I’ve been listening to all the backlist episodes of one of my favorite podcasts, The Unmistakable Creative with Srini Rao (used to be called Blogcast FM back in the day). Srini does these amazing interviews with interesting people.
In one interview, he was interviewing Pam Slim. Pam is a coach and pretty well-respected entrepreneur. She talked about the power of little decisions. When you’re just starting off on a new journey, you take a single step. But at the end of that journey, you’re in a completely different place—a place you couldn’t imagine when you take that first step.
Ironically, this interview was in early 2014 when I first began my publishing career. The things I was doing then are very different than what I’m doing now…but I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing now if I HADN’T done the things I did in 2014. Every small win, every misstep, every decision led me to a successful writing career in 2020, even though I couldn’t have known it.
The same is probably true for you.
Things I was doing in 2014:
- Working a crappy job as a claims adjuster
- Publishing my first books
- Selling off all of my musical instruments to afford my writing
- Started my first podcast, blog, and Author Level Up YouTube channel
- Marketing like a crazy person and getting absolutely nowhere
- Making poor copyright decisions that would impact me well into the 2020s.
Things I’m doing now:
- Working a much better job
- Writing my 55th book
- Hiring part-time help
- YouTube channel with almost 30,000 subs, and two successful podcasts with loyal listeners
- Marketing on autopilot and doing surprisingly well at it (right now)
- Finishing law school…so I don’t make bad copyright decisions ever again.
The 2020 stuff would have never happened without the 2014 stuff—the good, bad, AND ugly.
Anyway. My path has been unusual and winding, but I’ve learned from it.
Pam also talked about the idea of “a body of work.” You’re not building a “career” but a body of work. And that body of work isn’t limited to your personal, professional, or writing life. It includes everything, if you’re willing to accept it.
Someone the other day resisted an argument that I’ve made around “liquid knowledge,” and how everything you do compounds on itself. It’s merely your job to connect all the dots of your life together in retrospect and do something with them.
Anyway, remember that you’re building a body of work. Part of that body is being a writer, but necessarily all of it.
Also, I ended Beast Mode today. What a great last 90 days, folks. Thanks for all your support. Don’t forget about the Beast Mode Collection: https://authorlevelup.combeastmode. Two lucky people who buy from me directly will be selected for a drawing for a consultation.
Now, Amnesia Mode begins! Expect some interesting changes here on the blog starting tomorrow.
I finished a book I’ve been reading on copywriting and how to write better headlines. It’s Advertising Headlines That Will Make You Rich by David Garfinkel: https://geni.us/8Ilx.
Have a safe and Happy Halloween.
