A Brief Guide to World Domination
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I’ve just spent the last two hours reading Chris Guillebeau’s (@chrisguillebeau) manifesto “A Brief Guide to World Domination – How to Live a Remarkable Life in a Conventional World” and going through the related material.
All I can say is wow, that manifesto really makes you think about things. At its core, the manifesto (as well as Chris’s movement The Art of Non-conformity) revolves around one core principle:
You don’t have to live your life the way other people expect you to.
Two Questions
Besides the core principle, the manifesto also revolves around two very important questions:
- What do you really want to get out of life?
- What can you offer the world that no one else can?
These questions are designed to help you realize how you can become or create something truly remarkable and live life on your terms, not someone else’s.
What do you really want to get out of life?
This is probably THE most important question one should ask themselves. What is your ultimate goal in life? What is your purpose?
One thing you definitely should do (and something that’s also recommended in the manifesto) while trying to answer this question is to go through Paul Myers’s “Ideal World“-exercise.
It’s a great goal setting-exercise that revolves around the idea of visualizing an ideal day in your life and then making adjustments to make it happen.
What can you offer the world that no one else can?
This can actually be a really tricky question – it sure was (and still is) for me. Basically, it’s about realizing how you can turn your passion or your interests into a specific expertise.
You really need to devote as much time as it takes to find out what you can offer the world that no one else can – and when you’re ready – the world will be amazed by your awesomeness.
Challenges
In the manifesto, Chris mentions a few obstacles that one should be vary of when they’re starting their journey of non-conformism. According to Chris, one should be ready to be challenged by:
- Gatekeepers – people whose purpose is to control or withhold the flow of information and the ability to create change, and
- Critics – expert pessimists critical towards anyone else who thinks differently than they do.
The Toolkit
When starting out on the journey to be remarkable, Chris mentions that a few tools are necessary:
- Relentless Passion – You must have an intense passion for your cause. You have to be willing to give your all, and fail and fail again. There will a long period of time with potentially few rewards.
- A Very Specific Goal – Why are you different? How will you make a difference?
- Expert Status in Skills That Help Others – You have to add value to others, or no one will want to help you. You need skills that will radically improve the lives of others.
- A Small Army – You need to start a following or recruit an army of believers that will aid you in your cause.
- Enough Money – You need enough money to accomplish the goal – no more, no less.
- Enough Time – You have to be able to devote a lot of time to improve your skills. You’re striving to be remarkable, not just ‘good’ or ‘decent’.
- One-Way Communication – You have to be able to speak to your following/your army directly through e.g. a blog or a web site.
What you do not need
Contrary to what most people believe, Chris mentions that the following isn’t needed:
- Qualifications
- Introductions
- Endorsements
- … or other credentials that are commonly required in the “normal” world.
What you need to do
Take action. Just start doing something – fail, learn, improve.
The choice doesn’t matter – just do something.
Now, go read the whole manifesto and take over the world! And oh, I highly recommend you to follow Chris on Twitter as well.
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@Sebastian,
Wow, thanks so much for this detailed review! I’m flattered. Looks like you’re up to good things as well.
Hello Sebastian, sorry for I made a spelling mistake in your name in that direct message. And here is what I have to say about this post.
I keep myself up with three simple easy things:
1. I don’t care about anything else except my goals. Well, I do enjoy things and care about them but I just do it casually. I don’t allow myself drift away from goals.
2. What other people think about you is none of your business. I follow this principle. and I am sure when good things happen, people change their opinion themselves :)
3. Just take action. Dreaming gets you nowhere, it’s the action blended with dreams that reap results.
Now, that was a quick guide to world dominion. Reading that manifesto now! :)
Thank you for sharing The Brief Guide to World Domination. It help me to clarify some goals in my life.
Very good manifesto. Thank you for referencing this!
It is good to see posts that give truly quality information. Thanks a lot for sharing.I am really very impress with your article.Keep blogging.
Great info and something to think about. An easy way to do this is not only to think from a philisophical viewpoint, but to make a “bucket list” of things you want to accomplish, then break these into short and long term goals. USe this a starting point for figuring out what it is you want in life. Then do something similar with your strong and weak points, personality traits, etc. to find out what makes you unique and what you have to deliver to the masses.
I came across this a couple weeks ago, and after reading this manifesto I’ve decided to share it with you. Chris Guillebeau wrote this excellent e-book on World Domination and is giving it away for free.
Sebastian, I love this post…I really have fantastic goals but I let the nay-sayers (Critics and Gatekeepers) get in my way.
After starting my medical practice I realized what it really takes to build a website business. I was a consumer of ebooks, waiting for Oprah’s light bulb moments and the law of attraction to pull money and opportunity from the great beyond.
Thank you for adding your review to Guide to World Domination. I will look for it right now.
I am reading World domination right now, THANK you Sebastian for showing it to me.
I will comment here of my progress to act on the book’s advice.
A good article, designed to challenge each of us! This wonderful e-book will guide you on your way to becoming a great leader and changing the world.
Hello Sebastian. Thank you for sharing the Brief Guide to World Domination. It helps me to clarify some goals in my life.