Interview with Jonathan of Illuminated Mind

This week I’m interviewing Jonathan of illuminatedmind.com. Jonathan owns a very successful blog about living the way you want. What I like about his blog is the way he present facts, using his own unique style. Enjoy.

Oscar: Hi Jonathan and thanks for giving me the opportunity to interview you. Can you talk a bit about who you are and what you do?

Jonathan: Sure. I run a blog and small business called Illuminated Mind. A while ago now I realized that I didn’t have to live my life the way everyone else expected me to. I didn’t have to follow a template, basically.

So I started playing around with this whole alternative life design stuff, and what I found out is that it actually works. You can do what you want, you can create the life you choose. You can design your days the way you see fit.

I want to spread that message to other people. I want to help people live authentically, and liberate themselves by doing so. I think living on your own terms is a powerful thing. You can wake up excited. You can live a life with purpose, without any different between your work on the one hand and your life on the other. So that’s what I’m passionate about, helping people live on their own terms.

Oscar: I see from your about me page that we are both high school dropout. Did that make any difference in your career?

Jonathan: It did a lot actually. It made me appreciate education a lot more. Traditional schooling just didn’t really do it for me. I know a lot of people will balk when they hear that, so I guess that’s inevitable. I’m not trying to change anyone’s mind on whether or not schooling is beneficial or not. I just didn’t find the conventional path very effective for the way my brain operates. I eventually went to college and instead of shooting for a degree, simply took classes that interested me for a few years. I much prefer that approach.

Self-education has also been a big part of my life. I’m a voracious reader. I love to read whatever I can get my hands on. And I’ve learned that knowledge is not enough, we must apply. So I like to test whatever I learn in the real world, and see the results. I think the best way to learn is by doing, so I try not to forget that.

Oscar: You own a very successful blog, and you are often featured on big blogs like zen habits. Would you mind telling us how you got this exposure?

Jonathan: Helping people, I think has been my most effective strategy. The more you help other people get what they want, the more you get what you want.

Also, being exceptional helps.

Oscar: Who are/were your mentors? What books/programs changed your life?

Jonathan: Some of my greatest mentors are my readers. The insights they provide and the conversation they create is some of my biggest source of inspiration.

Books: The Four Agreements was the book that really got me on the path of self development. Purple Cow made me realize the importance of being remarkable in business (and in life). Vagabonding taught some of the greatest life lessons. One City opened my eyes and my heart to the meaning of interdependence. And Peace is Every Step taught me that peace is about being still inside when things are not so still outside.

Oscar: I recently took part of your online coaching program at paidtoexist.net, and it has been fantastic for me. How did you manage to create such a solid product?

Jonathan: I’m lucky to have a lot of great teachers, so I basically stole everything I’ve learned from them.

To be honest, most of the material in Paid to Exist is the lessons I learned fumbling around in the dark trying to create an income doing what I love. I hesitated at first to create the program because there is already so much great information and material out there, but I didn’t think anyone was really speaking to the audience that I had, so I decided to take the plunge. I’m glad that I did, it’s been an incredible experience. I’m grateful for each member that has been a part of it.

Oscar: Thanks Jonathan for the interview. I wish you all the best with your website and business.

Jonathan: Thank you Oscar. It’s been a pleasure.

Posted on January 28 2010

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