Joshua BeckerThis is the reason I created Smart and Simple Matters: so I could have meaningful conversations with amazing people that improve your life.

And my guest for this episode truly falls into the amazing category. He has a ton to offer to everyone (including me) looking to simplify, organize, and be money wise.

It's Joshua Becker from Becoming Minimalist, one of my go-to resources on intentional living and practical ways to be a great minimalist … without sacrificing what's most important to you.

Joshua knows how to ask the right question at the right time like…

I bought that and I don't need it. What was the disconnect between what I was thinking was true and what really is true in life?

…and offers insight with clarity and brevity.

Intentionality for me is just taking the time to question the assumption that we base our life upon.

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Those things that you can't possibly measure are the things that we should be chasing the most.

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Minimalism [for me] has never been about subtraction for the sake of subtraction.

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What I found was that the chasing of possessions, and even in some ways the unintentional allowing of them to absorb my life and resources, was distracting me and keeping me from becoming what I most wanted to be.

If that doesn't get you fired up and ready to make some changes, I don't know what will!

Joshua and I talk about a lot, including his best-selling books, subtle catalysts that turn into transformational moments, and the problems with (or opportunity in) competition.

Have a listen and discover why hundreds of thousands of people care about what Joshua says through his website, newsletter, public speaking events, and social media.

What You'll Learn

In this episode you'll learn about:

  • Joshua's flashpoint for living intentionally … and how you can too.
  • Why you should just be the best “you” that you can be.
  • How many Goodwill donation trips it takes before asking yourself some hard questions.
  • Why comparison is always unfair.
  • How to lead your kids to a lifestyle without forcing them.
  • Realizing that struggles don't always go away and don't always need to be overcome.
  • Whether Joshua wants to celebrate Thanksgiving with me … on May 27th.
  • Why pursuing passionate work comes sooner with a big dose of simplicity and minimalism.
  • How to resolve destructive competition… even if you're just competing with yourself.
  • What the greatest hurdle is for starting your entrepreneurial dream (you might be surprised).
  • Why competition drove me into a rage and to violently swinging a hammer.

 

 

Resources and Items Mentioned in This Episode Include:

Topics

  • [08:55] Joshua's seeds of awesomeness
  • [11:11] The sparks of a minimalist journey
  • [17:05] Joshua's evolution as a minimalist from physical items to something bigger
  • [22:22] The flashpoint for starting to live an intentional life
  • [28:05] How to stop the constant comparisons between you and everyone else
  • [35:09] Whether Joshua will bite on my “how crazy is Joel?” challenge
  • [41:39] Why minimalism isn't Joshua's greatest obsession
  • [45:15] The goal behind Joshua's SXSW collaboration How Minimalism Is Changing Entrepreneurship
  • [49:00] How competition can be healthy… or destructive
  • [55:08] My three challenges to you

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Transcript

The transcript will not be available until I find a new transcriptionist (if you know someone good, let me know).

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