Life Lessons From the 2012 World Domination Summit

I read The Art of Non Conformity, its a great book - highly recommend it to people who really want to live outside the box. Its a very thought provoking read.

great words Sara!

Check out his latest book and website. Love the quote “you will succeed the weirder you are.” Sounds like a great experience!

Thanks Emma! It was a great experience! I encourage everyone to check out The Art of Non-Conformity. :)

interesting!! thanks!!

thought provoking!

This is a breath of fresh air in this time of political maneuvering! Thank you!

Love this post! Great advice!

Thanks so much, everyone! I'm glad you're enjoying the post.

I've attempted to stay a non-comformist!

I am deeply uncool... so it's nice to know I am doing something right *:D

Great thoughts to live by! Thanks for sharing.

It seems that the more artistic you are, the weirder, non artistic people seem to think you are. But that just means you are creative!

I've been hooked on Chris Guillebeau's blog for a few months now. So inspiring. I loved reading what different people had to say after attending the World Domination Summit. It's so great that people with so many different backgrounds and interests could come together and feel like they're all part of the same tribe. That's exactly what Etsy does, too!

I love the part about saying "yes" and going on that adventure - how it can change your life! All part of the journey....

I like the bit about saying "yes" too - and the bit about admitting your own vulnerabilities then putting them into perspective... Great advice!

I love this idea of "saying YES" and to being open. And saying yes to ME. ALLOWING who I am....cool or uncool, doesn't matter!

Hey, I know you! : ) Great article and wonderful to see you here!

Very, very cool. Thanks for sharing. I especially liked the part about labeling your emotions/fears and visualizing putting them where they belong.

Very very inspiring! Big tail wags to you.

Wonderful! Thank you for sharing this!

Great post! beginning of 4th paragraph.

andddd the rest of it haha

Love!!! Love!!! this article, I do practice the teachings everyday, sometimes it's hard, but I do try.

I must confess I was a little sceptic in reading this article when I saw it in the newsletter,I think some of us are a little tired of some recipes of success and the obligation of succeding. But I'm so glad I was still atracted to it and still decided to read it. The "yes" journey I've tried some years ago and it's amazing. It's not you saying yes to things you don't want for the rest of your life but for a while (set a time) opening yourself so that new experiences can come along. Now is the time remembered me of a saying from India that I really love "If not now, when?". I try to live by it. "Become exceptional at your job" I believe is one of the most important working (and social) values. I do believe it's our duty to become better and to offer our best, whatever is our work field. With so many instant success recipes in nowdays I always try to remember myself that the most significant things I got in my life were achieved with hard work. The people I admire were very strong and persistant in their works and principles. To read vulnerability as a quality in article is so refreshing. And so true. And the bus image is just so creative and empowering. Thank you so much for this reading!

This was very interesting. I live by many of these principles and they have helped me greatly. It is indeed comforting to know that I am not the only one that thinks this way. I have to say, I do get tired of people looking at me like I'm "off my Meds" lol when I tell them I make rugs out of t shirts. They don't take me seriously, and that is frustrating. Everyone keeps trying to tell me advice that has no application to my business. sorry, I guess this struck and cord for me. Thanks Laurine:)

LOVE This! Inspiring and some great words of advice from those that have been there. You really can choose to live in fear or live fearless and make your dreams come true. We witness this everyday here... :) Thank you *

I must embrace being Uncool more often! Loved this article. Thanks for posting!

Wow! I like the bit about saying "yes". What a great way to open the door to all good things that are waiting to come your way!

Rita, I'm so glad you stuck with reading the post. Your comment really makes me smile, thank you! I love the quote, "If not now, when?". I'm going to have to add that to my collection! Again, thank you to all of you. Your comments make me glad I shared this experience with all of you. :)

I'm so crazy envious you got to go the World Domination Summit!! I'm on the waiting list for 2013 *fingers crossed* Thanks for sharing all these gems with us!

Really inspiring! Thanks for sharing- must find the Art of Non-Conformity

Wow, you're so lucky that you got to go! I love all the speakers and I'm sure it was just jam-packed goodness! Thanks for writing this and tipping me off to my big trip plans for next year. Keep up the great work!

Thank you. I needed that right now.

Oh, you are so lucky you got to go! Thanks for the recap though. I love LOVE all the quotes! Thanks for sharing! xo

This is very inspirational and comforting to those of us who have never been cool! I'm bookmarking it to read again later, since there was too much good stuff to process in one sitting. Thanks for sharing your experiences at the summit. :)

Thank You!! very inspirational and quite good advice...I love the fear on the bus idea! brilliant, I'm going to use that one often I can tell. Ok fear - Get on the bus with the rest of the emotions you trouble maker!!! you ain't special, no more workin' alone!

I'm so glad to read this article because I'm feeling that I'm not alone, That I'm not the only one who needs to start to believe, to think outside the box... is OK to have fears. Sometimes I just want to get lost into my work but I know The importance to opening myself to the world. Thank you!!

I love it. Thanks for sharing.

Fantastic, will put reading 'The Art of Non Conformity' on my list of to-do's!

Sara I was there too and sorry we didn't connect! But since that weekend my mind is still reeling and doing these really amazing triple throwdown flips (the closest I will ever get to the Olympics) everytime I think about my experience at WDS 2012. It was my personal vacation and splurge trip to myself to recharge, regroup and get back on track with the things that are truly important in MY life at the moment. The most important thing I learned is that being uncool and totally yourself is really the new cool! I never and I mean never want to have that pathetic picture of me one day laying on my death bed saying I wished I would have done this or that instead of living a souless, passionateless, spiritually dead life. That is my motivation to do those things that scare me and forces me to really get to the core of what I want while I am here on this earth NOW! So thank you for the perfect recap Sara and perhaps our paths will meet again next year at WDS 2013!

aarvark wibble colostomy headlock turbulent wombles amidst a sea of infinate multiplicities singing decadent beatitudes daffodil icecream sentinel cartwheeling endlessly yippee! weird is good, right? I'm off to make some weird stuff for my Etsy shop......

I love the article. I am always so afraid sometimes to express myself fully thinking that people would not understand or wondering what response I would get. I find whenever I go with the spirit, what my inner self is telling me to do, and when I act on it things always work out.

Great article. I am somewhat of a non-conformist, like to do my own thing so the book will go on my list too.

Say no to what does not exite you and yes to what does no matter how uncool. love it!

I found Stephen Covey's book: Seven Habits of Highly Successful People very helpful in reorganizing my thinking and doing. My life is no longer about lists, but focus. As I reorganized my life and work step by step, I became more productive, I followed my passions. It's a good book for changing your life.

Great tips! Life without passion, is like my spoon without nutella :( Thanks so much for sharing the knowledge and reminding us that we ARE such a great community! :) wooohooo!

Wonderful post! Thank you!

Very insightful read. Kind of Yoda like. No coolness needed. Just going with the force and the flow. Follow the path to prosperity, by saying no, and saying yes. Knowing the difference is everything.

I love this article. It is great advice as an antidote to all the pressures to conform that we all face in today's world.

I ACTUALLY READ THIS START TO FINISH! AND I REMEMBER WHAT I READ!! I Excellent read! thank you !! I will add this link to my blog..

We are not uncool we have just followed what has been taught to us, seen by us and shown to us what is suppose to be and not asked questions. When the light goes on and we realize hey I don't like this or I don't believe it should be this way or I want to do this. Then we are uncool because we know the truth that we can do what we want that is productive and live how we want not how the people in little tiky tak houses do.

OK, I'll try to be even weirder than usual this week. But next week I'm back to just plain old weird.

I'm working so very hard towards quitting my day job. Thanks for the inspiration!

Thanks for the inspiration, Sara! What a great blog!

Enjoyed the book. Added it to The 4 Hour Workweek

Great blog post! It's so good to hear inspiration for the motivation we all need to be who we are and do what we do.

I want to be uncool!

I love the advice of saying YES to everything...then consider! Most often we close doors that the universe presents rather than opening one and taking a peak inside to see all the next doorways opening to us. Thank you for sharing your experience Sara! Marie / Pluct and 2pluct2

I have to say I was a bit scared when I read the words 'World Domination' but since this is Etsy I had faith it couldn't mean world domination as we know it, and instead provided for some very interesting reading, and food for thought! Thanks for sharing your experiences and information, and right now I'm browsing the Art of Non-conformity website, as I had never heard of it before.

OMG! This resonated so much with me! I'm teetering on moving forward with a physical shop, with lots of fear, and after reading this I want to stencil "joy""gratitude" and "vulnerability" all over the walls of my dream space! Thank you!

Sometimes, the best thing to come from these insights is... nothing. Not better products or more of them. Not a better job, or better at doing the job. Not thinner, not more frugal, not weirder or more vulnerable-acting. Sometimes it's just feeling and living, as the French say, "bien dans sa peau." It's good to feel good in ones skin. What comes of that state of being is less than secondary.

Refreshing article -- hanks Sara for bring home some good words to live by! I was told a long time ago to never decline an invitation -- if someone was good enough to ask me then I should accept -- the alternative is never being asked. I've lived by these words and they are valuable.

You do not need to pay to go to a World Domination Summit or buy a book to realize you don't fit in the box. It just isn't rocket science to not have a day job in the conventional world. I have been self employed without 'education' successfully for 16 years. I have Chris's book. I read it and thought it was quite boring and didn't teach me a thing, though I think he's a great marketing guru and seems an all round good guy and I like reading his travel adventures. Motivation comes from within and success is measured differently with different people. Some see it as monetary, some see it as becoming an author, some see it as selling handmade artistry on etsy. Some see it another way. Find your own way, your own path and your own success within your own standards. You don't have to pay a lot of money to be successful and you can be unique without the conventions, the high fives, etc and you don't need to live with debt.

Go Sara! Thanks for sharing your notes and enthusiasm with us. What fun! I might have a Journey karaoke party over here in Metaliciousland. :-)

This statement really spoke to me, "The idea that you have to research and know everything about something before you can get started is not necessary; it is our way of holding ourselves back." I have sincerely thought that this is true and have practiced this to the point of truly holding myself back! No more! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

What a fun, inspirational post! Love the part about respecting fear and putting each emotion in its seat on the bus. I will be "assigning" new seats on the bus :o)

Loved this post! I live in Portland and found out too late about WDS but I went to the after party and it was amazing! Would love to connect with other game changers: http://facebook.com/rachaelrice ~☆♡☮RR PS Almost Famous is kind of a bible of mine.

I found some nuggets in the article here and there. I think most of us don't experience the success we desire is because we use someone else's recipe. If we use another yardstick to measure success (especially the mainstream measure of success) rather than our own we will never have fulfillment. I believe as individuals we need to take the time to answer our own questions, and be brutally honest, about what would make us feel successful and fulfilled. If we don't have the answers to these questions how can we chart a course. Obviously it will take a certain amount of money to help us do the things we want to do and have the lifestyle that we want but, the dollars do not complete the whole puzzle. Things such as personal growth, relationships (spouse, family, friends, co-workers, etc), recreation, charity/volunteer work, mentoring, and so many other things. Each of these elements have a different level of importance to all of us and we all need to prioritize what works best for us, what works for me may not work for you. Strive to be the best "you" that you can be and not what everyone else thinks you should be. I think my all time favorite quote is "The most important things in life are not things at all".

Great article! Thanks for sharing :)

I loved this! It sure came at a very good time for me - I am ready to go big!!! Thank you :-)

Thanks for sharing this! It's just what I needed to hear as I'm trying to find a local scrapbook store to teach classes. Your words and those of the Summit speakers were very inspiring!

I usually don't read your success posts but I am so glad I read this one! What a great way to rev up my energy! Thanks Sara for such a great post!

love this article! I love weird people and non-conformers! I have never followed the sheep, or so to say. Thank you, sounds like an amazing experience!

I've been researching, evaluating, and more research to be as perfect as possible, and get everything organized just right. This post was the kick in the you know what. I'm on it. Tomorrow I just do it. Thanks for the motivational share!

thank you so much for this! it was so up lifting and now i want to get to work. i really needed this right now. xxx

This is so good I've saved it so that I can always look back over it. Thank you for such an encouraging article.

This is such great advice! Not only for our shops, but for every day!

Thank you, I needed that. As an Etsy newbie it was very inspiring. I need to to be more uncool and get off the computer!

Cool article! I am a fan of JD Roth of getrichslowly.org and Danielle LaPorte, and just subscribed to Chris' the art of non-conformity. It's great to see these points detailed in your article.

wonderful wonderful post, Sara! I completely agree with this statement: "When you do things, you defy the idea that you can’t". There really is no better time than now to take the risks and dive in. The initial fear is a small price to pay for the opportunity to live the amazing life you've imagined for yourself! I hope to be so lucky as to make it to this conference in 2013!

I've read a couple of Chris Guillebeau's books and The Art of Non-Conformity is a must read! :)

Lovely. I like the bit about being vulnerable and uncertain. Sometimes, you just have to take the plunge.

I'm SO glad I found this post, very inspirational and life affirming, love Cals advice, very motivating, thanks for sharing!

Thanks for this. I think I've done the 'yes' to everything bit and am now ready for the 'yes' to things that really inspire me. I still remain open to new opportunities though and still occasionally take on a challenge while thinking 'Is this for me?!' Right, I'm off to live the life I've imagined for myself!!

Thank you for this inspiring article. I have been letting fear stop me with a new line that I have been working on. But not any more!!! Today is the day that I will just 'do it' and not let fear and the desire to keep researching hold me back.

N I C E ! ! ! "A passionate life,complicated path" Yes to what exites you! Words to live by never to late to start.

What a good article! Full of great pointers

Thank you for your inspiring words and encouragement! About a year ago I took a mosaic art class with my Aunt. Now I can't stop! I do mosaics, and read about mosaics all the time! The hunt for unusual "things" for my mosaic work is fun too! It's time with my husband, sometimes with friends, and sometimes by myself! I don't know why anyone.......would sit in front of a tv....there is so much to explore! The world is full of creative possibilities!

Great article! Thank you!!

WOW!! Love this SO much!!!

Needed this affirmation today! Thanks for a beautiful article and the inspiration to just keep at it! Doubts and fear will eat at you and play with your mind, so I've just learned to ignore them most of the time :)

Thanks for the inspiring article. It was the perfect read this morning.

It was my fourth attempt at the alley dock maneuver in a school bus when I told myself, I will not fail. The entire time I was training for my CDL the alley dock was my nemesis, but long story short, I pushed the fear aside, executed the alley dock brilliantly on the 4th try and I now have my CDL. This lesson in strength and courage also works with my small business. In times of slowness I feel like I may be doing something wrong, so I try different key words, take pix from other angles, I do not stop. And then great articles like this come along and they are that extra oomph I need to keep pullin' rabbits outta hats and landing sales that I know will one day land me with my own store front. Thanks for sharing and inspiring. :) Melissa <3

Walter J Veith has some really great non-conformity videos on his web site that you might enjoy. walterveith.com

I needed these gentle reminders! I had no idea someone wrote a book about us, I'll have to read it!

I'm tingling with excitement!! I have been pushing my fear aside lately and it's like fresh air through an open window. This article is like a smile along the road!!!

Wow ! This is awesome !

Isn't it funny (and sad, when you think about it) that we weird kids have to endure years of bullying as we go through school, and then, as adults, the same qualities that got us picked on are what leads to our success? Imagine what we could accomplish if we didn't have to wait so long to celebrate who we really are!

Great reminder! Thanks!

inspiring article!!! thanx.

Beautiful :o)

As I say - Just jump and build your parachute on the way down. Thanks for the article. Many new links to check out.

Really good article. I was a bit put off by the title but I'm so glad I read it. Don't feel quite so off side now.

Wish I would have know about this! Would have loved to attend. I live in Portland oregon...

Excellent article...thanks Sara!

What a great read. Thanks so much for sharing your experience!

Thank you! I especially connected with the vulnerability part. I have great ideas for blogs and have set them up. My fear is being transparent and yet, that's what will connect me with my readers. I am going to use some of your suggestions. Thank you again!

Love this post, Sara! So fun to see you in Portland!

It is very true, that saying "yes" to everything is teaching me what to say "no" to. I enjoy the things I say yes to even more. Wish I could have been there.

The Etsy Community is the best! I can not tell you how overwhelmed, in a good way, I am by reading these comments. I am so glad that this article inspired so many of you and that you're taken to your desks and making things happen. So awesome! My goal in writing this article was to inspire and to share my experience with all of you. I know not everyone can attend conferences and seminars for various reasons and I was extremely fortunate to have been able to go this year. When the ticket sale opened, I didn't hesitate a minute before buying. I just felt that I had to be in Portland this year and it was worth every minute of it. I was in a moment of change and fear was high and I was unmotivated. This conference, even filled with simple ideas that I knew in my heart already, helped break away what was stopping me and cause me to shake in my boots. Your receptiveness is that cherry and whipped cream on top of the sundae. :) Keep moving, being weird, saying yes, trying new things, exploring, showing fear who's boss and being vulnerable. I know these are all things I'm putting into practice and I'm glad to know that so many of you are too! Hugs of uncoolness, Sara P.S. Just so you know, I've bookmarked this article myself so on off days, I can reread my own words and inspire myself.

Good for you, Sara, that you were one of the luckies to go to this year's summit. Chris Guillebeau is a visionary. I saw him at his book signing recently at Changing Hands bookstore in Phoenix. What a genuinely nice guy. It was a packed house that afternoon; everyone searching for a more purposeful life and supporting those who've discovered theirs. I've read both his books: "The Art of Nonconformity" and "The $100 Start-Up" and I highly recommend them to the Etsy community for their zen-like wisdom on work, on play, and on life.

Sara, you have put words to how I've been feeling and thinking. I'm grateful that you shared what you have learned. Thank you!

thank you so very much for this article!

thank you for the power shot!

Thank you so much for this article! I have read the The Art of Non-Conformity book while traveling in Europe a few months ago, and I vowed to my self to travel even more and to do what I really love to do while still making money at it. So far it's working out but when we are on our own we need lots of motivation to drive us forward and this article did just that for me :) I didnt know of the past World Domination Summit, but will try to make it to the next one!

Really great points and very useful information. Thank you!!

I so appreciate this information right now. I have recently had an invitation to join a local co-op and was debating whether this was a good move. I am now, more than ever, ready to say "yes" to the next thing so that my business and craft can grow. Thank you for this timely article.

I really enjoyed the post, it was very encouraging. I'm definitely going to be on the look out for opportunities to put it into action. Thanks.

I absolutely love this! Your words have prompted me to look inwards at what is holding me back and to look up and out to what is currently inspiring me. Thank you so much for the boost that I need right now! Cathy

I love love love this article. Very inspiring...thanks so much!!

I love this article. Thank you for the mind unclogging read. I feel ready to go again now :)

great post! Thank you so much for sharing!

Great article.......I think it's time for me to be "weirder" too! Good luck to ALL Etsy sellers!

Thank you so much for this article. I just signed up for the Art of Non conformity. I have been doing my own thing since I was born.. No apologies!

Every artist needs to give up fear.

I'm about three months late but I'm just reading through some flagged newsletters and articles in my inbox. I read AONC last year, but I was feeling pretty lost at the time, now that things are starting to come together for me, I should re-read it and put all that great advice to use! Thanks for the pick-me-up, I must check out the summit next year! Sounds incredible! Best, Marcy.