Imagine sitting down to read a book, only to realize it is the story of your life, until now, written like a novel. How would that read? Interesting and engaging? Or would it be boring and repetitive?

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In October 2011 I quit my job to spend more time with my family and working on things I care about. It is the first major step in my quest to live different. Now I don’t mean to be different just to feel unique, but instead to live different in a way that makes my life better. Remember that these are the things I have chosen personally. You should create your own different life.

Be debt free.

Debt is crippling. It limits your options, forces you to keep working at a job you don’t like,  preventing travel, and adding considerable stress. It is also often a symptom of caring too much about possessions. Seriously, if you don’t have the money, don’t buy things.

Jobs are optional.

It’s time we started thinking about jobs and careers differently. At times they can be great: meet new people, work on great projects, and learn a lot. But if your job is holding you back from the life you want to live get rid of it. If your finances are in order and you have money in the bank quitting that job isn’t quite so scary. Especially if you can work on a side project that makes some recurring income on the side.

Chris Guillebeau, an author and blogger, started traveling and writing extensively a few years ago. Now he finishing up a quest to go to every country in the world (all 193). He travels almost continuously and does it on less than $60k per year. All of which he earns from writing for his blog and related guides.

If you really try you’ll find there are so many more ways to make money than going to an office every day.

Focus on family.

Over the years I always heard people say “kids grow up so fast”, but I never internalized it until recently. Watching Oliver grow and change in the last four months has shown me just how true this phrase is. No one wishes they spent less time with their kids.

Travel frequently to unique places.

“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.”
– Henry Miller

The most remote place I’ve ever been is the mountain village of Ketane in Lesotho (inside South Africa). Someday I’ll write more about the experience, but for now I’ll just say that travel can change your outlook on life.

Spend some time seeing things close to home as well. If you live in a city anywhere near as great as Boise there are many things you have yet to discover.

Learn continuously.

If I had to choose one thing to shape my outlook on life it would be a continual desire to learn both physical and mental skills. Even though I dropped out of college, I value learning very highly. Just choose the setting that is right for you. I hope to teach Oliver to share the same desire.

Create.

Take what you have learned and used it to create great things. Whether writing, woodworking, software design, knitting, or painting; start creating.

Value experiences over possessions.

On a trip to Hawaii with my some of my family a couple years ago we spent nearly $1,000 on a helicopter tour of the island. Since it was mostly my money I thought hard before spending the money. Ultimately reminding myself that a great experience is better than whatever objects I would purchase with that money. It was an unforgettable time and I will show photos from the flight for years to come.

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That’s all I have for now. Go write your own story.