If you've been trolling the blogosphere like I have lately you've heard a lot of flap about traditional publishing versus self publishing. We draw lines in the sand and take sides like we're hometown rivals and today is the big game. We shout across the battle lines with traditional people saying, "Self-publishers make less than $1000 a year." The self-published firing back with examples of bad contracts and abused books. We fight. We post. We shake fists into the ether.
People, we can go back and forth all day, but at one point it begins to feel like we're pundits on Fox News or CNN. Do those bald and beautiful talking heads ever change their minds when confronted with a carefully crafted argument from the opposition? I think not. This is how Americans are. We pick a side and then we hold onto it like a child to his binkie. And don't you dare try to take that binkie.
As a self-published author-entrepreneur, I have taken a side I like considerably, thank you very much, but I am not into evangelizing the other side. If they are happy over there in the glittering land of the Big Five than I am happy for them. I wish them wonderful book covers, editors who work tirelessly and contracts promising cashola so fat they can buy a private island. It affects my little world none. And I think that very point is the reason I self-published a year and a half ago. I don't have to worry about anyone else. I worry about myself. I please myself and my fans (get your minds out of the gutter, people). I pick my covers. I chose what I write and when I write it. I edit until I am happy and then I put the book up. I am el capitan, CEO. I'm the big dog, the head cheese, the... oh, you get the point. Bottom line is I get to be my own boss. This means I have very high job satisfaction. I read an article in the Huffington Post not too long ago that discussed this very idea. Did you know that CEOs have less stress in their lives then their underlings? How can that be, I thought. Everyone is pawing at them to make decisions, fix problems, dig the company out of foreclosure. Yet, a new study shows that bosses, on average have less stress hormones present than the rest of us drones.
"The reason your boss is so chill? Control. The executives and leaders in the study --148 of them, from the military, government, business and nonprofits -- were in command of their schedules, daily living circumstances, financial security and basically just about everything in their lives, notes the Los Angeles Times."
This is exactly what self-publishing promises. It may not promise a financial windfall (though neither does traditional publishing), it may not bring fame and glory, but it brings great satisfaction. I've been working a full time professional job for nearly twelve years and the longer I work, the more job satisfaction plays a huge roll in how I view life. Money is slowly losing its driving force and power too. I want to do something that makes me happy and fulfills me. This is the reason I chose self publishing.
Instead of taking drawing lines in the sand and fighting over which side is "right" we should examine our own satisfaction. If you're there, you're there, man. Don't let anybody harsh your mellow.
What about you? How much do you feel happiness plays a role in which paths you take? Sound off below.
People, we can go back and forth all day, but at one point it begins to feel like we're pundits on Fox News or CNN. Do those bald and beautiful talking heads ever change their minds when confronted with a carefully crafted argument from the opposition? I think not. This is how Americans are. We pick a side and then we hold onto it like a child to his binkie. And don't you dare try to take that binkie.
As a self-published author-entrepreneur, I have taken a side I like considerably, thank you very much, but I am not into evangelizing the other side. If they are happy over there in the glittering land of the Big Five than I am happy for them. I wish them wonderful book covers, editors who work tirelessly and contracts promising cashola so fat they can buy a private island. It affects my little world none. And I think that very point is the reason I self-published a year and a half ago. I don't have to worry about anyone else. I worry about myself. I please myself and my fans (get your minds out of the gutter, people). I pick my covers. I chose what I write and when I write it. I edit until I am happy and then I put the book up. I am el capitan, CEO. I'm the big dog, the head cheese, the... oh, you get the point. Bottom line is I get to be my own boss. This means I have very high job satisfaction. I read an article in the Huffington Post not too long ago that discussed this very idea. Did you know that CEOs have less stress in their lives then their underlings? How can that be, I thought. Everyone is pawing at them to make decisions, fix problems, dig the company out of foreclosure. Yet, a new study shows that bosses, on average have less stress hormones present than the rest of us drones.
"The reason your boss is so chill? Control. The executives and leaders in the study --148 of them, from the military, government, business and nonprofits -- were in command of their schedules, daily living circumstances, financial security and basically just about everything in their lives, notes the Los Angeles Times."
This is exactly what self-publishing promises. It may not promise a financial windfall (though neither does traditional publishing), it may not bring fame and glory, but it brings great satisfaction. I've been working a full time professional job for nearly twelve years and the longer I work, the more job satisfaction plays a huge roll in how I view life. Money is slowly losing its driving force and power too. I want to do something that makes me happy and fulfills me. This is the reason I chose self publishing.
Instead of taking drawing lines in the sand and fighting over which side is "right" we should examine our own satisfaction. If you're there, you're there, man. Don't let anybody harsh your mellow.
What about you? How much do you feel happiness plays a role in which paths you take? Sound off below.
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