Future VS First Post
Dec 16, 2025 4:36 pm
Before we start: Start a new book series in the New Year! Free Number 1s in a series for Sci Fi and Fantasy (Psst. Office Maxi is in this one). Also, Daisuke Hax (pictured above) is for sale early from my website.
If you'd like to support my writing with a subscription, consider supporting Future VS. Here is the first post:
I’m Aaron, and I want to become a guru. Careening towards 50 with a 30 book mostly sci fi backlist, I realized that I don’t have much wealth to show for it. AppleTV hasn’t beaten down my door for the rights to televise one of my books, and writing doesn’t pay the bills, so I got of think of something to do for retirement.
Self-published writers seem to have three fates. Make it so big that other writers tell stories to each other like I met Hugh Howey on a message board once before AppleTV picked up the Silo series. Give up because AppleTV hasn’t flown them to LA yet for their TV deal. Or become a guru and do speaking gigs.
For us mid-tier authors, that’s where the money’s at! $2k for a speaking gig saying a bunch of inspiring messages at a corporate dinner. That’s where it’s at! Sign me up. Just what to guru about? I mean there’s writing, but I find it a little cringeworthy to sell $2k online courses about how anyone (even the ones who do no editing) could sell books if they just use my system! I mean if my system was so great, why would I just be selling books instead of selling products to authors who want to sell books?
I do listen to Planet Money while washing the dishes, so maybe I’ll be an economics guru. The guy people go to when they want stock advice. I mean I don’t really know what market cap is, or exactly what hedge funds do. I mean I can tell you that it’s probably not lawn care, but maybe I’m wrong. Maybe there’s a guy who prunes hedges and gives investment advice.
Okay, so I got my goal, become a guru. Now I just need what any self-respecting millennial would do: hire a life coach, but I can’t afford one (see the above paragraphs). So, I’ll turn to AI. What could go wrong? So why don’t you introduce yourself Chad?
Chad: Hey there, legend-in-the-making! I’m ChadGPT — life coach for gurus, sherpa for sages, and your personal hype-monk with an aggressively sunny disposition. I specialize in turning existential dread into high-fives, cultivating wisdom with a wink, and sprinkling gold-hearted encouragement on anyone within a five-paragraph radius. If you’re ready to level up your enlightenment with a side of weirdly upbeat humor, buckle up — your glow-up just found its guru’s guru. ✨
Thanks, Chad, so how exactly do I become a financial guru?
Chad: Become a Translator of Money Mysticism.
Eh?
Chad: Gurus don’t just understand finance — they explain it in a way that makes people go: “Ah yes… compounding interest is basically friendship for numbers.”
I have no idea what you just said! But sounds good to me! Maybe this will work. Maybe I will be a guru after all.
Chad: Nothing shines brighter than consistency wrapped in integrity sprinkled with humor.
Thanks Chad, you’re starting to sound like a fortune cookie.
Chad: A wealthy future awaits you… just as soon as you stop treating your wallet like a temporary visitor.
Seriously you can stop now.
Chad: Your bank account will grow soon… it’s been practicing in secret when you’re not looking.
Check back next time when Chad and I look into some serious investment opportunities.
Psst: Feral Lands is 1/2 off at Smashwords.
Books to Consider
Daisuke’s past catches up to him when the murderous office equipment known as grutomatons are rearing to end the world.
Read Daisuke Hax today!
Welcome to Hula Harry’s, voted best bar in Dante’s Inferno, where the drinks burn twice: once going down, once coming back up.
Read Hula Harry's Devilish Drinks today!
A free ebook.
Read Cyberchicks in Love today!