Parenting and publishing may seem like two very different worlds...but any self-published author knows that writing, editing, and launching a book can feel a lot like raising a child. There’s trial and error, sleepless nights, and a constant mix of doubt and determination. The lessons I learned while raising my six children now guide the way I coach writers inside Seven Figure Author Career Program.

Here are six lessons motherhood taught me that changed not just my life as a mom, but my journey as an author and mentor.

1. People Who Don’t Believe in Your Potential Won’t Help You Reach It

When my oldest child, who has autism, was in public school, he was about to enter second grade and still couldn’t read. I pulled him out and started homeschooling. Within three months, he was reading. Within six, he was caught up. Within a year, he was reading at a high-school level.

The same thing happens in publishing. Some people simply don’t see your potential. That doesn’t mean you don’t have ...

You don’t need to start off rich to build a successful author career.

Many bestselling authors begin with nothing, and some with even less. Our founder, Rebecca Hamilton , started her adult life homeless. Today, she’s not only a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, but also a coach who has helped hundreds of writers grow from $0 to six- and seven-figure incomes.

Her story proves what we’ve seen again and again: you can start your author career with nothing. But while you can begin at $0, staying there will eventually hold you back.

If your goal is to scale into a profitable career, you’ll need to understand the paths available, and which one actually works consistently.

The 3 Paths Authors Take From $0 to Success

While every author’s story is unique, when it comes to going from nothing to a sustainable income, we see three main approaches.

1. Traditional Publishing

This is the path where you pay nothing upfront. The publisher covers your editing, cover design, a...