205: Why Paul Millerd Turned Down a $200K Two-Book Traditional Publishing Deal
From a certain outside perspective, turning down a $200,000 two-book deal from a traditional publishing house makes no sense. But for today's guest, Paul Millerd, it fits perfectly into his operating paradigm of what David Whyte calls the pathless path.
After climbing the ranks in corporate consulting but feeling increasingly empty, Paul shifted away from chasing status and approval, and started his own business his own way. Now the mantra he lives (and writes) by is “coming alive over getting ahead.”
In this conversation, we dive into how he felt when he got the offer from the publisher, the "old Paul" resurfacing during his meetings with them, and how he has fared on his self-publishing journey in the two years that the book has been out.
More About Paul: Paul Millerd is an independent writer, freelancer, coach, and digital creator. He is the author of The Pathless Path: Imagining a New Story for Work and Life, in which he explores the invisible scripts that constrain our lives. He is also the host of The Pathless Path podcast, where he talks with the most interesting people on unconventional paths.
📝 Permission: To self-publish your book!
🔗 Resources Mentioned
Paul on the web, IG: @pathlesspaul, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube
Articles: Paul’s substack, essays, Reflections on Saying No to a Book Deal & Betting on Myself #219, Original Twitter thread, and From Blog to Book: How to Self-Publish on Your Own Terms
Swag: StickerMule (Bubble Envelopes)
Tools and Templates: Jenny’s Author Toolkit
📚 Books Mentioned
The Pathless Path by Paul Millerd
The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod
🎧 Related Episodes
The Pathless Path with Paul Millerd
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Free Time’s full Behind-the-Book Playlist (Spotify)
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203: Riding the Emotional Rollercoaster of Launching with Natalie Lue
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