In 17 words: The ultimate goal with RidiculouslyExtraordinary.com and my life is to help 100 people achieve Ridiculously Extraordinary Freedom.
Hey there! I’m Karol.
(That’s pronounced like Karl, not Carol. And while I’m at it, the last name is Guy-Duh. Ninja Gajda(n) if you’re nasty.)
I was born in Poland and my family escaped communism shortly before Martial Law was instituted in 1981. Close call. Thanks Mama i Tata!
My earliest memory is eating a Starburst (with wrapper intact) my late Grandma Stefania gave me outside of our Mt Pleasant, MI apartment at the age of 2.
I believe in radical honesty even if maybe it’s not in my best interest.
I’m a fan of touring, canoeing/camping trips, sandboarding, downhill Big Wheels races, upside down canyon swinging, paratrooper tossing, karaoke, shuttle launches, and seeing crazy things like flaming big rigs in the middle of Arizona.
I don’t eat animals or animal products of any kind (why I’m vegan) and I’m atheist. Both of those points are up for discussion, but you won’t convince me to eat meat or believe in your god(s). (Except maybe God of Thunder.) If that’s your game, you’re probably just not my Right People, and that’s OK. I still love you. :)
I play guitar (here’s the one I hand built in India & video here) like a madman and am releasing a quadruple live double album of Eastern European polka music next week.
I’ve never had the pleasure of working in cubicle hell, but I hear it’s…hell.
I have Ridiculously Extraordinary Freedom.
Do what we like and we like what we do. – Andrew W.K.
As you can tell by the picture above I’ve been free since childhood. :)
Again, my goal in life and with this project is to:
Help One Hundred (100) People Achieve Ridiculously Extraordinary Freedom
Specifically, I want to help you achieve your idea of freedom, whatever that may be.
Why 100? It’s not that I think changing the lives of 1,000 or 10,000 (or more) is unattainable. I will do that too. But first I’d like to get to know and directly help 100 people.
Once the goal is reached this Web site will self destruct and I will vanish into the ether. More accurately, I’ll just go hang out somewhere cool, but that doesn’t sound as intense, does it?
Blog Update Schedule: Regularly, but not too regularly.
Speaking: Contact me if you’d like me to speak about Ridiculously Extraordinary Living to your crew. Specifically, I’d like to open discussions with High School Seniors before they go off to University.
Interviews: Blogs, podcasts, radio, TV, newspapers, living room sofas. I’m there. Just get in touch via twitter (@KarolGajda) or e-mail.
Travel schedule: Updated on the sidebar of every page. —>
Let’s do this!
Nice to meet you!
I have long abandoned cubicle life, but I am considering joining the corporate world again for the “privilege” of health insurance. As I am currently temping in a great office, doing something I love, I am already realizing, though, that I miss the freedom of filling in my own day. Like, say, doing groceries around 10am, when there is nobody in the store and traffic is light.
I am excited to learn more about you and the way you pull of your extraordinary life.
Nice to meet you as well Glenda. The whole work for health insurance thing always fascinated me. You can buy it yourself like I do if you’d like. :) http://www.ridiculouslyextraordinary.com/how-to-pay-82month-for-health-insurance-for-the-self-employed-or-uninsured/
Karol, Have you ever visited Poland? I’m sure you would like it! Which city you were from?
Yessir, was there for 5 months last year. Wroclaw: http://www.ridiculouslyextraordinary.com/wroclaw-poland/
Hi again ; ) I was wondering if you have a post on your being Vegan (reasons, etc.)? I am vegetarian currently, not Vegan, and would love some more insight on this from your perspective. Thanks Karol ; )
Hi Jill, yes I do: http://www.ridiculouslyextraordinary.com/how-to-travel-as-a-vegan/
Love your website/blog Karol, especially your profile, what a lovely story, that you came out of it all so sorted, Will be back for more, and maybe i’ll find some freedom in my life too. Thanks Karol, keep being you and inspiring us !
Thanks Mary, I’m happy to know you’re into it.
I’m in love! Rock on Karol!
Thanks Sandra. :)
Hey Karol, I stumbled upon your site from a friend who shared it over a networking site. I am 22, I’ve recently resigned from my job and am going to be studying at University. I am not sure what I am going to be exactly and I’m not sure where my freedom lays. How can I know what my freedom is?
That is a good question Sean. And it’s one only you can answer.
I am not sure Pope John Paul going to agree with this Karol being Karl nonsense…..
I am 100% sure I don’t care what the former head of an organization that supports pedophilia would agree with.
Karol, I just finished reading your ebook, Luxury for Less. I’m now a big fan of you as well as The Minimalists and Zen Habits! I started the living with less journey a couple of months ago and love it—and I’m doing this with a husband and two kids. I love the 5 rings idea and plan to read your book a few times to let it all sink in. I’ve been vegan for a year now, but there’s room to simplify that as well—more whole foods less processed foods.
Also, I’m half Polish, atheist, and will NEVER be cubicled!
Glad I found your blog:). Take care,
Jen
Hey Jen! Thank you! You don’t know how good it feels to read this. :)
Cześć, jestem Krystian, mieszkam koło Szczecina. Cieszę się, że odniosłeś taki sukces, powodzenia i pozdrawiam z Polski!
Hej Krystian! Dzieki za twoj komentarz. Mam kolezanke z Szczecina. :)
Hi Karol,
I stumbled upon your website while link hopping through Google and I have been hooked to your site ever since. Your straight foward style of writing has been inspirational for me as I embark on my own journey to sweet and awesome freedom.
Thank you for this wonderful gift.
Adi Amri
Thank you Adi! That means a lot.
Also, thank you Google! ;)
Quick question(s) :
Knowing that you’ve made a huge income from your infoproduct (via your Freedom Fighters mailing list) that you have produced, did you ever got worried if your “paid for” ebook got pirated and uploaded to a filesharing website without your consent?
In an unrelated note, since I just joinned the Freedom Fighters mailing list, I wonder if I could just browse through the entire FF e-course, that you *must* have written months or even years ago, without waiting for it to pop up in my inbox.. Something like an archieve of sorts..
Thank you. I must have spent hours reading through this blog. It is *that* awesome.
Adi Amri.
I launched my first infoproduct in October 2002. Over 9 years ago now. Everything I’ve released since then has been pirated. It sucks, but I don’t think or worry about it. I have better things to do. :)
No archive, sorry. I do appreciate your enthusiasm and support though!
Found you through zen habits. I’m completely hooked. Talk about a simple message and total inspiration. Gave me hope to fight for freedom. Keep upmthe great work, cannot wait to get started. How do you get the chance to be on of the 100?
Thanks Mark. I appreciate your kind words.
You don’t get the chance. You make it happen. :)
Dude.. You and your words Rock .. you see , it just takes courage to start and that’s what people here lack … thanks …
Thank you Ankit. :)
Karol
just like to say thanks…your site is the most honest, straight talking site i`ve found so far. Found you after a google search on `self control`. I`ve been working from home for a good few years and the distractions are enormous which coupled with my inability for self control I struggle to be productive. Your idea of changing the situation is one I have thought of over this last year but instead i have been looking for websites that will educate me on finding an inner stregnth so i might have the self control.
I think what you`re saying about accepting that the bad habbits will always be there is spot on. I think we are hard wired from an early age with various schemas (i think thats the right word) and thats just who we are. Knowing for sure that the only real way forward is to change the situation/environment where the temptations are is a bit of a revelation…its given me clarity on what i need to do.
You are a good egg Karol
(it`s an English term of endearment)
Many thanks
Mike
I’ve read your “are you living the dream or chasing it”
But I’m married, my wife wants kids. Obviously, I think having kids will just use up my money, resources and energy, then I won’t even have the money and resource to live my dream which is to perfect my language skills, take martial art classes, and raise awareness on social issues.
any advise for guys who are married and still wanna live their dream?
This sounds like a disaster. It also sounds like you and your wife need to have a conversation.
Eth it sounds like your dream is quite different from your wife’s dream. You may have to decide if your wife is part of your dream, and if so, having children will have to be considered. I have two kids of my own, one autistic, and I tell people who are considering having them to be very, very sure about their commitment. It hasn’t been an easy road, but I wouldn’t change it.