The Outstanding Power of Oversimplified Advice
What to do when you learn the truth… but not the whole truth
New York Times Bestselling author Jon Acuff recently revealed the exact dollar amount on his latest royalty check.
It was the thumbnail that baited me into actually watching the whole video. Dangling dollars in front of an audience works. “No way will he show us how much money is on that check,” I thought.
After a while, he did fulfill his promise and showed us the check.
I hope you are sitting down for this.
It was $77.41.
No, you aren’t doing your math wrong. That is exactly one pittance.
Jon went on to explain why he would bother writing in the first place for that small a reward. He used it as a prop to answer a question he is asked often — “can you really make a living as a writer?” Jon said that despite his tiny royalties he could make a living as an author.
“Can you make a living as a author or a painter or a photographer or a cobbler or a chef?” he said. “You can. It comes down to two simple steps.”
