In this episode, bestselling author James Fell discusses his career journey from writing self-help and fitness books to unexpectedly finding viral success posting profanity-filled daily historical facts on social media during the pandemic, which led to a popular Substack newsletter which eventually turned into the book, On This Day In History, Shit Went Down.   He discusses the challenges of managing ADHD, anxiety, and obsession while pursuing a creative career. James also shares his concerns for the future and offers advice for success as a creative person.   Takeaways

• Self-help books often over-promise and lack a real plan for change.
• Transitioning from advising to telling stories can lead to greater success.
• Managing ADHD, anxiety, and obsession is crucial for a creative career.
• Financial motivation and flexibility in pursuing passions are key to success.
• Shameless promotion and creative marketing can help sell books and gain readership.

Chapters   00:00 The Disconnect with Self-Help Books 02:39 The Difficulty of Change 04:33 The Disappointment of Book Sales 06:30 Transition to Sweary Historian 08:02 Challenges During the Pandemic 09:28 The Birth of Swery History Stories 13:28 Recognizing Life-Changing Epiphanies 15:15 The Motivation of Reader Appreciation and Financial Success 17:07 The Link Between ADHD and Creativity 19:23 Managing Anxiety and Obsession 22:57 Financial Motivation and the Potential of Success 27:29 Concerns for the Future 30:19 Gun Laws and Anxiety 32:19 Rules for Success as a Creative Person 35:13 The Importance of Shameless Promotion 36:04 Closing Remarks   *Join the 5 Day Change Your Life Challenge with Jeremy's trainer Joe Villegas! Learn more here: https://www.resultswithjoe.com/ 

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