I flew home to Salt Lake City last night thinking about my almost indescribable weekend in Portland at a little event called The World Domination Summit. I bought a ticket last September, the same week that I quit my job. I remember thinking that if my new business didn’t take off, I would have to return or sell my ticket. Thankfully, that didn’t happen.
Fast forward 10 months and I am in the middle of 1000 friendly faces and brilliant minds. Scott Belsky refered to us as free radicals.
Chris Guillebeau, author of The $100 Startup: Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New Future
How do you live a remarkable life in a conventional world?
During the weekend the following ideas presented by volunteer speakers answered that question, or led me to answers. (or more questions)
- Brené Brown said “The key to vulnerability is joy and gratitude.” and “Unused creativity turns into rage and grief.”
- Chris Brogan told us “Confidence is Sexy” and reminded us to get untangled by remembering that when someone says, “I am disappointed in you” it doesn’t mean you did something wrong. It only means you didn’t follow their script for your life or decision. He also said, “You will succeed the weirder you get.”
- Someone (I didn’t take good notes) said, “Don’t compare your insides with someone else’s outsides”
Each speaker made me laugh and cry, and some made me dance and sing (way out of my comfort zone and so much fun). Well known speakers like Chris Brogan, Brené Brown, Susan Cain, Jonathan Fields, Pamela Slim, J.D. Roth, Scott Belsky, Scott Harrison and Cal Newport volunteered their time and blew our minds, but it was the words from the less well-known Dan and Audrey that stood out the most for me. They said things like “Embrace regret avoidance” and “We are all more connected than you think.” but it was this last thought that brings me to the $100 surprise …
“Personal accomplishment is great, but shared accomplishment is sublime.”
You are the reason that I went to this life changing, unconventional business conference. You are the reason that I do what I do. I have this amazing opportunity to do what I love because of you. Personal accomplishment is great, but shared accomplishment is sublime. We are in this together. The Be More with Less community is a reminder that when you think you are alone, you are not. It is testament to the fact that when people think you are weird, you are probably on the right track, and that we each have the choice to change, and the support to do it.
Sunday night, at the end of the conference, Chris Guillebeau took the stage to thank his amazing action team and volunteers. Then he told us a story. He told us about an anonymous donor who wanted to support the World Domination Summit. There is no advertising or sponsorship at WDS. You won’t see logos plastered everywhere and we didn’t have to consume a certain brand of water or snack during breaks. Because of his commitment to deliver a pure message, Chris almost turned the money down. The donor insisted that it was an anonymous donation without strings and that Chris could do whatever he wanted with it.
So this is what he did with the money.
1000 attendees walked out with $100 each. While $100,000 is a large sum of money to give away, the dollar amount wasn’t nearly as impressive as the spirit of the gift. Everyone with an envelope in their hand felt a great sense of joy and responsibility. Someone believed in us.
I believe in you and want your help, because personal accomplishment is great, but shared accomplishment is sublime, and we are in this together. I’ve thought about everything from handing the $100 to someone on the street, to donating to Charity Water, or starting something new that can give back even more.
What should we do with this $100? Think big, think small, think different. How can we use this money in a remarkable way? Please leave your idea in the comment section below and share this post with someone who might not be familiar with the Be More with Less Community. Let’s see what happens when we come together to live remarkable lives in a conventional world.
In addition to this $100, I am giving away an another $100. If you would like to win a copy of Chris Guillebeau’s $100 start up and $100 to start up, visit my business blog.