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/  ---- GUEST WEBSITE: https://jamesfell.com/  ---- MORE FROM THE FIT MESS: Connect with us on Threads, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Tiktok Subscribe to The Fit Mess on Youtube Join our community in the Fit Mess Facebook group ---- LINKS TO OUR PARTNERS: Take control of how you’d like to feel with Apollo Neuro Explore the many benefits of cold therapy for your body with Nurecover Muse's Brain Sensing Headbands Improve Your Meditation Practice. Get started as a Certified Professional Life Coach! Get a Free One Year Supply of AG1 Vitamin D3+K2, 5 Travel Packs Revamp your life with Bulletproof Coffee You Need a Budget helps you quickly get out of debt, and save money faster! Use Vibrant Blue Oils to improve the flow of energy through your body.  Start your own podcast!