Resources
Welcome! If you’re interested in goal-setting and creating an alternative and eclectic lifestyle, these resources can help facilitate the process. Below is a compilation of sites, eBooks and courses that I find particularly helpful. While most of my links point to pages that are free of charge, I do maintain a few affiliate relationships. Note: I only recommend stellar products! If you have a question or concern with one of them, please let me know.
Featured Resources
Empire Building Kit. If you’re like me and interested in building your own small and sustainable business (think $50-150K a year), this course is worth serious consideration. The author, Chris Guillebeau, is well-known for his blog, the Art of Nonconformity. He has been self-employed his entire life, earning online income for the last ten years. Among other tools, this business kit comes with a 365-day email series, a 43-step product launch checklist and video interviews and PDF case-studies with people that have set up their own small, lifestyle businesses. Discover what ideas sell the best, how to boost profitability and how to form a lasting relationship with your customers.
Affiliate Marketing for Beginners. Learn how to create and monetize an affiliate marketing website from scratch. I’ve used this program myself; you don’t need any web experience, and it’s easy to follow along. Corbett Barr, the man behind the course, is super approachable and will answer any questions you have (I’d be happy to help out too). He also offers a 100% guarantee and says, “If you don’t make $1,000 from the course, I’ll be really sad.”
For The Alternative Jet-Setter
Frequent Flyer Master. The most useful eBook I’ve ever purchased. Chris Guillebeau, the author, guarantees you’ll get a free domestic ticket for purchasing the book. Learn how to accumulate 200,000 miles a year without flying, and discover the best tactics for redeeming high-value reward tickets. After reading this book, I generated over 50,000 miles in a couple of months and was even approved for premium status with American Airlines. You’ll be given specific opportunities with ten different airline companies and will learn about tactics such as free stopovers and how to deal with flight agents.
Fluent in Three Months. Benny Lewis, a self-taught polyglot, can speak eight languages fluently. In this unconventional guide, he uses his many years of language hacking techniques to teach you how to gain confidence in your speaking. He’ll show you how to create an immersion-type environment by connecting with native speakers and will lay out free resources to help you practice every single day. While other language software can cost hundreds of dollars, the Language Hacking Guide is only $49 and comes with a money-back guarantee. I’ve tried Rosetta Stone and private language classes, but Benny’s guide trumps both! Well worth trying out.
For The Alternative Media Hound
GOOD Magazine. One of the few print magazines I still subscribe to. GOOD is “a media platform celebrating and enabling the individuals, businesses, and non-profits pushing the world forward.” Known for its fresh, eclectic and visual approach, GOOD donates all subscription fees to a charity of your choice. Can’t tell you how many fun things I’ve learned about from both their print and online resources.
VBS.tv. With the help of Creative Director Spike Jonze, VBS.TV showcases short, documentary-style video content. They explore a variety of subjects like travel guides, news, music and humanitarian issues. One of my favorite pieces they’ve done is the Vice Guide to North Korea. Be forewarned, you may laugh your socks off.
FORA.tv. From their website: “FORA.tv is the leading online destination for intelligent video programs on the people, issues, and ideas changing the world.” A fun site to explore if you’re looking to broaden your knowledge base.
For The Alternative Business Tycoon
Springwise. New business ideas from around the world. As a newsletter subscriber, you’ll hear about new and unique business ventures from all over the globe.
Personal MBA. An experiment in self-education, the PMBA is a reading list of 99 books that covers the core concepts behind a traditional business school education. You can read about my involvement with the program here.
Mixergy.com. A site run by Andrew Warner, who posts in-depth interviews with a variety of entrepreneurs, from small-time business owners to rock star venture capitalists. I’ve learned more from listening to these interviews than any business class I took in college.
Source Control. We live in an increasingly global world, one where savvy business owners can leverage geography by using calculated outsourcing techniques to streamline business operations. Source Control is an outsourcing framework, chock-full of tactics like how to outsource writing tasks, where to find virtual assistants and how to eliminate communication issues with a set of clear, concise rules.
The Zero Hour Workweek. A fun and free 60-page eBook from Jonathan Mead, who chronicles his journey from traditional day job to creating a full time income online. Great story if you’re interested in pursuing an alternative and sustainable lifestyle.
Recession Proof Graduate. Another free eBook, this one from Charlie Hoehn. From the website: “Charlie Hoehn’s guide to getting any job within a year of finishing college. Learn the benefits of free work and how to differentiate yourself from other candidates.
For The Alternative Student Of Life
I’m a huge fan of distance education, the idea that you can learn just about anything from the comfort of your own home. Here are a few of my favorite educational websites:
Instructables. User-created do-it-yourself projects. An awesome site to browse through if you’re looking to broaden your skills as a handyman (or woman).
TED.com. If you haven’t been to TED.com, you’re missing out. Like, really missing out. TED (Technology, Entertainment and Design) is a global set of conferences organized to promote “ideas worth spreading.” Past speakers include Bill Gates, Malcolm Gladwell and Al Gore. All presentations are limited to 18 minutes and offered for free online.
Forum Network. Free online video lectures from NPR and PBS.
Academic Earth. Free online video lectures from leading universities like UCLA, Stanford and Yale.
MIT OpenCourseWare. Explore lecture notes, homework problems and exams from undergraduate and graduate-level courses at MIT. Over 1500 courses are available online, some with interactive web demonstrations.
For The Alternative Fitness Geek
Why pay for an expensive gym membership when you can become ridiculously fit and athletic for free? Here are a few fitness programs I’ve experimented with outside of the gym.
One Hundred Push Ups. A six-week training program that will enable you to complete one hundred push ups in a row. A fun and simple way to build and tone your upper body.
CrossFit. A grassroots health movement (with a loyal following) that integrates weightlifting, sprinting and gymnastics. If you can’t make it to one of the many affiliate gyms that specialize in CrossFit exercises, check out their website for daily workouts.
P90x Ab Ripper Workout. One of the hardest, most efficient ab workouts I’ve ever done. Complete 25 repetitions of a series of exercises in 15-20 minutes. When you’re done crying from the extreme pain, drink some water and repeat a couple of days later.
