How to Upset Your Readers and Make Money at the Same Time

My retirement plan has many elements to it including writing and publishing several more books that will add to my prosperity.

My prosperity up until now has been achieved in many ways including — would you believe — upsetting some of my readers and making money at it.

For instance, I recently received a handwritten letter (always a treat in this day and age when most people send e-mails) from a female reader of one of my books who calls herself a "Healer, Visionary & Artist" and lives in California.

The envelope was red and really different with an image of Cat Woman on it. Even the U.S. stamps on the envelope had cats on them.

"Here we go again," I thought, "another unhinged female reader sending me whacky stuff." (It's female readers who send me flaky stuff that can make my head spin in several directions all at the same time. One or two of them even have exhibited signs of slight, barely worth mentioning, craziness — but don't tell anyone that I said so. Americans are known to sue for anything and everything.)

I was wrong, however, in this case. It was just a woman upset at me — this happens to me often enough with women — so no problem here.

The image above is the inside of the letter, the content of which I have placed below.

Ernie,

I just finished reading Real Success Without a Real Job [re-issued as Career Success Without a Real Job].

I had to borrow the book from my local library because I'm broke from taking a vacation from my very boring and unchallenging job as a massage therapist.

Before I even finished reading your book completely, I found myself busy writing a book all of my own.

Thank you.

Anyways . . . that's not why I'm writing you. I'm writing you because you pissed me off. I got really mad when you said I was a cheapskate for borrowing the book from the library.

That is very rude.

It pissed me off so much that I called Ten Speed Press and ordered a copy of The Joy of Not Working.

The book is on its way as I write this letter and I'm looking forward to reading it.

Thank you.

Cyrstal Lynn Stevens
Healer, Visionary & Artist

Incidentally, Crystal was referring to the part in Career Success Without a Real Job on Page 174 where I wrote:

The key is not to cheap out when buying information that can help you market your products, learn the latest trade secrets, and be a better person. If you borrowed this book from the library — particularly if you are a well-paid professional — then you are not really committed to career success without a real job. Being cheap will not help you feel prosperous and successful.

You may protest that borrowing a book from the library is a form of economizing. True, it can be if you can’t afford the book. But economizing can create a “poor me” attitude toward money as well as all other areas of your life. You are likely feeding your subconscious mind poverty messages that will prevent you from ever becoming truly prosperous and successful.

So, the question is: Where are you cheaping out in your life that is adding to your poverty consciousness?

For example if you are an author, do you always expect everyone to buy copies of your books.

I don't. I have given away over 13,000 copies of my books (cost of around $50,000) over the years.

This along with upsetting some of my readers (both male and female) have been two keys to my success as an international best-selling author.

One more result that I have achieved is put myself in a position of prosperity and respectable wealth that enhances my retirement plan and allows me to work at projects that I truly enjoy at any pace that I desire.

Here are some retirement quotes and money quotes to inspire you to greater wealth and prosperity:

"He that lives upon hope will die fasting."
— Benjamin Franklin, The Way to Wealth

"Real wealth equals ideas plus energy."
— Buckminster Fuller

"The best thing a man can do for his culture when he is rich is to endeavor to carry out those schemes which he entertained when he was poor."
— Henry David Thoreau