Friday, April 19, 2013

What if...? The Biggest Decision of My Life


It is with a mix of excitement, anticipation, hope, and fear that I write this post.

I've made the decision to retire to be a full-time author. EEK!

This is both an exhilarating and frightening prospect, because while I am excited to pursue my dream of being a full-time author, it isn't without fear of the unknown that I venture down that path. I'm daring to embark on a journey of my own making. To rely only on myself to earn the means by which I will survive. That's kind of scary, because there is no safety net. I'm putting all my eggs in this one basket and taking a chance that they will multiply in the way I have calculated they will.

But there are no guarantees. What if the bottom falls out? What if my well of ideas dries up? Oh, but what if it doesn't and they don't? A-ha! See, I've spent my life catering to fear: What if I'm not good enough? What if no one buys my books? What if...what if...what if? But "what if I fail?" is just negativity sucking away all the positives. It's stinkin' thinkin'. Turn that negative switch around. What if I AM good enough? What if enough people buy my books to put me on the NY Times Bestseller list? What if I'm wasting my talent by letting fear take away my dream? What if I could double my income in six months by dedicating all my professional efforts to my writing craft? What if, what if, what if INDEED!

By letting fear rob us of our dreams, we don't give ourselves the opportunity to reach for the sky. And unless you reach, you'll never succeed. Not reaching is the coward's way out. It's easy. Reaching is damn hard work, especially when you're an inch too short. But then you just have to find a way to extend your reach. With, say, a ruler or by standing on a ladder. Think on that.

It's not like I've made this decision without applying rational thought and doing my due diligence. I've crunched the numbers ten ways to Sunday, and while I won't discuss exact figures (because people I work with read my blog, and I've always been taught not to discuss my salary), but let's just say that in 2013 alone, I've made $XX,XXX selling books and $X,XXX at my job. In THREE MONTHS. Now, you can count those x's, and I will say that my book income is a little less than quadruple what my job income is, but that's as much detail as I'll give on that.

What if I was writing full time already? How big of numbers would that first set of x's represent then?

What if...?

By retiring now and devoting the remainder of 2013 100% to my writing, I give myself the chance, the merest possibility, even if it's a small one, of earning a 6-figure income in 2014. By staying at my job, I give myself ZERO chance of making that happen. None. Nada. Goose egg. If I stay at my job, I would earn a maximum of $XX,XXX for the remainder of 2013. Is a shot at $XXX,XXX (even if it's a slim one) worth $XX,XXX? (And that's a pretty wide spread if you saw the numbers).

How many business owners would look at those numbers and say, "You're making a good business decision by staying at your job."? None. And yet, that's what I've done. Because of my loyalty, I have consciously made the decision to do just that. And I did it with no regrets.

But the money's not the reason why I'm retiring. Not entirely. That's only a small piece of it. That's the rational, I-at-least-need-to-pay-my-bills, business reason behind my decision. The biggest reason for my decision to retire is simply this: When you figure out what it is you want to do with the rest of your life, you want the rest of your life to begin as soon as possible. You don't want to delay. I've got the writing education, I have the talent, I have the drive and motivation, and I'm not getting any younger. Every day that I'm not writing, I'm robbing myself of my future and disrespecting the gift and the opportunity that's been placed in front of me.

Think of it this way. I'm standing on the platform, and the train that carries my dream and my future pulls in to the station. And until now, I've just stood there and stared as everyone around me got on. As the train pulled away, I watched all those people go off and chase MY dream. And I stayed behind. I let them go. I didn't even try to grab the caboose as it flew past.

What if...I had gotten on those trains?

In the past year since I returned to work, I have let two incredible waves of momentum pass me by. I've watched two of those trains roll in and leave without me. And this year alone, I've walked away from three writing projects and numerous opportunities that would have allowed me to market myself and gain wider publicity. All because of my devotion to my job. I made that choice. I consciously sacrificed my career as an author and my dream to write novels so that I could fulfill my duty to my boss and to my company. And I don't say that to lay blame or create guilt. I say it as part of the foundation for why I'm making my decision now. Because it's time for me to stop letting those trains of opportunity pass me by. I need to get on one and ride it.

I hope those who I work with understand how loyal I've been to the company and to my boss. I don't know many people who would put their "careers" on hold for a "job," but I did just that. And, again, I did it without remorse, and I did it eagerly. It was the right decision at the time. It's just not the right decision anymore. It's time for me to follow MY dream for a change, not someone else's, which is what I've done all my life.

Not many people get the opportunity to follow their dreams and make a career out of doing what they love. Many let the "what ifs" kill their dreams and take them away. I know I have in the past, but I won't let that happen anymore. I consider myself fortunate and damn lucky. I understand the opportunity I've been given. Now I just need to start respecting it. Because up until now, I haven't fully done that.

What if...I had respected these opportunities sooner?

No regrets.

I leave you with Robert Frost's poem, The Road Not Taken, which sends a powerful message:

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I marked the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
      

I choose to take the road less traveled. And what if that makes all the difference?

Blessings to all, and happy reading!



10 comments:

  1. Donya, I nearly cried when I read this. I am so happy for you. I am envious that you have the courage I never have had. You are so very talented and I can say that you and your books are making waves. I was at another author's release party and she wanted to know some sexy vampires. You would not believe how many were posting about Micah, Trace and Sev and Arie. I have been doing a lot of thinking about my own path in life. I have medical things and age keeping me from reaching for the stars but maybe soon the medical stuff will be behind me although I still seem to be getting older. :) I wish you the very best and I just know this is going the be a wonderful move for you.
    Huggggs,

    Tami

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have had a lot of medical issues, too, and that can certainly be such a drag. I completely understand. It can be sooo frustrating when you don't know why you feel bad and nobody can seem to make you feel better. I finally gave up on medical doctors and took a homeopathic, holistic, naturopathic, whole foods approach. I actually just saw my homeopathic practitioner today. It's taken me a while (a number of years), and a lot of patience and self education, but between my nurse practitioner (who prefers more natural, body friendly approaches to wellness) and my homeopathic, I'm finally reaching a place where I feel better than I have in years. So, don't give up. Hang in there. :) *hugs*

      And, wow, that's fantastic to hear that so many were talking about my smexy boys. Thank you for sharing that. :)

      Delete
  2. Donya, wow! As a fan, I am thrilled! What strength and courage you display!! Please know so many fans are waiting and ready to support you and your work . . . . Congrats!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Deirdre. I won't lie. What I'm doing is scary, but there's a voice in my head that's reassuring me and telling me it will all be okay and that I'm doing the right thing. In January of 2012, I asked God for a sign about whether or not I was supposed to write full-time or go back to work. I got SIX huge, between-the-eyes signs that very day that I was supposed to be a full-time author. I still returned to work for my friend, and I told him the other day that I never would have gone to work for anyone else or any other company. He and that company were the ONLY ones I would have said yes to. And I hope that speaks loudly as to how much I respect him and the company that I put my writing career on hold for a year to do that.

      Delete
  3. Fantastic post. Couldn't have put it better myself - which is perhaps why you are the full-time author lol!!

    The last few weeks I have been thinking the same way. Stuff all the what if's. Why not give it a go and only if I fail, only then can I complain it's too hard.

    Loving your success and the motivation and drive it's passing on to me. Keep it up girl. Success doesn't come to those who wait. Success comes to those who go out and earn it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Nancy. :) And I agree. You can't wait around for success to come to you. Success might knock on the door and rock on its feet while it waits for you to answer, but ultimately, you DO have to invite it in and make it feel welcome if you want it to stay a while and actually amount to something.

      Delete
  4. Hey Donya,
    Good for you to make this leap of faith! You never know what tomorrow brings. Let me tell you that life is to short. Grab this by the tails and go! I am proud of you for your courage and strength. You are a inspiration to other writers that may be in the same situation. I feel that you will do real well! Life is always full of "What If's" in everything we do everyday. I hope that your nerves stay calm and can't wait to see you at the top of the NY List! Have a great day!! =)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Kathy. I just want my mind to relax again so that I can get back to the magic I felt when I wrote Rise and Heart. Right now, I'm all work and no play, and that makes for laborious, two-dimensional writing. I miss taking drives and going for long walks. That was when I got my best ideas, was when I was out and about and enjoying life.

      Delete
  5. Oh Donya, Amen to that! If you didn't make that momentous decision, you'd be wondering the rest of your life, what if? And, What if? is an unhappy place to be. I made that same decision three years ago - to leave my job as a teacher to follow my dream at being a full time author. As you so succinctly put it, we're not getting any younger and we're letting the train pass by. But, no more! I have no regrets and my debut novel (one of a series) comes out the end of May. If I hadn't left work, it would NEVER have been written. So, congratulations fellow traveller and let's enjoy the ride while writing those books everyone will want to read.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Congratulations on your debut! :) And yes, let's stay on the train and make big things happen. Thank you for the fabulous words of support.

      Delete