Category: Writing Books

7 things I will stop doing in 2026

Neera

After six and a half years of writing online, I’ve learned this the hard way:
Growth doesn’t come from doing more.

It comes from doing things that matter.

In 2026, I want to build a $10K/month business on the back of my book, ‘One Book To $100K’

I can’t keep operating like a hobbyist, even if I’m a consistent one.

So here’s what I’m deliberately stopping:

1️⃣ Waiting until I feel ready
Ready is a feeling. Results come from decisions.

2️⃣ Creating scattered content
Everything I publish now points to one clear idea and one clear outcome.

3️⃣ Building multiple products instead of one focused offer
Depth beats breadth. Always.

4️⃣ Selling to people who aren’t ready to buy
I’m done convincing. I’m here to support decision-makers.

5️⃣ Confusing activity with progress
Busy isn’t the same as effective.

6️⃣ Underpricing my thinking
Experience is not content. It’s capital.

7️⃣ Believing that writing more content will solve everything

Less content. More intention. Clearer pathways.

This isn’t about working harder in 2026.

It’s about working at a different level.

Next week, I’ll share the flip side:

7 things I will be doing in 2026 to build a $10K/month business—on the back of one book.

If you’re rethinking how you show up this year, you’re not late.

You’re right on time.

Write your book in 30 days here.

How To Write A Short Book And Turn It Into A Business

Neera

Most people never write a book because they think it has to be big.

Big idea.

Big word count.

Big commitment.

Big disruption to their life.

So they postpone it.

For years.

Here’s the truth most people don’t want to hear:

👉 Your first business book should be short.

Not because you have less to say — but because clarity beats volume.

A short book forces you to:

  • Decide what you actually stand for
  • Say one thing well instead of ten things poorly
  • Respect your reader’s time
  • Finish (which is the real power move)

Some of the most effective authority-building books are not 300 pages.

They are:

  • 80–120 pages
  • Built around one clear idea
  • Designed to solve one painful problem
  • Written to open doors — not win literary prizes

A short book is not a “lesser” book.

It’s a strategic asset.

It can:

  • Position you as an expert
  • Become the foundation of your offer
  • Feed your content for months
  • Attract clients who already trust you
  • Turn into workshops, cohorts, consulting, or speaking

You don’t need more content.

You need the right container for your knowledge.

If you’ve been sitting on an idea, waiting for “someday” to write your book, this is your opportunity.

I’m hosting a free webinar on 4 January at 4:00 PM PST: “How To Write A Short Book And Turn It Into A Business”

I’ll show you:

  • What makes a short book powerful
  • How to structure it without overwhelm
  • And how to turn it into income, without sleazy marketing

Your book doesn’t have to be long.

It has to be done and deployed.

See you at the webinar.

Why I Deleted Half My Offers (And Made More Money)

Neera

There was a time when I had too many offers.

  • A digital product here
  • A course I planned to launch
  • Some 1:1 coaching
  • Custom sessions I created on request
  • And ideas for at least 3 more things in my Google Docs

I thought having more offers meant more chances to earn.
But all it did was confuse my audience, and drain my energy.

People didn’t know what to buy.
I didn’t know what to focus on.

And nothing was gaining real traction.
It looked like variety.
But it was actually noise.

So I did something radical: I deleted half my offers.

Not because they were bad.
But because they didn’t align with my core transformation:

Helping experts turn their knowledge into income, on their own terms.

I kept the ones that:

  • Were simple to deliver
  • Felt aligned with my long-term vision
  • Solved a clear problem
  • Made both me and my clients feel energized

Suddenly, my business got simpler.
And stronger.

Here’s what happened when I simplified:

  • I stopped explaining 5 things, and started owning one
  • My audience instantly understood how I could help them
  • I had more time to improve the offers that mattered
  • My messaging became sharper
  • My income went up, because clarity builds confidence

Turns out, simplicity doesn’t limit your business.
It unlocks it.

Here’s my invitation to you this week:
Audit your current offers.
Make two lists:

  1. What’s draining me?
  2. What’s driving results with ease?

Then ask: What would happen if I gave myself permission to let go of the rest, even temporarily?

Because success doesn’t come from doing everything.
It comes from doing the right things, deeply.

Writing isn’t about time management.

Neera

It’s about your energy flow.

You can carve out 2 hours on your calendar.
Sit at your desk. Open your laptop.
But if your energy is flat, the words won’t come.

I’ve learned this the hard way.
On days when my energy is high, I can write 1,000 words in an hour and still feel light.
On low-energy days, I can stare at the same sentence for thirty minutes, and it still feels wrong.

Here’s what shifted everything for me:
Instead of asking myself, “Do I have time to write?” I ask, “What’s my energy level at the moment?”

Sometimes, that means writing first thing in the morning before the world intrudes.
Sometimes, it’s after a walk, when my mind is clear.
Other times, it’s at night, when the house is quiet and ideas finally breathe.

Writing with energy flow feels different:
– Words don’t resist, you channel them.
– The work feels lighter, even joyful.
– You stop forcing and start allowing.

If you’ve been struggling with consistency, maybe it’s not about willpower.
Maybe it’s about learning when your energy flows best, and riding that current.
Writing becomes less of a grind and more of a practice in alignment.

People often ask me: “How do you keep writing book after book?”

Neera

The truth? I don’t write books for the masses. I write for one person.

When I sit down to write, I picture a single reader:
– someone who’s stuck
– someone who wants to write
– someone who needs encouragement

And I write as if I’m sitting across the table, talking to them.

If one reader finishes my book and says, “This helped me take the next step,” that’s worth more than a thousand unread copies on shelves.

My proudest moment wasn’t when I saw my book on Amazon.
It was when a reader emailed me: “Your book gave me the courage to start my own.”

I don’t write to impress. I write to impact, one reader at a time.

I never thought I’d be running a business in my sixties.

Neera

At 64, I should be slowing down.

Spending more time gardening.
Cooking for friends.
Maybe taking up knitting.

Instead, I’m building a business from scratch.
Not because I need to.
But because I want to.

Every morning, I write for at least four hours.
Not because I have to.
But because I want to.

I’ve “failed” at several things:
– Retiring quietly
– Staying in my comfort zone
– Accepting that the best years were behind me

But I’ve succeeded at a number of things:
– Writing and publishing 8 books (with 4 more in draft mode)
– Growing an audience on LinkedIn, Medium and Substack — all after 60
– Launching a newsletter business that brings in income and impact
– Building a community of writers who support each other
– Creating digital products, running live workshops, and launching a course
– Running a podcast where I interview amazing authors and publishing pros
– Becoming a book coach and helping others write the book that changes their lives

I don’t have a marketing team.
I don’t have a big following.

What I have is a system, a voice, and a relentless belief that it’s not too late to do anything you want.
My journey isn’t about “going viral” or chasing some big fancy title.
It’s about creating work that matters, on my own terms.

If you’re in your 50s or 60s or 70s and wondering if you missed your chance to build something of your own?
Let me say this again.
You didn’t.

The second act might just be your best one yet.