Being awesome is fun

I'm still on my kick. It's nice, hopefully it will stick and I will become even more awesome than I already am.

The thing I dig about this website is that Guillebeau gives you actual things you can do to make yourself awesome. Not just "be nice" or "work hard." One of the things he mentioned on being awesome I just recently used to what felt like a very nice effect.

He says that if you want to be awesome, take notes. If you walk into a meeting and no one is taking notes, take them. Not only do you look proactive and willing and capable, but you can spin those notes the way you want to. Just recently I had a phone meeting and sent an email the next day that included everything we talked about. It was great for me, I'm waiting on some information and now I have it in writing that I need it, but it also shows that I cared about what was said and that the information was important enough to me to write it down.

I'm digging it a lot.

I will say its search engine isn't exactly what I might want...I know I saw an article in there about budgeting for non conformists, which sounds like something I could really use...yet...I can't find it...I did get wrapped up in this one however about "unconventional business ideas" of which I have one that is currently being worked on (yay), this is my favorite:

• IDEA: Regularly turn down money.

The first part is easy – turn down money from difficult people. Don’t hard-sell; invite customers to participate with you. Give money back and walk away from anyone who becomes difficult.

The second part, however, is more difficult to come to terms with. The second part involves turning down money not because of rude people but just because something isn’t right for you. Years ago, for example, I used to feel guilty for giving up thousands of dollars in lost sales because I didn’t want to call people on the phone. I’ve matured over the years – now I don’t feel guilty about it.

Now don't worry everyone, I'm not basing a whole life on a website. But it is nice to get some practical advice, actual hands on things you can do, to live a life more suited to yourself. It's nice to know there are people out there living like I want to, and sometimes you just need to be pointed in the right direction. And even more importantly, it goes back to a thought of mine from before...sometimes we just need permission. Even if we're almost 40 (heh), sometimes we just need someone to say "yeah, sure, go do it. It's hard but no harder than what you're living through now."

I'm not sure Guillebeau would approve of Gossip Girl however, but hell, you can't be right 100% of the time eh?