James has written so many posts mentioning me I feel I should write at least one mentioning him. Although I will do it selfishly. In fact, I will take full credit for turning on my inner salesman last week as I helped him get books signed in the Amazon booth at the International Book Expo in NYC.
"There is an author here willing to sign books" I said to the myriad of people passing through. All the major publishers had a stand, all the main players and figures lined up. Create Space /Amazon/Kindle was all the way at the back with the new and so far unheard-of : "self-published" authors.
James was standing by himself with all his books. Ready to sign them.
My first line didn't get much attention.
"You may recognize him from CNBC" I continued... That did something. TV seems to mean something still. Appearing on a major network brings with it a stamp of recognition. Even though it is really not that hard to appear on TV, we still look up to whomever appears on the Tube.
"He has published five books in the traditional way, with publishers like Wiley and Harper Collins, but now he is going the self publishing way, he has a chapter in the book in which he talks about why and how to do it." That did it!
Traditional publishing also carries some weight, and someone who has been "chosen" and then "gone indie" obviously has to be a Han Solo kind of guy, a one of a kind.
He is.
The one thing that people meeting James for the first time did not know last Wednesday is that... he is a force of nature. Once a potential author is in front of him James knows what they need.
"This is the time to choose yourself" said James to one woman, then the next guy, then the next. "There is no longer a need to wait to be chosen by the publishing giants, the LORDS OF MEDIA, the TV companies, to even be called by the job you want. YOU choose you, you self-publish. YOU get the job. YOU hustle and create a business. No more excuses!"
Aha!
Maybe one would think I am saying this because I am his wife. I'll tell you, I love the guy, but I still have enough discernment to realize and feel in my bones that his message is true, regardless of me being married to him.
I have seen what being next to him has done to me. I am doing work I love, spreading messages of what has worked for me, working at being fully present, eliminating the energy drainers from my life, practicing yoga more intensely than ever, and fully dedicated to what I am good at. That is James.
He helped me by pointing out all the areas outside my comfort zone where I did not dare go (like self-publishing a book of my own) and then pushing me gently but surely into it. I went from "who am I to do this"? to simply: "Who am I not to"?
If this is the work I feel at my core, if it is what I love to do, then why should I stand on my own way?
Anyone lucky to have James nearby needs to embrace herself if making a decision to ask for ideas. He will not just provide one idea, he will give 300. All of them executable, all of them brilliant, all of them abundant. He is, well, a force of nature.
It is through meeting him that I realize at a much deeper level that a college degree or a purchased home or some social status is NOT what brings us happiness, these are constructed fantasies. I am much happier doing yoga and writing about it, thank you very much. No college needed, no extra debt, no playing with the big guys in schemes designed to rob me of peace.
I only wish he could have sent this message to me somehow ten years ago. Or 15. By coincidence we were living 100 feet from each other 15 years ago but never met until 2009. I'm still MAD at him over that.
If you have not read his book yet, here is where is at (99 cents in Kindle), he is in the process of making it free at Amazon. Yes free. He also believes in free.
James is also about to appear in PBS give talks around the country and offer a workshop at Kripalu, and ALSO: Shhhhh... (still a secret) about to launch TDP.ME a free community website where you can track what you are doing about the four pillars of health (physical, emotional mental and spiritual), and I am working at adding within it a Yoga goal tracking (for pranayama rations, asana practice, meditation times, as well as yamas niyamas etc). It's pretty cool!
He lives at JamesAltucher.com
"There is an author here willing to sign books" I said to the myriad of people passing through. All the major publishers had a stand, all the main players and figures lined up. Create Space /Amazon/Kindle was all the way at the back with the new and so far unheard-of : "self-published" authors.
James was standing by himself with all his books. Ready to sign them.
 |
| James at the booth |
"You may recognize him from CNBC" I continued... That did something. TV seems to mean something still. Appearing on a major network brings with it a stamp of recognition. Even though it is really not that hard to appear on TV, we still look up to whomever appears on the Tube.
"He has published five books in the traditional way, with publishers like Wiley and Harper Collins, but now he is going the self publishing way, he has a chapter in the book in which he talks about why and how to do it." That did it!
Traditional publishing also carries some weight, and someone who has been "chosen" and then "gone indie" obviously has to be a Han Solo kind of guy, a one of a kind.
He is.
 |
| In front of the Amazon screen announcing he would be signing books |
"This is the time to choose yourself" said James to one woman, then the next guy, then the next. "There is no longer a need to wait to be chosen by the publishing giants, the LORDS OF MEDIA, the TV companies, to even be called by the job you want. YOU choose you, you self-publish. YOU get the job. YOU hustle and create a business. No more excuses!"
Aha!
 |
| A line forms to talk to him. By the end all 60 books were gone |
I have seen what being next to him has done to me. I am doing work I love, spreading messages of what has worked for me, working at being fully present, eliminating the energy drainers from my life, practicing yoga more intensely than ever, and fully dedicated to what I am good at. That is James.
He helped me by pointing out all the areas outside my comfort zone where I did not dare go (like self-publishing a book of my own) and then pushing me gently but surely into it. I went from "who am I to do this"? to simply: "Who am I not to"?
If this is the work I feel at my core, if it is what I love to do, then why should I stand on my own way?
 |
| I am an author too, and although he was the star of the day it was good to see the title in black and white for my tag as well |
It is through meeting him that I realize at a much deeper level that a college degree or a purchased home or some social status is NOT what brings us happiness, these are constructed fantasies. I am much happier doing yoga and writing about it, thank you very much. No college needed, no extra debt, no playing with the big guys in schemes designed to rob me of peace.
I only wish he could have sent this message to me somehow ten years ago. Or 15. By coincidence we were living 100 feet from each other 15 years ago but never met until 2009. I'm still MAD at him over that.
If you have not read his book yet, here is where is at (99 cents in Kindle), he is in the process of making it free at Amazon. Yes free. He also believes in free.
James is also about to appear in PBS give talks around the country and offer a workshop at Kripalu, and ALSO: Shhhhh... (still a secret) about to launch TDP.ME a free community website where you can track what you are doing about the four pillars of health (physical, emotional mental and spiritual), and I am working at adding within it a Yoga goal tracking (for pranayama rations, asana practice, meditation times, as well as yamas niyamas etc). It's pretty cool!
He lives at JamesAltucher.com
Bravo!! As a fellow finance/business geek and Ashtangi, my admiration for James is elevated. All the success that is coming to him is much deserved.
ReplyDeleteJames is certainly a wise man. His tips and deep profundities most likely resonate with so many people because he's latched on to a key principle: help others and your life improves.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing Claudia.
He really is, as are you, Claudia. Love that you were out at the expo, telling people about him. Love this post, it has many great lines:
ReplyDelete"By coincidence we were living 100 feet from each other 15 years ago but never met until 2009. I'm still MAD at him over that"
"I have seen what being next to him has done to me. I am doing work I love, spreading messages of what has worked for me, working at being fully present, eliminating the energy drainers from my life, practicing yoga more intensely than ever, and fully dedicated to what I am good at. That is James."
Thanks Kamal :-) And yes it was great being at the expo with him, seeing the iluminating faces of people learning that it is so simple to self publish these days, how it is time to empower ourselves, just like you did with your book! :-) It is a good time to be alive
ReplyDeleteVery true!
ReplyDelete:-) Good to hear the fellow Ashtangi part...
ReplyDeleteWoot! has James been practicing his yoga--he looks great! I read my first e-book last week, Ilet go by Erica Schmidt then i promptly bought yours and James e-book (I was Blind) I got so motivated that on Saturday i wrote 10,000 words of my own e-book on top of a haybale for 6 hours. I am so excited, been wanting to do this for 10 years and now i will. Thanks guys!
ReplyDeletejanice
Doesn't he? I think it is the yoga plus the change in food, (not so much wheat these days) that helps...
ReplyDeletethanks for telling me about your book exploration, and congratulations on writing the 10,000 words, that is quite an achievement! Glad to hear you are on your way after 10 years
:-)
Haha "he lives at JamesAltucher.com" :)
ReplyDeleteI also wish I could've found out about him sooner! And You're Argentinian right? Did you ever like soccer? ha. Lionel Messi!
yes I was born in Buenos Aires and of course I like football, Argentina 4 Brazil 3 over the weekend... ;-)
ReplyDeleteAwesome~you two are too cool. I look forward to your future together, and to both of you sharing it with your audiences.
ReplyDeleteClaudia, I found James about a month ago. I already have a Kindle Short and a Kindle cookbook. The cookbook is also a paperback thank to CreateSpace. I'm 60,000+ words into my first non-fiction book and James has reinforced all I have come to believe in about self-publishing AND LIFE!
ReplyDeleteIt is wonderful to hear you speak your words of love and inspiration about your hubby. I am very happy for you and I wish you both continued success! Thank you for this lovely post...
You are welcome Bill, and congratulations on the books!
ReplyDelete