Comments on: “It’s Only Life or Death”: Disaster and Opportunity Interview with John Unger http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/disaster-and-opportunity-interview-with-john-unger/ Unconventional Strategies for Life, Work, and Travel Tue, 16 Mar 2010 21:45:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Trackback from The Edible Torah http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/disaster-and-opportunity-interview-with-john-unger/comment-page-1/#comment-13748 Trackback from The Edible Torah Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:03:18 +0000 http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/?p=3989#comment-13748 [...] creation – that we are constantly on the edge of destruction. That is, until today when I read an interview here, by Chris Guillebeau with the artist John Unger. Chris’s site – The Art of [...] [...] creation – that we are constantly on the edge of destruction. That is, until today when I read an interview here, by Chris Guillebeau with the artist John Unger. Chris’s site – The Art of [...]

]]> By: Michael Colemire http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/disaster-and-opportunity-interview-with-john-unger/comment-page-1/#comment-13705 Michael Colemire Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:49:04 +0000 http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/?p=3989#comment-13705 This is an inspiring article. I too am a working artist trying to make a living. I hope to use this article as lesson and influence. Keep up the good work. This is an inspiring article. I too am a working artist trying to make a living. I hope to use this article as lesson and influence. Keep up the good work.

]]> By: Trackback from Scott H Young http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/disaster-and-opportunity-interview-with-john-unger/comment-page-1/#comment-13681 Trackback from Scott H Young Mon, 26 Oct 2009 08:07:18 +0000 http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/?p=3989#comment-13681 [...] A fantastic interview with John Unger about pulling yourself out from a personal crisis. Here’s the interview-inspiring article. Some of the best parts: “The best thing that ever happened to [John] was nearly being killed in a diner by a crazed taxi driver who held a gun to his head. (It taught him perspective, he says.) [...] [...] A fantastic interview with John Unger about pulling yourself out from a personal crisis. Here’s the interview-inspiring article. Some of the best parts: “The best thing that ever happened to [John] was nearly being killed in a diner by a crazed taxi driver who held a gun to his head. (It taught him perspective, he says.) [...]

]]> By: Seth M Baker http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/disaster-and-opportunity-interview-with-john-unger/comment-page-1/#comment-13611 Seth M Baker Sat, 24 Oct 2009 07:30:31 +0000 http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/?p=3989#comment-13611 Great reading here, both the interview and the article. While it wasn't as extreme as having a gun held to my head, I had a similar revelation a little over a year ago. I was working a meaningless job just to make ends meet. One day I managed to break my foot by stepping on a curb (don't ask, I still don't understand it). During the month I spent immobilized, I realized I was just marking time, wasting my energy trying to make a buck. If I didn't quit, that job would ultimately break more than just my foot. The decision to quit wasn't easy, but it was one of the best one I've ever made. Great reading here, both the interview and the article.

While it wasn’t as extreme as having a gun held to my head, I had a similar revelation a little over a year ago. I was working a meaningless job just to make ends meet. One day I managed to break my foot by stepping on a curb (don’t ask, I still don’t understand it).

During the month I spent immobilized, I realized I was just marking time, wasting my energy trying to make a buck. If I didn’t quit, that job would ultimately break more than just my foot.

The decision to quit wasn’t easy, but it was one of the best one I’ve ever made.

]]> By: Neil J Lloyd http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/disaster-and-opportunity-interview-with-john-unger/comment-page-1/#comment-13603 Neil J Lloyd Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:17:38 +0000 http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/?p=3989#comment-13603 What a fantastic attitude John displays. It's our response to a situation that defines the outcome not the situation itself. Great post What a fantastic attitude John displays.

It’s our response to a situation that defines the outcome not the situation itself.

Great post

]]> By: Rob Middleton http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/disaster-and-opportunity-interview-with-john-unger/comment-page-1/#comment-13480 Rob Middleton Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:21:08 +0000 http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/?p=3989#comment-13480 Thank you Chris. I read the interview and then went over to John's page. Great stuff, very inspiring. These two quotes stick in my mind and have been stuck up on my wall: "It's only life and death, it's always only life and death" "A job wasn't gonna save me. It would just suck all the time and energy I needed to realize my dreams, while keeping me alive enough to resent it." Powerful stuff! Cheers, Rob Thank you Chris.

I read the interview and then went over to John’s page. Great stuff, very inspiring.

These two quotes stick in my mind and have been stuck up on my wall:

“It’s only life and death, it’s always only life and death”

“A job wasn’t gonna save me. It would just suck all the time and energy I needed to realize my dreams, while keeping me alive enough to resent it.”

Powerful stuff!

Cheers,

Rob

]]> By: Jennifer Moore http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/disaster-and-opportunity-interview-with-john-unger/comment-page-1/#comment-13473 Jennifer Moore Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:12:18 +0000 http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/?p=3989#comment-13473 Article and comments are all very inspiring! I went over and signed up for John's newsletter, too. Great, great stuff! I'm in a difficult position right now. It's not comfort that's my enemy--I have responsibilities (which I've chosen) which keep me a bit chained down. That said, I am working on my goals and building my own venture on the side. I'm taking it slowly, but I hope that one day I, too, can free myself and make money from my creative ventures. Eyes on the prize, as always! My favorite part of John's article was where he talked about his past as a poet and how he brings that to his visual art. I SO relate to that, as I am both a poet and a visual artist. I completely got it, and it was beautiful. (I love his work, too!) Article and comments are all very inspiring! I went over and signed up for John’s newsletter, too. Great, great stuff!

I’m in a difficult position right now. It’s not comfort that’s my enemy–I have responsibilities (which I’ve chosen) which keep me a bit chained down. That said, I am working on my goals and building my own venture on the side. I’m taking it slowly, but I hope that one day I, too, can free myself and make money from my creative ventures.

Eyes on the prize, as always!

My favorite part of John’s article was where he talked about his past as a poet and how he brings that to his visual art. I SO relate to that, as I am both a poet and a visual artist. I completely got it, and it was beautiful.

(I love his work, too!)

]]> By: Candy Paull http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/disaster-and-opportunity-interview-with-john-unger/comment-page-1/#comment-13460 Candy Paull Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:44:26 +0000 http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/?p=3989#comment-13460 This article was perfectly timed. I'm in the midst of reinventing/rebranding myself, facing what would seem an impossible obstacle. But the very obstacle (debt and a client base that no longer exists) is becoming the catalyst to think big, think differently, and not be attached to results. As John said, "The next step is to see if there is some way to leverage the force of the disaster itself to provide a solution... Any real disaster has some momentum, and if you can find a way to leverage that force, or turn it to your benefit, you may be able to accomplish a solution more quickly or easily." Sometimes that redirection leads to an idea larger than you had previously dared dream. My father was laid off from Boeing during the big layoffs in the early 70s. He took early retirement and built his own marine woodworking business when there was a 14% unemployment rate in Seattle, and never looked back. He was still happy working his business 30 years later, in his 80s. This article was perfectly timed. I’m in the midst of reinventing/rebranding myself, facing what would seem an impossible obstacle. But the very obstacle (debt and a client base that no longer exists) is becoming the catalyst to think big, think differently, and not be attached to results. As John said, “The next step is to see if there is some way to leverage the force of the disaster itself to provide a solution… Any real disaster has some momentum, and if you can find a way to leverage that force, or turn it to your benefit, you may be able to accomplish a solution more quickly or easily.” Sometimes that redirection leads to an idea larger than you had previously dared dream. My father was laid off from Boeing during the big layoffs in the early 70s. He took early retirement and built his own marine woodworking business when there was a 14% unemployment rate in Seattle, and never looked back. He was still happy working his business 30 years later, in his 80s.

]]> By: Markus @abroadening http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/disaster-and-opportunity-interview-with-john-unger/comment-page-1/#comment-13459 Markus @abroadening Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:10:25 +0000 http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/?p=3989#comment-13459 Wow - love the analogy of Tai Chi. Haven't really thought about that way before, but what a useful way to look at an 'unfavorable' event - by asking the question "how can I take the momentum of this and use it to my advantage in a positive way?" Like the ancient wisdom of "don't resist a force. yield to overcome" Good stuff. Thanks for posting the interview. Wow – love the analogy of Tai Chi. Haven’t really thought about that way before, but what a useful way to look at an ‘unfavorable’ event – by asking the question “how can I take the momentum of this and use it to my advantage in a positive way?” Like the ancient wisdom of “don’t resist a force. yield to overcome” Good stuff. Thanks for posting the interview.

]]> By: Thomas http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/disaster-and-opportunity-interview-with-john-unger/comment-page-1/#comment-13454 Thomas Tue, 20 Oct 2009 06:26:44 +0000 http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/?p=3989#comment-13454 This is an awesome story. With hindsight I have been able to see the silver lining of every major catastrophe I have experienced. This is an inspiration to start consciously making silver linings when disaster strikes. Cheers! This is an awesome story. With hindsight I have been able to see the silver lining of every major catastrophe I have experienced. This is an inspiration to start consciously making silver linings when disaster strikes. Cheers!

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