In 2023, my writer provided me $5 million to put in writing my subsequent ebook.
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 tip of it, I used to be fully burnt out.
By 2022, I felt drawn again to entrepreneurship. The creator house had modified dramatically. AI was rising. All the things was shifting quick—and writing a ebook 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 ebook. An enormous one. With a large payday.
I had an not possible determination to make: Flip down the cash and work on what I would like? Or take the cash and spend the subsequent yr or two cashing the checks?
My agent warned me:
“If you happen to don’t write this ebook, there’s an excellent likelihood they’ll cancel the contract. You’ll lose the $5 million. And also you’ll need to return the $1.25 million they already paid you.”
Let me let you know: It doesn’t really feel good to offer $1.25 million again to someone after they’ve given it to you.
However I knew the ebook wasn’t the transfer. By this level, I had realized the onerous approach: if you take cash over which means, you simply burn your self out and find yourself producing a worse consequence.
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 turn out to be my new enterprise: Goal.
While you’re clear on what issues to you, selections 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 development accessible to everybody—no matter time, revenue, or entry?
With Goal, that’s what we constructed.
I’m positive I’ll write one other ebook sooner or later. When it’s the proper time. For the proper motive. 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 free of charge to see for those who 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 it is advisable stroll away from, even when it prices you?