It has its moments, but it also led to significant terror every year, wondering whether this would be the last year people would hire me.

I started accidentally. I stockpiled cash from my IBM job, then I wrote some things about a topic that was becoming popular. Then people noticed me. Since I didn’t have to settle for another scrappy job, I could take a chance on doing a few gigs that paid good money.

Two years later, somebody identified me as The Person to write The Next Book on that topic. And then a few influential people amplified me.

And then a few more.

That was the luck I needed.