Optimal Finance Daily · Thursday, September 10, 2026
Joshua Fields Millburn stated that in the past year, as a 31-year-old indie author, he earned significantly less than his 19-year-old self did from a sales job. Despite the lower income, he paid off debt, traveled, and felt more secure, attributing this change to making better decisions rather than focusing on accumulating wealth.
“Last year, as a 31-year-old indie author, I brought home less money than my 19-year-old commission check-earning self. Way less, actually. But I also paid off debt, traveled the country, felt more secure. Most importantly, I didn't worry about money.”