Today I present you with a list of 21 blogs that I’ve found useful, inspiring, insightful, or just plain awesome.
My criteria for selection: high-quality advice and ideas. People who have done cool shit and/or actively help others do cool shit. Some have products for sell, others don’t. However, you’ll not find any affiliate links in this post. I’m sharing these sites with you because they’re just damn good sites.
Note: as you read through this list, keep two things in mind:
1. There’s a lot of information here. I’ve compiled this list over a couple years. Take your time (like weeks) going through these sites….and take notes. Even better, 
bookmark this post and come back to it later.
2. Remember that useful information is only a starting point. If you want to make your own luck, you have to take action.
Information is useful, but action kicks ass!
Sometimes taking action can mean adding one or two activities to your daily routine. Or you can go the other way and take massive action. For example, putting your stuff in storage and moving to the other side of the world for a year. For me, this worked quite well.
Okay, that’s it. I hope you enjoy this list. Please this post
1. Art of nonconformity
I lead off with Chris Gullibeau’s fabulous site. Why? His message of ‘do your own thing and get paid for it’ has inspired several bloggers on this list (this writer included). Plus, he was cool enough to stop in the tiny city of Charleston, WV and meet with me and four others during his massive book tour.
Posts to start with:
A Brief Guide to World Domination
How to Conduct Your Own Annual Review (I’ve used this technique for the past two years with excellent results.)
2. I Will Teach You To Be Rich
Ramit Sethi’s site is one of the best personal finance sites out there. Why? Because it’s less about trite advice like don’t buy $3 lattes and more about psychology, behaviors, and increasing income.
Personal Finance is Not About Willpower
How to Negotiate Using a few of these techniques could save you several thousands of dollars. Seriously.
3. The Middle Finger Project
Writing from Chile, Ashely Ambridge sends out sassy posts that help people create amazing things…and earn money while doing so.
The 67 Emotions of Online Success: My Story If this post doesn’t move you like a UHaul, you’re a heartless human being.
Your Art is Not Frivolous, It’s Money Begging To Be Made
4. Steve Pavlina’s blog
Steve Pavlina’s blog is the granddaddy of personal development blogs. Sometimes his posts are a little out there (see his S&M posts), but his stuff is still awesome, and I’m sure each writer on here was inspired by one of the hundreds (thousands?) of posts he has written.
30 Days to Success Here’s an awesome idea: if you want to develop a new habit, simply commit to it for 30 days.
5. The Happiness Project
Gretchen Ruben spent one year “ test-driving the wisdom of the ages, current scientific studies, and lessons from popular culture” in order to learn how to improve her happiness.
Act the Way You Want to Feel My favorite article on her site describes the ‘long lost pal from camp’ technique
6 Tips for Finishing a Dreaded Task
This lifestyle entrepreneur and digital nomad is a guy with a six figure affiliate marketing business who spends six months a year living and working in Mexico. An absolutely awesome resource for anyone who wants more from life.
A 5-Point Plan for Achieving Absolutely Anything
Write Epic Shit. Bloggers, take note: “Great content can promote itself but even the best promotion can’t create great content.”
7. Zen Habits
Ranked with Pavlina as one of the granddaddies of this roundup, Leo Babuta’s site is consistently ranked as one of the top personal development blogs on the intertubes. Why? Because people crave simplicity, and this site tells them how to achieve it.
A Guided Tour of Zen Habits Leo’s body of work is massive, so if you’re new to his site, start here.
The No.1 Habit of Highly Creative People
8. Tim Ferriss’ blog
Tim’s NY Times Bestselling Four-Hour Workweek might have a misleading title (as Jonathan Mead @Illuminated Mind points out), but Tim’s passion for testing and experimentation result in some of the most remarkable content around.
Scientific Speed Reading: How to Read 300% Faster in 20 Minutes
How to Learn Any Language in 3 Months
9. Axis of Awesome
Besides an name that’s DayGlo bold,, Trever Clark’s site has an awesome message: Life is too short to accept mediocrity, when you can choose to do awesome shit instead. Trever’s amazing shit? A run across China and Central Asia, subsidized by a mini-empire of affiliate sites.
Get Start Doing Your Own Epic Shit Changing ‘I’ll do it someday’ into ‘I can start on this today.’
Are These 12 False Beliefs Holding You Back From Awesomeness?
10. Advanced Riskology
Tyler Tervooren is a musician, traveler, and professor of riskology; my kind of guy. His site helps people take smarter and more beneficial risks in their lives. Of all these blogs, his also wins the Happenchance ‘Best of Design’ award.
How to Instantly Add 8.2 Years and $133,369 To Your Life Hint: stop watching television. This article is golden.
How to Organize an International Adventure
11. The 99 Percent.
This site features articles that helps creative professionals do their best work. Their slogan ‘It’s not about ideas. It’s about making ideas happen’ is a killer call to action.
The Extinction of Deep Thinking and Sacred Space
The Key to Creating Remarkable Things
12. Cal Newport’s blog
University students have it so easy today…cheap loans, Facebook, and Cal Newport’s outstanding site Study Hacks. Don’t let the name fool you, though; Study Hacks can help anyone learn more effective ways to learn.
Getting Things Done For Creative People This was a guest post at the 99 Percent.
13. Writing Forward
In my opinion, Melissa Donovan’s site is one of the best hammer-and-nails writing resources on the internet.
Punctuation Marks: The Serial Comma
14. Seth Godin’s blog
Everybody links to this site, and for good reason; it’s awesome. If you’re interested in the business & entrepreneurial side of luck-making, then pick up a few of his books like Purple Cow or Tribes.
Don’t Try to Get a Job. Why this post is awesome. Why? “Trying to get a job corrupts you and pushes you to be average.”
15. Vagabonding
I love Rolf Potts’ book; it’s an essential resource for any traveler (or tourist!) that alternates between packing tips and quotes from Thoreau. Plus, he frequently profiles other sexy travelers like this guy.
The Tourist is Always the Other Guy
16. Erica.biz
Erica Douglas helps people grow their businesses by imploring them to be persistent, ignore the naysayers, and create consistently. What does this 20-something know about growing companies? She sold her own webhosting company for $1.1 million when she was 26.
Overwhelmed by Getting Things Done? Great post in convenient video format!
17. My Wife Quit Her Job
This is a value-packed site for anyone interested in starting or improving an ecommerce site…selling real, physical goods! Steve, the author, and his wife built an online store selling wedding linens.
Starting Your Own Business Doesn’t Have to be Risky
What Type of Entrepreneur Do You Want to Be?
18. Story Fix
If you think you’ve got a novel inside you, Larry Brooks will help you how to get it out by teaching you the basic laws of storytelling.
Why Stephen King is Full of Sh*t because he never outlines. Larry argues (quite convincingly) the opposite.
Part 1 of the 10 Part Story Structure Series
19. Scott H Young
Scott writes excellent articles on learning, motivation, and productivity.
How to Read 70+ Books a Year Hint: you need to learn to speed read.
20. Men With Pens
This site is for people who want to become professional freelance writers with a special focus on copywriting.
Just a Word About James This is a beautiful, sad post about why the female owner of MWP has to use a pen name.
21. Aliventures
Ali Luke is awesome, and while she says her site ‘is not a life-hackery, productivity type blog,’ you will find in-depth articles on being more productive…and effective.
How to Get Started on the Things You Keep Putting Off
Over to you:
What blogs do you read? Have any favorite posts you want to share? If you’re a blogger, chime in and promote yourself (comment links on this post should be do-follow).
Photo credit: mcgraths
Comments on this entry are closed.
Hey man – Thanks for including me. That’s some pretty awesome company that I’m in here! I’ve been a huge fan of Rolf Potts ever since I read Vagabonding 3 or 4 years ago. I actually read that book before I read the 4HWW or had heard the phrase “Lifestyle Design”. I credit that book with giving me a nudge in the direction of the path that I’m on now. I didn’t realize that you had been featured on Rolf’s blog – nice!
Great links, Seth! Well done.
I’m more than happy to include you; your site rocks like Keith Moon, and your posts on story structure and architecture took my fiction up several levels. I get excited about recommending it to friends.
I agree, Vagabonding is an awesome book. I read it before one of my long walks, and it really influenced my thinking about travel and adventure. It’s one of those books you want to buy ten copies of and give out to your friends…or readers. Hmm….
I’m beginning to think that Rolf’s book was the starting point of the internet lifestyle design phenomenon. Maybe even the minimalist thing as well. Have to ask Mr. Babauto about that 🙂
Agreed. It would be interesting to do some kind of poll on how many people read Vagabonding before they read the 4HWW…
Well, wow! Like Larry and Trever, I’m very flattered to be in such good company here. 🙂 Also, I love it that you think I’m awesome. 😀
Great list! Most of these were fairly new to me but I’m definitely adding a few to my reader!
Another great blog is Write to Done. I just discovered it a few weeks ago, but it has some pretty thoughtful articles.
I just discovered Happenchance, so I have quite a bit of good reading ahead of me now!
Great list! Nice mix of big names, and those who deserve an even wider audience. Then there’s the new ones I’m happy to find.
As someone who writes about career change and courage, I’m always looking for great resources to share with my audience. Thanks for passing these on.
Thanks so much for including Writing Forward on this list. It’s an honor to be included among such excellent writing blogs.
Hey Seth, thanks for kicking it off with AONC – glad to see you’re continuing to build Happenchance. And yes, whenever I come to Charleston, you’re in charge of the local blogging community. 🙂
How could I not? You’ve been stopping in since the beginning of this fine site. And more importantly, your site has helped me become a better writer.
Chris, you’re very welcome. Your site and our conversation really helped me focus my efforts. As for Charleston, would you like me to hire the one-man Rush cover band? hehehe
Hey Jen, thanks for stopping by.
If I would’ve known about your site sooner, I suspect you would’ve been on your list. To write ‘your birth certificate is not a binding contract’ is one hell of an act of sheer guts and defiance.
Also reminds me how lucky I am to have a pretty cool family.
Happy you could discover some new sites. I thought about including WTD on this site, but a few months ago the sales messages got pretty heavy so I unsubscribed and basically forgot about it. Oops.
Leo and Mary do present/curate a lot of high quality articles. Even a couple of the commenters here have written killer guest posts (Larry, I’m looking at you).
I was happy to include you on this list. Your work is great and your level of output is staggering. Cheers.
Hi Seth,
Awesome list, all excellent reads. What I would add to the list is a site I really like called “in over your head” dot net by Julien, one of the co-authors of trust agents. It’s a nice mix of a variety of topics. Really liking what you are doing too.
-David
David,
Julien’s site is pretty new to me, but I thought Trust Agents was an
excellent book. Let’s consider him another additon:
http://inoveryourhead.net/
Hope you don’t mind me posting my politics site here, Seth.
http://www.occupolitics.com
Not at all.