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

• Free Time: Lose the Busywork, Love Your Business

• Pivot: The Only Move That Matters Is Your Next One

• Life After College

🎧 Related Episodes

• The Pathless Path with Paul Millerd

• Pivot: 328: Accessing Your True Self Through IFS with Adrian Klaphaak

• Free Time’s full Behind-the-Book Playlist (Spotify)

• 084: Sprinkling the First 1,000 Serendipity Seeds of a Launch

• 035: The Long Game with Dorie Clark

• 173: Cut Your Losses—Even While Pivoting in Public—with Khe Hy

• 162: Should You Self-Publish? (Part One)

• 164: Let’s Talk Royalties re: Publishing Options (Part Two)

• 203: Riding the Emotional Rollercoaster of Launching with Natalie Lue

• 196: 🍩 What Do Donuts, Coffee, Conversation, and Energy Cliffs Have in Common? (My Mini Daily Audio Diary from Attending TED 2023)

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