Escape the Mundane + Experience the Remarkable

How College Ruined My Life and What You Can Learn from My Mistakes

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Perspective

Sixty-eight thousand four hundred seventy-two.

Awfully large number… I’ll see if numerically helps:

68,472

Nope. Still large.

68,472… 68,472… 68,472…

Shoot, it doesn’t get smaller after repeating. Ugh!

So what is this number? It’s not my favorite number, that’s for sure. Actually, this number is the amount of student loan debt I accrued over my three years in college. 3 years = $68,472 … whoah! That’s roughly $62 a day, every day for three solid years.

The Debt Snowball

Before getting into it, let’s first travel back to my 18th year of life. I have a thriving business (I started when I was 12) implementing technology in residences & offices, as well as designing websites for businesses. I’m maintaining a 3.9 Advanced Honors GPA without any effort. And I have zero debt. Basically, life is good.

Having grown up as a minority from an Indian reservation along with a superior ACT score, I am besieged by college recruiters. From Ivy leagues to west coast universities, I truly have the pick of any school in the nation. But being a nervous teenager leaving my loving home for the first time, I choose the best private college within a half-day’s driving distance. And I love it. New friends, new town, new everything… College life is for me.

Fast-forward to 4 months later. I find myself in a seemingly endless line waiting to sell back my books from a successful first semester… After an absurd couple of hours in line, I’m up! From a wave of seller’s remorse, I keep my Intro to Psych textbook as well as my Econ book out of sheer interest in the subjects. But I decide to ditch the Middle East History book and an overpriced piece of crap that is my Business Computing book. Or so I thought.

Apparently history changes because the college didn’t renew my history book, which means they wouldn’t buy it back. But that’s understandable, there’s a lot going on over there and times are changing.

But the real kick in the pants?

They would not accept the Business Computing book due to a campus wide Microsoft Office upgrade…

Which means I spent the past semester force-fed outdated information.

My Educational Catharsis

Two days later – heartbroken from the realization in the bookstore – I return home for the winter break. There I reconnect with my older brother, Frank, who knowingly or unknowingly changes my life forever. A simple gesture, yet with powerful effects, he gives me an audiobook. And no, not a fictional book about vampires and elves. He gives me How to Win Friends and Influence People. And a complete paradigm shift ensues.
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A New Beginning: Initial Thoughts on Minimalism

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Minimalism

Leaf After Rain

Caveat: This blog is transforming into a guide to help you create your ideal lifestyle. One in which travelling is easy, money comes naturally, and you are free to follow your passion. My marketing blog is now The Edge of Innovation.

A New Beginning

Ten days ago I moved out of my four-bedroom house in Wisconsin, giving away most everything I own – from my enormous couch to my significant amount of clothes.

And have since been living my first week as a minimalist. Bouncing from friend’s couch to friend’s couch in Chicago, vagabond style.

It’s daunting. But exciting!

For starters, the most profound realization thus far is this: I’m still alive.

I know that probably sounds strange. But hear me out…
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I’m Going Homeless to Find Meaning

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Perspective

My Only Possession

In two weeks I will be emptying my house, putting all of my possessions in storage, and taking the leap into volunteered homelessness.

It’s a daunting transition. But necessary to start building my dream life.

For those of you familiar with my genius business partner, Greg Hartle and his remarkable Ten Dollars and a Laptop project, you may be having a bit of deja vu. Well fear not, I’m not stepping on his toes nor stealing his thunder. Personally, he is an extreme motivator and mentor towards minimalism.

I am, however, finally setting in motion a plan I created about 4 years ago.

I’ve never played by the rules. I was a disinterested student throughout college. A rebellious employee in the corporate world. And most unconventional, an avid couch-surfer during impromptu adventures.
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I Simply Want You to be Happy

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Perspective

I was chatting over the phone with one of my clients the other day and something profound happened. I truly realized why I’m on this planet:

I’m here to make YOU happy.

And no, not through flattery or other rah-rah bullshit you see from some of these self-help gurus.

My place is to help you create an extraordinary life. To imagine beyond your wildest dreams, what is achievable in the world. To break you out of your shell and explore the impossible.

From here on out, I am devoting my life to making You happy.

But how can I make someone happy? No person can make someone do anything without coercion. And according to tv crime dramas, that never ends well.

Alright, I should reword my passion:

Helping You Achieve Happiness

First, let’s explore what happiness is, or actually what happiness isn’t. A shit-eating grin is not happiness. Success is not happiness.

In reality, the preconceived notions of happiness are myths.
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How-To Change Any Habit in 20 Seconds

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Mentality

Newsflash: Turns out we are generally a lazy species.

Which you’ll shortly see is good news for those looking to switch out a bad habit for a better habit.

I recently finished reading Shawn Achor’s excellent book, The Happiness Advantage and I found a very intriguing concept. A concept that’s only 20 seconds in practice. Yet can change your life.

The 20 Second Rule

We all have a vice we’d like to exchange for a better alternative. It may be grabbing that cookie instead of a handful of celery. Or it may be plunking down in front of the TV instead of reading. Whatever it may be, there’s hope.
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