As I mentioned in the first episode of this new blogging series, for the foreseeable, I’ll be creating a series focusing on all aspects of author life and business.
Not only do I hope these give you some inspiration, but you also see what it’s like working as a business owner, creative entrepreneur, and independent author.
In case you didn’t go check out the link above, I’ll give you a brief reminder. These blogs are inspired by the sensational Sacha Black and Daniel Willcocks, who ran the Next Level Author podcast (RIP, and thanks for the memories).
So, inspired by episode 001 of NLA, here’s my version.
But before I get to that, just one more thing.
This is written from my own experience, and my own life situation.
I am happily childfree, don’t have any dependents, and I know full-well this isn’t the same situation everyone has. Just know, I acknowledge that, and I understand all circumstances are different.
Disclaimer over.
So, what does success look like?
This is a hard one, I won’t lie. Success means so much to different people.
Think about it. One person might want to earn six-figures a year. Another might want to ditch their day-to-day s**t-storm and backpack across Asia. Someone else? Perhaps they just want to be able to buy themselves a takeaway coffee once a week.
You do you. All power, full support.
Don’t let anyone tamp down your hopes and dreams.
Ever.
Please.
But, for me, success is something different.
Success, on a very high level, is about achieving three things:
- Financial freedom
- Independence
- Flexibility
Let me explain.
Financial freedom
Right now, I have a single source of income. My day job. More on that below.
Anyway, in my situation, success starts with having more financial freedom. The freedom to maybe book a nice sushi takeaway after a successful month. Nothing expensive, but it’s a treat. Or maybe buy a new book. Yeah?
However…
I am under no illusions that the creative CEO life is easy. Not in the slightest. It’s a slog, and unless you’re willing to put in the hours, it ain’t gonna happen.
But the dream of earning that money for myself, not for some faceless corporation with shareholders and rules and (shudders) face-to-face customer interaction (eurgh), is what keeps me going.
Here’s an example. Someone in the family has recently quit their “normal” job and have gone full time with their glass fusing studio and workshops.
They’ve worked exceptionally hard on their business, working on it on their days off in the evenings, and I regularly get calls asking for advice.
They’ve diversified, and they’ve set up multiple streams of income based on their creativity.
It’s taken seven years, but they got there.
I couldn’t be f-ing prouder.
Because that’s what I’m working towards too.
Independence
Quite frankly, anyone who knows me in real life will categorically tell you, I ain’t made for working for others. I can’t stand it. Too independent, or stubborn, depending on who you ask.
Having someone dictate to me when my lunch break is, what I must do, and when I must do it?
Nah-ah, thank you very much. You can keep that to yourself.
However, right now, that is my reality.
It sucks.
But please, don’t for a second think I’m ungrateful. Yes, I have a job, and whilst the industry isn’t stable, it’s there. It pays the bills. That’s it. Nothing else. No enjoyment, nothing. And that’s why I’m making changes. Big changes.
I’m doing everything my mind, body and caffeine-fuelled soul can do to get out of that place and make a full-time living from my creativity.
Success and independence, in my mind, go hand in hand.
Independence means I must rely on myself. It’s my business, and the drive to succeed, the actions I take, they’re all on me.
I love it.
The novels I write, the digital content I create, the income, again, they’re mine.
I have to push myself past those barriers, through the self-doubt, and crush the living s**t out of imposter syndrome, to achieve what I want to achieve.
Remember what I said before?
Don’t let anyone tamp down your hopes and dreams.
They’re yours, and yours alone.
Flexibility
As I mentioned above, flexibility for me is key. Putting in the hours goes without saying.
But the times of those hours? I want that to be my choice, and mine alone.
The flexibility to work where I can, as long as I have the Internet, or if I’m drafting a novel, when I don’t.
From my home office, from the sofa, hell, from under the kitchen table, I don’t care.
But I want, no, I crave, is that flexibility.
I’m a morning person (don’t @ me), so once I’m awake, that’s it, I’m up. Sometimes that’s 5 in the morning, sometimes it’s 8. Either way, the day’s I’m not at the other place, and the evenings after it, I’m writing, creating, businessing.
Being able to dictate my own working hours, early mornings, late nights, it doesn’t matter. I’m currently writing this at 6pm, but what’s to say I couldn’t do it at 6am instead? Or even 3am (snorts, yeah, right, I’m out light a light by 10pm normally).
The hours are there.
They’re done.
And if I have to put more time in so I can take a few days to visit my family, then so be it. That’s what I’ll do. Because the flexibility to do that means everything to me.
Sometimes I’m told by my partner to stop and relax. Sometimes I listen. Often, I don’t. But I know I should. Reading, watching that new series on Netflix, it doesn’t matter. Refilling and rest are important.
But this, what I’m doing, right now, makes me happy.
It brings me joy.
That wouldn’t be possible if there wasn’t flexibility.
So that, is why it’s my third aspect of success.
In summary
Financial freedom, flexibility, and independence. Some might argue they’re all cut from the same cheese wheel (yeah, food analogies, go with it).
Some would say they’re different.
Whatever you think, those are the three things that I see as success.
So, over to you. What does success look like in your life? Is it spending time with family? Is it taking a few holidays a year. Is it simply having an hour a day to do something you enjoy?
I’d love to hear from you, either in the comments, or if you sign up to my free newsletter.
No pressure, it’s your choice.
Either way, I’ll speak to you soon!
Robyn
