Enjoy the highs, learn from the lows.
In January 2018, Seth Ulinski left his corporate job working in market research. He wanted more time to focus on a book idea. At the time Seth was consuming lots of personal development materials and noted that there really wasn’t anything comprehensive to address the unique challenges of one group: short guys.
As a former “undersized” athlete and someone who experienced setbacks such as a car accident and auto-immune disorders, Seth has always appreciated underdogs and those facing adversity. Through research and personal experiences, he confirmed that society’s height bias is real. In many ways, being a shorter guy is akin to being an underdog in the game of life. In the summer of 2018, Seth published Amazing Heights: How Short Guys Stand Tall.
Multiple Income Streams
In addition to book sales, Seth has paid the bills through a combination of guest blogs and construction work (note: doing vinyl siding in New England during the winter is not for the faint of heart). “I now consider myself a dual threat white collar and blue collar worker”. As self-published, first-time authors typically do not attain bestseller status overnight, he is also dialing back expenses. This includes renting out his house and living in an attached 250 sq ft in-law apartment (tiny house living is the trend, right?)
Whether Seth rejoins the corporate world or not is TBD; however, He’s gaining invaluable life experiences in the meantime. Seth has become a student of human growth and minimalism. Some of his favorite podcasts include: The Distilled Man, Operation Self Reset and The Tim Ferriss Show. “I also listen to NPR and my local NHPR stations. TED Talks also help me keep an open mind”. He has also confronted the single most human fear – public speaking. “It ranks up there with death. For this reason, I joined a local Toastmasters club. While ice water doesn’t course through my veins when presenting, I am much more comfortable than I was previously.”
Creating Balance
An important part of escaping the 9 to 5 is creating work like balance. For fun, Seth has been able to take two trips that would qualify for just about anyone’s bucket list: skiing a glacier in Zermatt, Switzerland and hiking Machu Picchu in Peru. Both trips were with groups where he was the youngest member. “I made new friends and gained wisdom that helped fuel my book writing initiative”.
Seth has learned that there is a balance between “going for it” and doing so with reckless abandon. “Don’t walk out of your office with a blowtorch. I was mindful to leave my employer on good terms and continue to maintain contact with former colleagues and clients”.
Seth also hasn’t been afraid to share his dreams. “You might find they are willing to lend ideas or support you directly or indirectly. In my case, I had two people offer to review early versions of my manuscript”.
It Can Be Challenging
Like most escapees, Seth underestimated the savings needed along the way. “I haven’t had debt in over a decade. With that said, I view it as an investment in myself (much like a college loan)”.
He also learned that while “free” offers can be attractive, be weary of other factors. Time is one resource you cannot get back. In this regard, he should have moved on when one partner became unresponsive during the publishing process. “Also, don’t try to take on too much flying solo. Focus your time and energy on what’s most important and delegate as possible”.
What’s Next
Seth clearly enjoy writing. It’s just a matter of finding the right situation where he can continue writing while also making a living. Minimalism is one possible topic for his next book. His experiences with autoimmune disorders and injuries could also be helpful for people facing these or similar challenges. “The notion of ‘stronger when broken’ is something I embrace”.
Learn more about Seth in his blog: https://amazingheights.blog/
