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Clay

If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put foundations under them.
-Henry David Thoreau

About Clay

My name is Clay Collins and I’m grateful that you’re here.

A little about me:

I am dedicated to helping you with the logistics of liberating yourself from traditional work environments and pursuing non-standard ways of living.
I believe that the typical work environment is antiquated and not ideal, and I am passionate about helping you find ways to quit your dead end job and create a new life for yourself.
Each week, I talk to a handful of people living uncommon lifestyles: people living off the grid, work at home couples, farmers, home-schoolers, lawyers who’ve negotiated half-time work schedules with big time law firms, families who’ve sold their homes and are traveling the world, etc. (If you live a non-traditional life, please email me at claycollins [at] gmail [dot] com.
I moved away from home when I was 15 to start my first company. I eventually got sidetracked by formal education and the “real world,”? but I’ve since recovered.
I am strongly aligned with the home-schooling/un-schooling/world-schooling movements.
I quit my job in November of 2007. I’ve since started living again and am never looking back.

If this sounds like your cup of tea, then consider subscribing to The Growing Life.

18 Comments so far »

Josh Lewis said,

Wrote on February 13, 2008 @ 11:22 pm

Sweet video, Clay. I like it.
kristina said,

Wrote on February 29, 2008 @ 4:23 am

hey, whoever took this photo must be a genius!
Clay Collins said,

Wrote on February 29, 2008 @ 6:04 am

@Kristina: Yup, she’s a genius, but a little slow on the trigger :-). The few photos before and after this one had scenery and no me.I’m glad you stopped by, Kristina.Clay
Hampi said,

Wrote on February 29, 2008 @ 11:37 am

Hey Clay

Do you remember me? guatemala 2006. thanks for your e-mail. your page is interesting. I just read about getting up early. I will see, if it helps…

Congratulation to your page!!! Your photo, wehere did you take it? It makes me remembering semuc champei!

nice to hear of you!

greets from switzland

Hampi
Clay Collins said,

Wrote on February 29, 2008 @ 7:08 pm

Of course I remember you. You were the crazy one swimming upstream! And then there was in Samana Santa in Antigua. Thanks for stopping by! And that photo was definately taken (by Kristina) at Semuc Champie. Great times.
JD Elliott said,

Wrote on March 13, 2008 @ 2:24 pm

Clay,

great video there. LOVE the music. I looked on iTunes and couldn’t find the track. Can you tell me which Lemon Jelly song it is?

Love the article about ditching the alarm clock too.

Thanks!
Clay Collins said,

Wrote on March 13, 2008 @ 3:56 pm

@JD Elliott: I’m glad you like the video. The song is called “‘93 aka Don’t Stop Now” and it’s off the album called “‘64-’95.” I’ll shoot you an email with more information.
Tom Stine said,

Wrote on April 2, 2008 @ 4:26 pm

I LOVE the video. I’m inspired to…. imitate? Create my own! I have a welcome to my website video, but it is kind of… bland. I also liked the quality of metacafe. I’ve used youtube and blip.tv, but youtube isn’t the greatest quality and blip.tv has been a bit buggy. I gotta check out meta.

Hey, thanks for visiting my site. I’m gonna hit your RSS feed. Nice site, Clay…. Tom Tomstine.com
Adam King said,

Wrote on April 8, 2008 @ 9:42 pm

Clay. You have a great site here!I really enjoy your posts. Very insightful and extremely helpful especially to a business “doesn’t-know-it-all” such as myself!! Keep up the great work!

Adam
Maria Dalva said,

Wrote on April 11, 2008 @ 10:33 am

I just found your blog and I’m amazed by your idea. It’s awesome and a bit different of other motivational blogs, because you show a PURPOSE for all that.
Wow! Congrats! :o)
Clay Collins said,

Wrote on April 12, 2008 @ 9:32 pm

@Maria: Thanks! I’m glad that you find The Growing Life to be different and hope you’ll come back. Thanks a ton!
Chris said,

Wrote on May 2, 2008 @ 7:04 pm

Hey Clay you changed your greeting. I came back to thank you for your comment on my site about my daughter.

Madison, Wisconsin, huh? I graduated from UW-Madison…
Harmony said,

Wrote on May 20, 2008 @ 8:16 pm

Clay, I just navigated to your blog and find it extremely interesting. Your alternative approach does have a fresh spin on the subject.
MoiN said,

Wrote on July 10, 2008 @ 1:14 am

ClayMan, nice blog :D
Elizabeth said,

Wrote on July 31, 2008 @ 1:49 am

Really great and unique website… as a public school teacher who is now a stay-at-home-mom, I have seen firsthand how I want things to be different for my daughter. My family and I are currently stationed in Belgium with the army, and so are given the opportunity to be gypsies–and a peek into other cultures–for quite awhile. Thanks for the inspiration.
Becca said,

Wrote on August 6, 2008 @ 3:29 pm

Hey Clay,
After reading more about you (and not just the blog page my bro forwarded), I’m interested in reading more. I’m a HUGE fan of unschooling and have spent a good chunk of my life examining all different forms of education in pursuit of living the good life (Nearing-style). I suppose it’s safe to safe that as with education, I am (and have always been) pursuing alternative forms of livelihood. We can work less, make more, and live better, I’m convinced of it.
I currently work part time in a law office, but am eager to quit and pursue my multiple streams of revenue closer to home (and heart). The stint was good, but now it’s time to go.

Thanks for sharing!

-Becca
Dave said,

Wrote on August 13, 2008 @ 3:07 pm

Hi Clay, I love your site, it’s my favorite of the self improvement sites out there. The only thing I’m not wild about is that sometimes it’s hard to find the articles through all the ads. But anyway, keep up the great work.
Sheila said,

Wrote on August 19, 2008 @ 3:35 pm

Very cool blog about a topic very near and dear to our generation.

How do we live out the LifeStyle of our dreams…