Made It Moment: Mike Esola
Could you do it? That’s the question that immediately popped into my mind after reading this Moment. After that came all sorts of other intriguing questions such as whether you should want to do it–is this what making it really means–and if indeed it is one metric of success (as it must be) what kinds of books will meet this goal. Which goal? You’ll have to read on and learn what making it means to Mike.
I’m still currently working on making it. For myself I’ve set the goal of selling one million books. It’s a large goal and I know that, but it gives me something to shoot for each and every day I sit down at the computer, something to keep me motivated for each day. When I hit that goal I’ll know I’ve made it and arrived. Until then I have a lot of work to do. For all aspiring authors out there, keep pushing yourself to heights that are far beyond what you ever imagined, I continue to do this myself. In the end I believe it will be well worth it.
I have set the bar very high in terms of book sales because to me being an author is all about doing something day in and day out. With this in mind, it is all about sustainability, and what it will take to keep yourself motivated to work seven days a week. If I merely set the bar at just getting a book done and complete, when I get there how will I find the added motivation to keep going? My goal of one million book sales is enormously large, and I am fully and ready to prepare myself to work extremely hard for it. By setting the goal of one million books, I continue to push myself each day to work harder, be more productive, and try and make this goal a reality. I’ve learned that for myself setting smaller goals doesn’t provide me with the fuel that I need to get the job done. Each author has to determine what size goal works best for themselves, because it should not be just about how many books you sell that ultimately determines your success. Success is a strange thing, and at the end of the day it is up to each person to determine what success means to them.
I merely have this one million book sales goal to ensure that I never stop working, always keep my eye on the goal, and most importantly, never, never, give up. They say that a persistent author will eventually be a published author, and I couldn’t agree more.
Michael Esola currently serves as the Founder and President of Esola Entertainment, a global think tank focused on releasing products and services with a true mass market appeal. Esola resides in the San Francisco Bay Area where he is hard at work on his next novel.
@ Mike – that is an amazing goal. My goal right now is 100,000 books. Whe4n I am nearing that goal I expect the bar will rise. you get used to the temperature of the water, and it’s time to add more hot!!! I have just helped you toward you goal by one book, and I look forward to reading it!
Comment by Connie J Jasperson — March 30, 2012 @ 9:27 am
A goal of one million books sold is quite ambitious, and if your book has strong commercial appeal, not entirely out of the question. My goal, however, is not about how many books I sell. I write for my own enjoyment. If I have pleased myself, then I have accomplished my goal. If I please readers and make money doing it, that’s even better. When you write solely to sell, and you don’t sell, you’re likely to view it as failure. If you write to satisfy your creative nature, then you’ve succeeded every time.
Despite what Calvin Coolidge said about persistence, to make it in the publishing world you also need talent and luck. Never underestimate the power of being in the right place at the right time.
Good luck, Mike. I hope you reach your goal!
Comment by Nancy Morse — March 30, 2012 @ 9:41 am
Hi Mike – I made that decision to click through to Jenny’s blog when I was intrigued by her question as to whether you were really just more honest about your goal than most. While I think most of us dream of selling a million copies, it isn’t exactly everyone’s measure for success. My goal is to make each book I write better than the last and hence to make it sell more copies. That wasn’t happening for me with traditional publishing, so now I am self-publishing and it is working. Now I can take the time I need to complete a book, and I can edit to my heart’s content. I also have a life beyond the books which is so important to the quality and depth of fiction.
Being driven to succeed is great, but make sure you don’t spend so much time writing and marketing that you forget to get out there and experience the world and the people in it – all of which will give your writing the depth and emotional appeal that will make readers want more.
Good luck, Mike!
Comment by Christine Kling — March 30, 2012 @ 9:59 am
Great dream, Mike – I hope you make it. The book sounds very interesting, so you might have a good chance!
Comment by mountainmama — March 30, 2012 @ 10:03 am
I can totally see the whole “setting the bar high” motivating you thing.
Comment by SavvyBlue — March 30, 2012 @ 12:03 pm
Very nice goal Mike! I hope that you make it.
Comment by Kellie — March 30, 2012 @ 1:12 pm
Mike, I like your honesty. Lots of good luck. I hope someday you have to raise that bar to 1.5 mil!
Comment by "Doctor Barbara" - Barbara Ebel — March 30, 2012 @ 1:47 pm
Mike–very inspiring post! It reminded me not to make the amount of time it takes to reach my goals an excuse to lower the bar for myself. I love listening to people who set the bar high, are realistic about what it takes to get there, and aren’t afraid to put it themselves out there and say what they want. In fact, I liked your chutzpah so much I immediately bought a copy of the book! So that’s one more rung on your ladder to $1,000,000.
Comment by Lauren S — March 31, 2012 @ 5:53 pm
Oops! I meant 1,000,000 sales. Although I suppose $1,000,000 would be okay too.
Comment by Lauren S — March 31, 2012 @ 5:54 pm
Inspirational write-up Mike! Great goals!!!
Comment by Nick Carver — April 10, 2012 @ 10:03 pm