How I sold 50k copies of my self published book

[@JD-ej7zu]

Tim Ferris just mentioned you in 5 bullet Fridays...You're about to set records again!

[@MarvelousMaterial]

yup...never heard of the book, might actually read it now cause of Tim

[@PaulMillerd]

Ha we will see!

[@Miguel834a]

Haha same just learned about the book because of Tim

[@PaulMillerd]

@@MarvelousMaterial if youre on a weird path or love thinking about the deeper questions behind work you'd like it I think!

[@amyecheto8718]

Same here!

[@wtsreads]

While I bought and read the book because of Ali Abdaal's recommendation, I resonate even more with this kind of content and the twitter threads you have put out on self-publishing. So glad this came into my algorithm, thank you for sharing your experience!

[@PaulMillerd]

Thanks so much Walter

[@throughconversations]

Extremly valuable, especially for upcoming authors that are weighing on how to publish their books! Appreciate you, Paul!

[@JoyDey-ss3re]

Even though i am just a kid(15) in compare to the things you have written in that i really loved it. I wanted to think a little more ahead so i read your book it really helped me to clear my point of view about the complicated things like money and relationships and choose my priorities.

[@_stevenfoster]

One of the realest. Congrats man!

[@yorudan]

Thanks for sharing, Paul! I launched my sourdough video course similar to your book launch - just wanted to get it out there. Now to get creative getting it in front of peepsl.

[@NishaManekMD]

As a self-published author myself, Paul is incredible with so many lessons in his video. My life changed by writing and publishing Bridging Science and Spirit. The science of the power of human intention which can transform medicine entirely! Top-down science is what I call it. Paul makes me reconsider how to position myself, and my fabulous book! Thank you.

[@theannareich]

Loved this breakdown of the process and numbers! My favorite part were the professional charts 😎

[@wickedlybrilliant]

Hey Paul, this was a really great breakdown and your transparency is both appreciated and inspiring. I’m blown away how small the offer was from a traditional publisher compared to the value of self publishing! Looking forward to reading your next book :)

[@PaulMillerd]

Yeah when you lay the numbers out it’s hard to see how it’s a good deal

[@EveningTV]

So, if you didn't get the shout out from someone with a large platform what would the story be? How did you get that shout out? No doubt you have written a great book, but there are a lot of great books that no one has ever heard of. I'm especially interested in your answer given that you said you did very little to promote it yourself.

[@PaulMillerd]

Id do what I’m doing now. Keep sharing it, writing online, and write more books

[@menotme89]

Bingo bango. I have the feeling the Tim Feris’s etc who promote this guy think “a McKinsey guy who’s gone ‘pathless’ … yeh I’ll reply to his reach out because he might get massive”. Make it Bob from the burger shop going pathless, writing a book, and reaching out to Tim Feris’s and I think 99% of the time it’ll be crickets. Same with basically every example in the book. Well to do people. Who even if things go wrong for can still make more money and have a more stable life than your average joe. Talking about going pathless. It’s absurd lol but there’s clearly a market for the idea. I never guessed so much of going pathless was writing books, selling courses, and talking online.

[@PaulMillerd]

I doubt I’ll get massive

[@humphreymurphy8048]

Very open and honest and interesting information. Good on you for your generosity.

[@CoryAmesYT]

Awesome, thanks for sharing Paul! Working on my self-published book now.

[@Miguel834a]

Thank you so much for your honesty, information, and transparency. This is amazing information.

[@PaulMillerd]

thanks miguel - appreciate this!

[@CultishCreative]

50k. You're the man for sharing all of this (and I'm feeling extra inspired thanks to you too)

[@PaulMillerd]

thank you matt!

[@coreywilkspsyd]

Congrats, man! Well deserved 🤘

[@mitchellcohen]

This is awesome Paul! Thank you for this nudge and your overall approach to creative work! 💪

[@thekudernapodcast]

Awesome advice. I’ve self published 2 books, and published my latest book “What Should I Do with My Money?” with McGraw Hill. The advance is nice, but I personally haven’t seen a big difference in marketing or distribution. I’d love to do a podcast swap with you.

[@CreatorWizard]

Such a fantastic breakdown man. Congrats again on all your success!!

[@Writualfitness]

Congrats! I just published my first book this week :)

[@joedudak]

I'll put this one on the list. Five Bullet Friday for the win.

[@PaulMillerd]

How do I get you to bump it up

[@NatalieForslind]

Thank you so much for sharing this.

[@yorudan]

I requested to my library network and they got a few copies that are consistently checked out ;)

[@PaulMillerd]

Wow. Very cool.

[@Lyndabeth7777]

I also found you through Tim Ferris’ Friday newsletter. Thank you so much for sharing your invaluable info! I am inspired by your story and “Stronger in the End” my new book which is getting rave reviews.📕💥📕 Lynda Beth Unkeless Marin County, California ♥️

[@harrybomaye]

Tim Ferris’ 5 bullet Friday sent me here and wholesome!

[@amibaio1676]

Do you have a video breaking down how you self published? TIA!

[@PaulMillerd]

Not a video but a long post pathlesspath.com/blog-to-book

[@DrunkOnNukaCola]

Hit up Penguin again. Ask for more money than they offered, but only for the hardcover and paperback rights, with a stipulation that you can gift 10,000 physical books. I forgot the podcast, but Tim Ferris shared a podcast about 6 months ago where a guy talked about the Perks of keeping your digital rights, which is what you're saying too. You'll cash in and expand your physical and digital sales from the publisher push.

[@DrunkOnNukaCola]

Better yet, ask for a 10 year expiration of the physical book sales or just let that sale be the foundation of your high leverage relationship moving forward for future projects.

[@PaulMillerd]

Yeah it was hugh howey. He has quite a big audience so has more leverage. I’d be open to a 5-10 year deal (this is what most foreign rights are) but honestly rather just keep going on my own for now. I’d be excited to work with a creative partner (authors equity could be interesting) but no one’s really open to it yet.

[@larrymurnane6152]

Which self-publishing company did you use (e.g., BookBaby) and why?

[@PaulMillerd]

@@larrymurnane6152 KDP and Ingramspark. They are free and easy to

[@BradHines]

tim ferris brought us here

[@PaulMillerd]

thanks tim!

[@urosdjunisijevic950]

5:21 So the Dec'22 spike came off of.. what exactly? Doesn't seem that Ali's March 2022 "bookshelf video" endorsement moved the needle... So if that huge Dec '22 increase contributed to 10K units being sold in 2022 overall - is that where you spent whole $10k in ads you mentioned? And does that mean you sold book at ~$1 CPA? Amazing! (but hard to believe because nowadays you can't get clicks at such a bargain...)

[@69RTR]

How long did it take you to complete the book. I'm so glad this wasn't a Chandler Bolt Self Publishing push... he a slime scam.

[@PaulMillerd]

@@69RTR 14 months. Did it most of myself. Honestly is quite simple and cheap. Cost maybe 3-4k for covers, design and mostly editing.

[@69RTR]

@@PaulMillerd Thanks for the reply. 14 months, congrats. I've been writing my memoire for 5 years! I'm picking up your book now.

[@PaulMillerd]

@@69RTR well counting the years of writing and reflection before it was longer haha. Good luck

[@silentm999]

Did you start the KZbin channel to support the book? Judging from the info in this video, it seems that sending free copies of the book to people who liked it, and increased its exposure for you, was your best marketing tactic.

[@PaulMillerd]

ive had this channel for a while - but leaned into the podcast name of "pathless path" and put it on this channel too I think gifting the copies has definitely worked well, mostly because I find it really fun!

[@MyLatinLife]

Nice

[@megaintegrator]

people say "pathless path" has similar proposal as "4 hour workday" book from Tim, both propose little work big incomes, something happeing without effort, etc. I guess book content itself os vague and plain, only title is promising., good title by the way.