The Best of Pocket Changed in 2011
I've already published my annual reviews looking back at my 2011 and looking forward into 2012, but I wanted to highlight some of the best content for you from 2011 here on PC. Below are the top 10 most popular posts published last year on Pocket Changed, in order of pageviews.
If you have an idea or topic for a post that you'd like for me to write this year, I'd love to hear it in the comments of this post.
Without further ado, on to the top 10!
1. I Quit My Job
Besides getting married, quitting my comfortable day job was the biggest thing that happened in my life last year. It is fitting that the announcement of it was also the most popular post here on Pocket Changed.
I received more words of encouragement, social media shares, and comments on this post than any other. All of which gave me extra courage and determination to make it work.
2. 5 Ways to Make Work Go Faster
As one of the first posts I ever wrote, I wanted to give concrete advice on how to make it seem like work was going faster on days when you just want to go home. I don't just advocate playing solitaire or taking tons of trips to the water cooler.
I lay out five simple ways to structure your work flow each day so that you can make it through those painfully slow days.
This post is ironically my highest source of search traffic. A lot of people want to make their 9 to 5 go faster...
3. My Minimalist Journey: Clothing
My step by step guide on how to downsize your wardrobe continues to lead to people to email their progress towards adopting minimalism. When you are trying to live a more minimally lifestyle a great place to start simplifying is with your clothes.
Having less stuff can allow you to focus on the parts of life that mean more. This post will get you started.
4. Why You Need To Go To The World Domination Summit Next Year
After attending WDS in June 2011 I came home with a ton of new friends, a renewed drive to succeed, and I realized I needed to take more educated risks in my life. In this wrap-up post on what the event meant to me.
The organizer of the event, Chris Guillebeau, happened to read it and send a link of it to all attendees and quoted it in one of his WDS wrap-up posts. Chris helped make it one of the most popular posts of 2011.
5. Live Each Day Like It Is Your Last
What if you knew that tomorrow was the last day of your life? What would you do? Would you quit your job, apologize to people you've hurt, and go do something awesome? Or would you waste it, like so many other days of your life?
View each day of your life as a precious moment that you will never get back. This mindset will lead you to live a more genuine life.
6. 19 Non-Conformists Who Changed My Life
This post was the third and final essay in the series I did to recognize all of the people that had made a big impact in my life after college. This group inspired me to go against the grain, create my own path, and do something that matters.
I also had the incredible honor to meet 10 of them this year (including Joel Runyon, Steve Kamb, Chris Guillebeau, Nina Yau, Benny Lewis, Sean Ogle, Leo Babauta, Tyler Tervoorhen, Srini Rao, and Alan Perlman).
Without the words, motivation, and help from these people I'd still be stuck in the cubicle working a job just for the paycheck. Thank you all so much.
7. My Last Work Day, My Last Commute, and My Last Time Hitting Snooze on Life
Published on my last day of cubicle living, I talk about how fear can sometimes keep you from doing what you really should be doing with your life. There are times when you just need to take a leap of faith.
Live your life on your own terms and you'll never need to hit snooze on your alarm clock again.
8. 7 Free Manifestos You MUST Read That Will Actually Make Your Life Better
Just recently I compiled a list of some of the best manifestos on the web that will motivate to make positive changes in your life. Some of these very guides were catalysts for big changes in my life over a year ago.
If you set aside the two hours it will take to read these manifestos I am sure you will be more confident and more likely to achieve your goals.
9. 11 Influential Personal Finance Writers that Motivated Me to Pay Off $28,000 in Debt
It took me almost two and a half years to get debt free after college and I couldn't have done it without learning from some of these financial mentors.
I had the pleasure of meeting a few of them this year as well (including J.D. Roth, Adam Baker, Ramit Sethi, and Jenny Blake).
This post compiles some of the best websites, people, and books for you to learn how to get out of debt and get control of your finances.
10. 14 People That Helped Get Me a Better Job and Taught Me How to Make Money Online
To round out the top 10 we have the final post from my series featuring people that inspired big changes in my life.
I was able to meet and chat with 7 of the 14 this year (including Corbett Barr, Pat Flynn, Todd Clarke, Pamela Slim, Jonathan Fields, Steve Roy, and Mars Dorian) and I'm actually working for one of them now (Corbett).
Make a list of the people that inspire you daily and slowly reach out to them. WARNING: It might change your life.
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Thanks to everyone that made 2011 a great year for myself and Pocket Changed.
I wish you all the best in the new year to come.
Cheers!