You’re Only a Stranger Once

FAQ

What’s this all about?

The Art of Non-Conformity (AONC) is a home for interesting people doing remarkable things. I share stories from my travels and lessons from people around the world. Learn more here.

Who reads the site?

More than 80,000 people subscribe and another large group visits every day. They come from many different backgrounds—students, artists, entrepreneurs, nomads—and represent every age range from 12 to 87. The overall message of the project is: “You don’t have to live your life the way other people expect. You can do good things for yourself and for others at the same time.”

Is it free?

Yes. You can subscribe by email, read through RSS, or simply check in every few days for new posts. In addition to the free blog, I also have a free daily podcast that tells inspiring entrepreneurial stories.

Do you offer advertising or site sponsorships?

Nope.

How do you pronounce your name?

You may pronounce it however you’d like, but I pronounce it “Gil-a-bo” with three syllables. The French way has two syllables.

Why did you visit every country?

Short version: I know I’d regret it if I didn’t try.

Longer version: I love travel and I love goal-setting, so I decided to combine the two. Having a deadline (“visit every country by age 35”) made it more specific and real. It was a fantastic experience and I’m extremely glad I did it.

How can I travel like you?

Much of my travel over the ten-year quest was surprisingly affordable. The first 100 countries cost just $30,000 which to me seemed totally reasonable when spread out over time. I used travel hacking to keep costs down. I also chose to value travel and life experiences more than other purchases. If you’re reading this, you may not care about going to 193 countries, but you should be able to go somewhere.

Can I write a guest post for you?

We don’t have guest posts on AONC. Everything is written by me.

Where can I see you?

Come on out and join the tour! Most tickets are FREE or low cost.

Can you promote my project?

Almost everyone in our community is doing awesome things. I can’t promise any help, but you’re welcome to tell me about it in the form above if you’d like.

Can I link to AONC from my site?

Please do! You can link to the homepage or any post that you like. We frequently share reader trackbacks in follow-up posts and through social media.