Chapter 1: The Importance of Long-Term Projects

As writers and creators, we face numerous choices regarding how we allocate our time. We can engage in short-term client work or focus on developing projects that may not yield immediate financial returns but offer long-lasting benefits.

While client work is crucial—after all, we need to make a living—it’s essential for every creator to invest in long-term projects as well. These are the kinds of ventures that can sustain you for a lifetime.

Long-term projects can create small empires. Although they may not provide instant financial rewards like client assignments do, these evergreen endeavors afford you something invaluable: your time.

With each new long-term project added to your repertoire, you enhance your capacity to create a stream of income that allows you to focus on other pursuits. This isn’t merely ‘passive’ income—true passive income is often misunderstood. It doesn’t stem from developing courses or evergreen products alone; you still need to work to cultivate and expand your audience. However, long-term projects empower you to scale your one-person operation without limitations.

Trading time for money has its constraints. While you can raise your rates, there will always be someone willing to work harder for less. In contrast, long-term projects allow you to adjust your pricing based on market demands while only requiring you to create the product once, enabling you to sell it indefinitely.

Examples of Long-Term Projects:

• Books
• Courses
• Videos
• Podcast Episodes
• Automated, Print-on-Demand, Drop-Shipping Artwork
• Software

When you eliminate the need to trade time for money, you pave the way for greater freedom. This grants you more time to focus on your best work rather than starting from scratch every month with client projects.

With long-term projects, you don’t need to rely on any single client to cover your expenses. Your customer base can span across the globe; for instance, I operate my publishing business in over 110 countries, ensuring I’m not dependent on any one individual.

The foundational element of this entire model is email. Without it, this whole structure would collapse.

When you’re ready to begin building your email list, I have something valuable for you. I’ve created a free email masterclass, meticulously developed over several months. I call it the Tribe 1K.

Now is the perfect time to initiate or expand your email list. I’ll guide you on acquiring your first 1,000 (or your next 1,000) subscribers without investing a dime in advertising. Past participants in Tribe 1K include New York Times bestselling authors, esteemed professors, CEOs, doctors, parents, scientists, artists, and regular individuals—just like you and me.

Your email list is instrumental in providing you with freedom through your creative work. To enhance your creative business, you must establish an email list before you lose the attention of your valuable readers. Relying solely on social media is insufficient; start building your list before you find yourself needing one. Once that time arrives, it may be too late.

Secure your spot before I begin charging an enrollment fee. We’re excited to welcome you!

My FREE Tribe 1K Email Masterclass is valued at $97 and includes all the templates and checklists necessary for a quick start. Enroll today!

August Birch (AKA the Book Mechanic) is a course creator, marketing coach, and author hailing from Michigan, USA. As an email marketing authority for writers and creators with over two decades of experience, August assists independent creators in producing work that sells and increasing their sales. When he isn’t writing or contemplating writing, August enjoys quality time with his wife and son, crafting with his hands, carrying a pocket knife, and shaving his head with a safety razor.

Chapter 2: Understanding the Long Game

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