Why Do You Do This Every Day?

For a long time I kept this image on my desktop so I’d see it whenever I opened my computer. It’s a good question to ask when you’re evaluating your career, your life, your whatever.

Otherwise you could wind up like everyone else, and if you’re reading The Art of Non-Conformity, I’ll assume you don’t want that.

So why publish this site? I’m glad you asked.

Because I figure there are plenty of other people telling you why you can’t do something or why you should take it slow and easy.

You can learn about balance or being well-rounded and cautious from anywhere. No shortage of advisors will tell you to “be careful not to burn out” by doing something you love. Take it easy, go slow, blah blah blah.

Over here you get the other message: it’s OK to be you. It’s OK to go all out in pursuit of your dreams. Other people have done it and so can you.

That’s why.

As I travel throughout the U.S. on my latest adventure, I’ve been meeting a lot of fun people, some of whom have read AONC for a while and others who are new. The message of the project is spreading far and wide, and a couple of people have asked: if non-conformity becomes mainstream, aren’t we all conforming? A clever question, no doubt, but it’s actually not that complicated.

I answered the question from my perspective in the AONC book, page 237 for those of you who have it. But in short, more people thinking about motivations sounds like a pretty good thing to me. I don’t think it will ever become mainstream, but I’m glad to know we’re not alone.

So, back over to you: why do you do what you do every day?

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Image: Libertine