The Truth About What Really Matters

Fame is weird.

A lot of us don’t just want to sell books—we even want movies made about our stories.

Ok, maybe not all of us of course.

I have a hell of a story myself. I’m sure you do too.

Trust me, I’ve thought about it too.

The need for external validation?

Very, very real.

We write because we have something to say.

But deep down, we also want to be seen, acknowledged, remembered.

That’s why book sales feel like proof of impact.

Sell 10,000+ copies, hit a bestseller list, and suddenly, it means something… right?

A nice hit of validation.

But here’s what most authors miss: your book will likely never pay for itself in sales alone.

I hear it all the time.

Authors say they want to make an impact, change lives, and that selling 10,000 books overnight would mean instant transformation.

But let’s be real—how often does change happen that fast?

Try giving up sugar for a few weeks.

Let me know how that goes.

If the smallest shifts are hard, imagine how difficult it is for readers to implement your big ideas.

Not even Atomic Habits—one of the best-selling books of our time—guarantees real transformation.

People love to quote the book and slap it on cards and make sure they remind us of it.

"You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems."

Great quote.

Powerful idea.

But let’s be honest—we all know the “1% better every day” concept.

How many of us actually do the work?

I’m sure some have.

Good on you.

But for many, books are social currency.

We want to say we’ve read the book, be part of the conversation.

That’s why we chase bestseller lists, massive book sales, even the idea of fame.

Here’s my truth: I’m not famous. By any measure what so ever!

And I’ve learned that external validation will always come back empty-handed—no matter how many books you sell, no matter how many opportunities come your way.

We all write books for a reason.

For me, that reason ran deep.

As a voiceless refugee kid, I felt suppressed.

I wanted to be heard, to be seen.

And when I finally told my story—when I wrote my book—I realized something:

The book did its job.

That void I carried?

It didn’t get filled by sales, speaking gigs, or recognition.

It felt full because, for the first time, I truly knew myself.

And maybe that’s what I needed after all.

The real return on your book?

The quiet satisfaction of knowing you had the privilege to write it in the first place

A moment of accomplishment—you did something great

A proud spouse, son, daughter, or family member

A book that positions you as the expert

A handful of high-value consulting clients

4-8 speaking gigs that 10x your investment

You don’t need a million readers.

You need the right readers.

Are you chasing book sales or opportunities?

#risingauthors #gardenwarrior #rosefistforever