Daniel Pink

We had a plan because I wasn't bringing in like that, that much money. We had a plan and the plan was that we'll try it for, I wanted to go out and do my own writing and we'll go out and try it for a couple of years and see if it works. And if it didn't work, I'd go back and get a job. But she's not giving up her job. She's not giving up her health insurance.

If there's a superpower that I have, it is frugality. So I don't spend a lot of money. So we just sort of stumbled our way into figuring out how to make it work.

If there's a superpower that I have, it is frugality. So I don't spend a lot of money. So we just sort of stumbled our way into figuring out how to make it work.

I mean, I should have probably. Maybe because I was clueless. You know, I mean, here's the thing, Alana. I mean, I'm not joking about this. When I went to work for myself, basically leaving a job and then going to work in the attic of our house, I had a negative net worth. Now, the good news is that at the time, I don't think I knew what a net worth was. I didn't know that.

I mean, I should have probably. Maybe because I was clueless. You know, I mean, here's the thing, Alana. I mean, I'm not joking about this. When I went to work for myself, basically leaving a job and then going to work in the attic of our house, I had a negative net worth. Now, the good news is that at the time, I don't think I knew what a net worth was. I didn't know that.

I just know retrospectively. It's like, holy crap, you did this with a negative net worth? Because I, you know, I owed more than I was worth. And I did. It actually didn't feel especially scary, honestly.

I just know retrospectively. It's like, holy crap, you did this with a negative net worth? Because I, you know, I owed more than I was worth. And I did. It actually didn't feel especially scary, honestly.

That's a different thing. That is like discovering that something is harder than you expect is a reality. And I think I definitely did encounter that. But the being frightened beforehand wasn't a big thing, in part because I planned it out. You know, and basically I looked at it very, very rationally. Again, we still had an income coming in. We still had health insurance. We were not big spenders.

That's a different thing. That is like discovering that something is harder than you expect is a reality. And I think I definitely did encounter that. But the being frightened beforehand wasn't a big thing, in part because I planned it out. You know, and basically I looked at it very, very rationally. Again, we still had an income coming in. We still had health insurance. We were not big spenders.

And also there was a plan B in the sense that I knew I could always go find another job. I was not worried that I was going to be unemployable.

And also there was a plan B in the sense that I knew I could always go find another job. I was not worried that I was going to be unemployable.

It's neither one of those. It's neither dark nights of the soul where I'm wondering whether I can do this, nor is it this kind of blissful thing. It's neither one of those. It's I have a job to do. I have something I care about. So get to work. And then do it the next day and do it the next day.

It's neither one of those. It's neither dark nights of the soul where I'm wondering whether I can do this, nor is it this kind of blissful thing. It's neither one of those. It's I have a job to do. I have something I care about. So get to work. And then do it the next day and do it the next day.

I didn't spend a lot of time on either of those polls because I didn't spend a lot of time pondering it. I just was doing shit. And so that's what it was for me. Now, again, just to be very clear about this, when I first started out, I couldn't make enough money as a writer. And so I actually took on some corporate speech writing, which I hated, but paid for diapers.

I didn't spend a lot of time on either of those polls because I didn't spend a lot of time pondering it. I just was doing shit. And so that's what it was for me. Now, again, just to be very clear about this, when I first started out, I couldn't make enough money as a writer. And so I actually took on some corporate speech writing, which I hated, but paid for diapers.

That was a side gig for about a year or so until I... found my footing as a writer, and then also managed to get a book deal that paid in advance that covered us partially, kind of, sorta. You know, I was in my early 30s. We had one baby, then we had another baby. I'm working for myself. My wife is litigating on behalf of the United States Department of Justice.

That was a side gig for about a year or so until I... found my footing as a writer, and then also managed to get a book deal that paid in advance that covered us partially, kind of, sorta. You know, I was in my early 30s. We had one baby, then we had another baby. I'm working for myself. My wife is litigating on behalf of the United States Department of Justice.

you're just like trying to get through each day, you know? I mean it. I mean, you're just not thinking about, oh my God, is this a source of meaning? Oh my God, I'm living the dream. Oh my God, I'm so scared. You're saying, What is the mess in front of me that I need professionally or personally that I need to clean up right now?

you're just like trying to get through each day, you know? I mean it. I mean, you're just not thinking about, oh my God, is this a source of meaning? Oh my God, I'm living the dream. Oh my God, I'm so scared. You're saying, What is the mess in front of me that I need professionally or personally that I need to clean up right now?

At that point... So I wrote Free Agent Nation. And so I got that out of me. I wrote a book and I learned how to write a book. That's really important. I showed myself and I showed the world that I can do this. Then I wrote A Whole New Mind. And A Whole New Mind did very well commercially, knock wood. I mean, I always believe the wolf is at the door, but that mitigated that fear for a little bit.