I published my first book one year ago. Here’s how it enriched my life…

One year ago today, I published my first book. What Gives You the Right to Freelance? is a collection of stories, lessons, and frameworks to help freelancers overcome their mental blocks, find their work-life balance, and achieve the career of their dreams. 

It’s organized in five main sections: Getting Started, Pitching, Doing the Work, Client Care, and Work-Life Balance. Each section has ten chapters, and each chapter can be read in just a few minutes. 

Publishing this book has been a gratifying experience. Seeing people post pictures of it highlighted, bent up, or stained with coffee has brought me so much joy. Books have been instrumental in showing me a better way to work and live. They’ve been companions to me over the years. The notion that my book sits on hundreds of shelves around the world (as well as inside hundreds of Kindle accounts and audiobook apps) means a great deal to me. The thought that I, in this short life, could compile my experiences and create a physical object that helps people? And could continue helping people for years to come? It’s uniquely rewarding. 

Working with friends to make this project come to life has also been awesome. My editors Kendra Fletcher and Jeremy P. Verke helped make this book concise and clear for anyone to read. My cousin Hudson Hopper’s sharp ideas are instrumental in my social content, which promotes this book. Jordan Walsh designed the cover, and stuck with me through almost ten versions to get it just right. Eric Dong emceed my launch party for the book. Ty Rex produced and engineered the audiobook. So many other people helped me along the way. 

Of course, I wish this book had already sold one million copies. It definitely hasn’t. But soon after my book launch party, I realized something: this book launch will be the most special one of my career. I was surrounded by so many people I love, and was able to be present with them, absent of any pressure to perform, or network, or please people in suits. 

If you haven’t read it, why not pick up a copy for yourself today?

If you have read it, thank you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.