I decided to write a book

A kick in the butt

Special thanks to Robin Waite for encouraging me to make use of my writing talent and helping me realize that there’s no need for my main focus to be making money. 🤑

Robin helped me recognize that “marketing” isn’t the problem, and getting something into the hands of the right people where it’ll be sure to transform their lives for the better is the focus.

Although my job is AMAZING, I have been viewing it mostly as a hindrance to bringing in more cash on the side. He helped me reframe my job (which is sustaining me financially) from a hindrance, to a privilege that allows me to provide value for the world without having to worry about making money.

I mentioned to him that I’m not so skilled at speaking because I take ungodly amounts of time to formulate sentences. However, people tend to praise me for my writing – which takes me little effort. And thus, the idea of writing a book was born!

A succinct, FUN, easy to digest, powerful book full of images.

For the next two years, until Jan 1, 2026, I’m not going to worry about making money at all, and focus on building an audience of 1000 people.

I’ll be 26 years old — almost 27.

For whatever reason, I’d hoped to be “successful” in some form of entrepreneurship by the age of 25, whether that be through a product, coaching service, or a YouTube channel.

It’s the end of October and I’m turning 25 in about three months, in February, 2024. No consistent YouTube channel, book, business…nothing. So many things started and stopped, left stagnant and untended.

I feel like I’ve failed my past self.

My past self who knew I’d be free, thriving, and living my absolute best life.

My Inspiration

Once upon a time, there was a child who wanted a life of freedom.

She saw the adults around her who weren’t subject by law to stick by their parents’ side and go to kindergarten every day.

But, for some reason they were still unhappy and chose not to go after their dreams.

Because they were so unhappy and laughed at her when she expressed her desire to grow up fast, she questioned them.

“This job is secure,” they told her, “I have responsibilities I have to worry about.” It didn’t make sense to her. Nobody was forcing these limitless adults to live a life of gray routine. There were no laws limiting them from working toward their dreams.

And yet, every day, they chose to do the same thing over and over again. And they still dared to complain about how terrible their lives were!

As a kid and teenager, I vowed to never live a life like the adults around me. I saw them sit at the desk all day, miserable, comfortably uncomfortable with their boring lives. And behind their eyes, I saw a yearning for something more – something they had chosen to forget and sacrifice for safety.

I desire to see the world through clear eyes, unclouded by fear.

I desire to live the life of my dreams.

I’ve come so far the past 5 years, especially in terms of improving my mental health. Many of the tools I have gained, in combination with my design sense and artistic skills will be what makes this book powerful and helpful for people.

SIDE NOTE: I’ll still be building a MUSE and actioning that out à la The Four Hour Work-Week! But I’m not gonna be caught up with the numbers or how much cash my muse brings in, as long as it breaks even and thus doesn’t put me in debt.

Back when I was trying to figure out what career to go into and how to find my dream job, I came across the book, Designing Your Life. Flipping through the book in the bookstore, I was underwhelmed.

“I can write a better book than this!” I thought to myself.

And thus I dedicate my book to the gifted lost high schooler, young adult or college student, wanting to chase their dreams, with no idea where to start.

Books I will use as reference

• Vai La e Faz (VLEF) by Tiago Mattos

This book is only in Brazilian Portuguese. I only know basic greetings and swears in Portuguese, but Google Translate does a fantastic job.

It’s formatted in a unique way, extremely readable, and presents transformative concepts, many related to design thinking, entrepreneurship, life design and education.

• Wishcraft by Barbara Sher

This is the best book I have ever read on Goal-setting and following your dreams. Barbara Sher was the grandmother of life coaching. It’s a hidden gem that I found in the further reading section of The Teenage Liberation Handbook.

You know a book is amazing when reviewers from 1998 and 2009 alike have written lengthy paragraphs explaining how it changed their lives.

I followed the steps in this book to land a dream job at an anime studio in Japan when I was 20, and followed the steps again to land my current dream job at a VR video game studio.

• Learn to BE, Not Taught To FIT AERO Conference Keynote by Adler Yang and Ozzie Su

I attended the 2020 AERO (Alternative Education Resource Organization) conference online. This keynote changed my life. Unfortunately the text isn’t saved, but the slides toward the end are well-designed and the core of the presentation.

Honorable Mentions:

• The Teenage Liberation Handbook by Grace Llewelyn
  • An underground classic on unschooling, dropping out, lifelong learning, and alternative education
• The Kybalion
  • The 7 esoteric principles that govern the universe
• The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron

My Secret Sauce

What makes me special?

What’s going to take this book to the next level so that when the right people get it in their paws, they will reap the greatest benefits from it? So that this book may serve as their bible to step into the next level of their life? Bring them the relief they seek and ACTUALLY guide them forward on their path forward?

• I draw. Specifically, I make dumb doodles and emotionally powerful paintings.
• I have a knack for design/design thinking.
  • Learned traditional animation techniques, I’m a VR technical artist, work in the game industry, learned Japanese to working proficiency in 2 years, learned how to code in C# and use Unity in 3 months…etc.
  • I love making pretty diagrams
• I’ve been through the wringer with depression, anxiety, and loneliness.
  • For the past 8 years, my mental health has been my top priority. Through investing time and money, I’ve got a fair deal of practical tools, as well as spiritual tools to share.
  • Went from being suicidal to reconnecting with my identity, discovering who I am, landing multiple dream jobs, and financial independence!
• I’m someone who’s had to discover what I want from life and who I am.
• Humor. Apparently I’m very funny.
• I care A LOT. I want to speak/write from the heart with this book.
• I am kinda psychic and 100% believe in MAGIC!

That’s it for now!

It’s going to be free to access book so I’ll definitely update through blogposts. I may even post full chapters here if appropriate.

See you soon.

Best,

Em