In 2023, my writer provided me $5 million to write down my subsequent e book.
I stated no.
From 2016 to 2022, I used to be in full-blown creator mode. Writing, touring, selling. It felt like one endless deadline—and by the top of it, I used to be utterly burnt out.
By 2022, I felt drawn again to entrepreneurship. The creator house had modified dramatically. AI was rising. All the pieces was shifting quick—and writing a e book impulsively felt just like the slowest, least related factor I might do.
The issue was, I used to be nonetheless on the hook for an additional e book. A giant one. With an enormous payday.
I had an unattainable resolution to make: Flip down the cash and work on what I need? Or take the cash and spend the subsequent yr or two cashing the checks?
My agent warned me:
“For those who don’t write this e book, there’s an excellent probability they’ll cancel the contract. You’ll lose the $5 million. And also you’ll must return the $1.25 million they already paid you.”
Let me inform you: It doesn’t really feel good to present $1.25 million again to someone after they’ve given it to you.
However I knew the e book wasn’t the transfer. By this level, I had realized the onerous approach: while you take cash over that means, you simply burn your self out and find yourself producing a worse outcome.
So this time, I listened to my intestine.
I turned down the cash.
I gave again the advance.
And finally I began constructing what would develop into my new enterprise: Goal.
If you’re clear on what issues to you, choices have a approach of creating themselves. And this was no totally different.
For me, that meant fixing the issue I’d been obsessive about for years:
How do you make deep, personalised progress accessible to everybody—no matter time, revenue, or entry?
With Goal, that’s what we constructed.
I’m certain I’ll write one other e book sooner or later. When it’s the correct time. For the correct cause. Hell—after I really feel the aim behind it.
However proper now, constructing Goal is what I truly give a sh*t about.
And I can’t ignore that.
You’ll be able to strive Goal without spending a dime to see when you like what I gave up $5 million and 52 weekends to work on.
However I’ll additionally go away you with this query: What’s one alternative you already know you should stroll away from, even when it prices you?
