I Almost Gave Up.

I was crying on a dog bed.

Fuck, I was blubbering on a dog bed, telling my husband Scott my business was doomed. I was making such a scene that the dog got up and walked away from me. I felt like my life was over. I had run my own business for seven years, mostly on referral. I had just helped two amazing clients get literary agents and book deals . . .

But then both clients decided to write their book on their own.

This was a DISASTER. I felt screwed over, heartbroken and sunk.

I had counted on those contracts. I had plans for the money, plans for the next six months. Suddenly, there was nothing. No projects coming in, no clients waiting to work with me. I felt desperate. And at that moment, I thought about giving up.

But I didn’t know what else I wanted to do.

Books and authors were my life — are my life — and I couldn’t stand the idea of quitting publishing. So instead, I decided to try.

Like, really try.

Like, really really try.

Like, take on the bare minimum of clients so I could totally reinvent how I worked with clients and what my business model was — try.

I invested in a ton of help. I joined a membership for entrepreneurs with built-in business coaching and strategy. I hired…