In response to Shifting Careers blogger Marci Alboher’s recent profile, a reader wrote in to ask how free agents–like me–make ends meet. Do we have inheritances? Divorce settlements? Lottery winnings? Would that it were true!

Marci posted my response today, here, and I thought I’d expand on it a bit. I earn my living freelancing for magazines, writing books, giving talks, consulting for organizations, and teaching (sign up for my online course, “Making It Pop: Translating Your Ideas for Trade”!). You could say I live a life of improv. I don’t always know where a venture is leading me, but I’ve learned to have tremendous faith in the journey and to trust my instincts. It’s been well worth the ride so far.