one.
Don’t Just Question Authority, Question Yourself
Many rules exist for the sole purpose of upholding the rule-makers’ power. By asking “Who makes these rules?” or, even better, “Who benefits from these
Helpful Things to Learn About
When I started making a list of things that might be helpful to know about, I was going to call it “Some Things You Should Know,” with the emphasis on
The Case for the $100 Business
I’m working on this concept for a longer project, but for now, here’s the basic principle: Just as you don’t need someone else’s permission to be happy , you also don’t n
A Collection of Productivity Advice That Is Actually Useful
The internet is filled with productivity advice. From YouTube videos to social media threads, you see it all the time: Follow these 37 tips to write every
The Great Mattress Wealth Redistribution Plan
It’s time for a new experiment! Sleep for free on a fancy mattress for three months, then get 100% of your money back.
Scholarships for Real Life: The WDS Foundation
Two years ago at WDS we gave everyone $100 and sent them off with a charge to do something fun and meaningful. Throughout the next year we heard a lot of great stories about what happened with
The Insane World of Underground Bike Messenger Racing
File under: I had no idea this was a thing. This mini-doc on the world of “underground bike messenger racing” might seem a little slow in the beginning, but if you stick with it you’ll be
Where Should I Go on Book Tour?
Later this fall I’ll be visiting at least 40 cities to meet readers and talk about my new book, The Happiness of Pursuit . I’m super excited about this tour. We’re hitting a bunch of major markets whe
On the Road: First Two Weeks of Book Tour
You did this for the first time long ago. You wrote a book and went out to talk about it. It was new and fresh and exciting.
How Much Money Is Enough?: A Conversation with Gretchen Rubin
Research shows that money can buy happiness sometimes —but the amount of money isn’t one-size-fits-all. J.D. Roth talked to Gretchen Rubin about how to find the number that works for you. *** J.D.: On
Get the Newsletter
Get the Newsletter Sign up here to get the best newsletter in the world. You’ll also receive updates twice a week (no more!)—and maybe even a free cupcake. (You never know.) Whoo hoo! You are a
The Top 7 Interviews from Good Life Project
Online interviews are a dime a dozen… except when they’re done amazingly well. Jonathan Fields decided to rise to the challenge of producing thoughtful, in-depth features on interesting people.
Inspiration
Inspiration Book List | Quotes | Other World Changers | Tools (Looking for the unremarkably average article? It’s here) Check out my book list for some great reading on travel, personal developm
If You Want Average Results, Follow the Rules of Average
In a previous post I wrote — The law of average states that the operating system of life is designed to work for as many people as possible.
Before Beginning, Prepare Carefully
I’m writing these notes on a SkyWest commuter flight to Santa Rosa, California. It’s a small plane en route to a small airport.
The New Rules of Money
Before we had the title GONZO CAPITALISM, we thought about calling my new book The New Rules of Money.
The Big Picture and the Small Details
In the process of making something you hope to share with people, two contradictory messages compete for our attention.
Rethinking The Marshmallow Experiment
You might have heard of the famous “marshmallow experiment,” where social psychologists attempted to measure the long-term effects of practicing deferred
Feeling Embarrassed Is Part of Traveling
Years ago during a visit to Singapore, I walked straight into a closed glass door while attempting to exit a coffee shop.
A Love Letter to Trump Supporters ❤️
I’d like to speak to any of my readers who have supported the current U.S. president in the past, or who are planning to do so again this year. Believe it or not, I’ve been trying to understand where
When In Doubt, Change Everything
I’ve written before about how important it is to change your mind. The ability to consider new information and update your beliefs is hugely underrated.
How Not to Book a Plane Ticket
AKA a case study in indecisiveness — Back in the day, I used to write a lot of posts on how to book plane tickets. Guess what? Here is how NOT to do it.
Readers: What Would You Like to Know About?
This week I’ll be traveling to Europe, though it’s been more of a challenge than usual to get there.
Unusual Things You’re Allowed to Do
Did you know you can start your own holiday? Not just a made-up holiday for yourself, but one that may eventually get noticed and talked about by others.
Follow Your Boring Dreams
Everywhere you go, you encounter messages about the importance of dreaming big. As a kid, you’re told you can become anyone you wanted.